5 Mo Daughter Barely Sleeps?

Have you ever considered taking her to a chiropractor? I know, sounds wild, but my sister-in-law had her daughters in the chiropractors office within the 1st week of life and ever since on a regular basis. Birth is hard on babies and sometimes it messes up their little bodies just enough that they are uncomfortable when they sleep. Maybe not in lots of pain, but just enough discomfort to make sleeping difficult. Find a chiropractor that works on infants & see about getting her in for an evaluation. It could make all the difference in the world.

Hi J.,

I agree with Debi that chiropractic will definitely help. When children are born they go through all sorts of trauma in the birth canal and realigning their spine (like an electrical panel with a short) so that everything is working efficiently will help.

There are many different reasons babies get up in the night. But doing what I do...(I do counseling for nutrition and environmental wellness) my first thought goes to your laundry detergent or her mattress. Synthetic chemicals are in everything now, laundry detergents, food, even natural cotton fiber :) because the FDA has deemed most of them safe in small doses. What happens when we add these all together is we have a toxic cocktail. Sometimes these things manifest themselves in sleeping patterns because they stimulate, sometimes in more dangerous disorders like ADD, ADHD, Autism, Asthma just to start with the As. Babies are small and can not tolerate as much as we can. If you use anything sold at Walmart or the grocery store whether it's labeled non-toxic or not, it's not safe. Be careful because most things labeled non-toxic are non-toxic to the "environment" but not to our little ones or us.

Chemical toxins build up in our system so we don't always SEE a reaction all at once. I always recommend detoxing the house and making sure that bath and body items are safe. That way, if symptoms occur, then you know that there really is something to deal with.

If you don't have a chiropractor or don't know a principled chiropractor, go to UPCspine.com and you can look one up in your area. If you'd like more information on detoxing your home, feel free to ask. I'd love to help.

Regards,

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

Hi J.,

I'm sorry, but I disagree with all the other respondents. I think the key here is to cater to her reflux.
You mentioned in this note that the medication stopped her crying. A note you wrote a couple of weeks ago describes some hard experiences that you, your husband, and, most of all, your daughter have had with some heavy duty reflux.
It sounds like she may be on a medication that is changing her stomach acid (Prevacid, for instance). By neutralizing the stomach acid, her burning pain is eased.
If she's not on a medication that helps the food leave her stomach and go into her small intestine more rapidly and smoothly (Reglan), or even if she is, than you may want to make sure that you are still maintaining the "reflux positioning rules". She might still be experiencing a stomach or chest discomfort from the pressure of the food in her stomach.
She may not be able to relax enough to sleep. She might not be accustomed to feeling comfortable when she sleeps.

You mentioned elevating her head with a towel under the mattress. I recommend keeping her on her right side and with her head elevated at least at a 30-45 degree angle for a minimum of the 30 minutes after feedings that you already know about.
Make sure that she's getting no air with her feeds - don't let her slurp - and that she's well burped frequently through the feeds and afterwards.
Do not change her diaper within a half-hour after she eats (even if it's yucky), don't secure her diaper or clothes tightly around her waist.
I recommend a really good comfortable overstuffed arm chair/recliner (to maintain the postioning easier) within which you can sleep and nurse "small frequent meals" every couple of hours until she gets accustomed to being comfortable sleeping.

Last but not least; if you think your pediatrician isn't taking your concerns seriously, find another pediatrician who you can have better communication with. First though, you may want to show copies of your Mamasource letters to the pediatrician so the doctor can obtain a more complete perspective of the problems that you've been having. Sometimes our spoken words don't draw the same pictures as our written words.

Keep us posted and good luck!

You reminded me of this story http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4828035

If she really isn't sleeping, maybe you should have her checked out to make sure she doesn't have the same condition.

Also, a chiropractor might help if she is what they call a hyperkenetic child.

I know you breastfeed and that is sooooo wonderful, but maybe you could cut one feeding out, being the evening and give her a bottle of formula? It may give her a fuller feeling and may sleep better and you'll have more time to rest? Also, is she still on her reflux meds? If not, maybe continue this.

My first baby was the same way, never napped, but eventually slept through the night. I'd switched to formula. She didn't nap intil she started pre-school. She'd nap there, but not at home! I started using a fan in the room to drown out the rest of the noise in the house. The white noise helped.

Have you ever thought maybe she is not getting enough to eat? I have a 4 1/2 month old. I breastfed for three months but for some reason my milk dried up and I had plans to quit after 3 months because pumping was very difficult at work. I started her on formula and now she is on a little cereal. I'm sure you feel like I did when I first started formula, I hated the idea. But you might consider supplementing just at night. They say that formula can be more filling then breastmilk. As far as stomach problems the best formula for me has been Nestle Goodstart in the Green can. No spitting up or gas problems. Or if nothing else start cereal twice a day. You can make it with breastmilk mixed in instead of formula or plain water. My daughter goes to bed around 8 at night and usually wakes between 2 and 4 for a feeding.Unlike the every two hours when I was breastfeeding. She still needs that one feeding during the night but thats a lot better than how often you are getting up. I agree breastfeeding is the best choice for baby but if niether of you are getting rest, it cant be healthy. Just thought you might want to give it a try.

.

Girl, I have been there!
I would say, if it helps, let her sleep whereever she is comfortable- in her car seat close to you, a pack and play- maybe the crib is too overwhelming. Chances are she is now feeling your anxiety about her bedtime. It sounds like you have a nighttime routine- that's good. Now add to it, babys are like a puzzle. You have to keep trying until something works. Add music at night, an approved toy in the crib, with lights or something soothing, and you must stay calm and set the tone with your emotions and voice. Crying it out may be the only option, it seems horrible and impossible. But you are right your baby is tired and needs to sleep, you are fighting a cycle of over-tiredness. There is alot of advice on the crying it out method to look up online, but the bottom line is it works- eventually. If your baby's needs are met, then she is only trying to see how long it will take before you come to get her. If you do the cry it out method, you cannot give in- no matter how long it will take a night and after about a week or so, you should see a difference. If not there may be a health problem and I would look into it with every seriousness you can, change doctors if yours does not take you seriously.

This sounds soooo much like my precious little girl. She also had reflux and screamed day and night until we got her medicine regulated. She would be up every 15 to 30 minutes ALL night long. She wouldn't nap longer than 30 minutes during the day. It was awful. My husband and I would take turns sitting up at night with her. It was taking a toll on us since we both work full time. We finally tried Sleep Sense program by Dana Obleman. It is a form of the "crying it out" method. The first week was horrible!!! She cried the first night for 2 hours. Of course that meant I cried right along with her. We were determined to try it for at least two weeks. We had tried everything else. She didn't like the swing, car rides, rocking, etc. By the third night she only cried 20 minutes. It gradually got better every night. The program is WONDERFUL!! We have been doing it now for 4 months and she goes right to sleep by herself when we lay her down at night. Naptime is still not "perfect" but is much better. She still only sleeps about 40 minutes for naps, but sleeps great at night. A typical night now for her is from 7:30 until 5:30 the next morning. I have been where you are and I was completely against crying it out, but it got to the point that nothing was working and I knew she needed sleep as much as we did. Good luck to you!!

I recommend reading the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg and you and your husband agreeing to and working toward getting her in a good routine. She may never follow a "typical" baby schedule, but if she is getting the same routine no matter who she is with, I bet things will even out. Good luck!

I have 2 boys, ages 4 and 7 and loved this book. They both learned to self sooth and sleep through the night before 6 mos.