I am in need of some big help! My daughter is six months and will not sleep on her own. I feel like we finally get somewhere with a schedule and she gets sick again. She is on her third ear infection and this time she's been on 3 different antibiotics. She wants to nurse to go to sleep which is fine but she when I take her off she wakes up and freaks out and won't calm down till she is back on. She will cry forever in her bed... this morning she cried for 45 minutes. She doesn't sleep through the night (which is why I am desperate) she won't take a bottle- refuses it- and she won't take cereal or baby food all of a sudden. I just want to get to some routine or something where I feel like we are getting some place. She still nurses 2-3 times at night.
I'm just tired and exhausted and simply just frustrated. She is finally sleeping now but in her swing I can't get her back in her bed. I don't know if it is because her ears or what. Other than the sleep issue she is a very content baby. When we had a schedule for like a week before she got sick it was like I had a different baby. I just don't know what to do anymore.
If her ears are still bothering her then sometimes heat can make them feel better. Try a warm (not hot!) washcloth on her ear.
If she sleeps in her swing - propped up, I'm betting the ears are killing her. It can be very painful for them to lay flat. My son had chronic ear infections and finally had tubes put in at 1 YR. So, I know what you are going through. Trust me.
Try putting a rolled towel/blanket under one end of the crib and lay her head on that raised part. It may relieve some of the pressure from laying down.
Sometimes, the nursing is comfort on the infected ears, which can explain why she wants to nurse so much. The bottle requires a different sucking method that may be too much strain on her right now.
If she sleeps in the swing propped up, let her. Our son spent a few nights in there himself - with me on the couch next to him. Tylenol works well and Motrin does too (and it lasts longer). I'd give her an appropriate dose right before she nurses at bedtime.
Another thing that always helps in our house when they're sick is a bath right before nursing/bed. Both boys LOVED the bath and even now we put our 3.5 y/o in there when he's sick and it makes him feel better.
Good luck.
T.
Everyone has great advice for you. You are the person who knows what will work. My third son practically lived in the swing because that was the only way we could get him to sleep with all his ear infections. If that's what you need to do, do it and don't feel bad. We pulled the swing in our bedroom and turned it on. We had him in anything that would keep him propped up because it does hurt for them to lay down with the ear infections.
Just because everybody else has their baby sleeping on their back doesn't mean you can't use the swing for awhile. If it helps her sleep, that's what's important.
Even when she does sleep, you might be tired. You have 2 little ones! Figure out some things to make life easier for you. Get different colored laundry baskets - one for clean clothes and 1 for dirty, so if you can't fold, at least you know what's clean. Check into getting your groceries delivered for awhile. You don't buy as much when you're on the computer and you see the total adding up. Sleep whenever you can.
It will get better! Hang in there!
I understand... I'm a single mom and I had a c-section,a baby w/colic and we were home by ourselves. I had never been so tired,crazy,sad and frustrated in my whole life. She's almost 2 now and still has sleep issues but way better. I remember being afraid of s.i.d.s. and never wanting her to sleep other than the co-sleeper or the crib. She would sleep great in the swing though. Finally when I was so delirious, I brought the swing in the bedroom and put it right next to me and I finally got some sleep. She also nursed a lot at night till we started formula at almost 11 months old. Maybe your baby is having ear pain while "chewing" the cereal. Maybe make it mushier. I mix in a jar of fruit to make it taste better.
Hope this helps:)Hang in there.
I love the baby whisperer book, too.Helped me alot.
Then also I'm sure the antbiotics are making the baby feel sick,too.This is some harsh medicine.
Little children are taking one round after another of Antibiotics and the body is never able to fight those ear infections by itself.The body is programmed to do so.
Most infections are viral and the AB don't even do anything but making the children sicker until they need tubes.
You will have a schedule again,it really gets easier.
Good luck
Let her sleep wherever she wants!! don't worry about it! Her sleep is priority then yours! When you are both rested for several days then tackle her bed issue!
Can any friends/family come help for an afternoon or so?
Tylenol? Motrin? What does her Ped say?
Years ago on Good Morning America they were going over home remedys for when you can't get in to see the doctor...for an earache they mentioned the "salt in the sock" trick. I guess the warmed salt draws out the build up of fluid and then lessens the pain? It is on the internet if you need the info.
Hang in there!! This will be over and you will be on to the next adventure!
It's hard, isn't it? Every time my daughter lets me sleep almost through the night, she gets sick and we go back two steps.
If you aren't interested in CIO, get Pantly's No Cry Sleep Solution. I found it somewhat helpful
If it was me, I would just laet her sleep wherever she will. My daughter slept in her car seat next to my bed for many weeks...her crib was just too big for her. Don't stress yourself out about it. In 10 years you won't even remember at what age she slept through the night, or where she did it. If she is sick, forget the schedule. I would just go by her cues, make it easier
You will survive this.
Hang in there.
We are all here supporting you.
Are you working or stay at home?
If you are stay at home mom-
Try not to worry about the schedule too much (although hard with 2 children)
Your little one is probably still having a hard time
with the ear infection. I have experienced ear infections with both my girls. For whatever reason nursing seems to
help the pain -or something- and of course, it consoles her because she is not feeling well.
Can you "wear" your baby for a while until she gets better. A wrap or sling. You can still get around and take care of your boy and the little one gets comforted.
Please ask your husband to be extra helpful and understanding about house work - You will be concentrating on getting her well.
Hopefully in a few days things will get better.
I actually slept on the living room floor a couple of nights so that we co-sleep and I was accessible to her without having to completely wake up. Didn't get that much sleep but it was better.
By the way one of my girls would insist on nursing when she got a little constipated. I would carry her in the sling until she was relieved.
Love + bodily functions = Motherhood (Thankfully this part does not last too long.)
Good luck to you. I wish you well.
And know that you are in my prayers.
If you are open to some alternatives
I did try something that someone once told me- a couple of drops of breastmilk in the ear every couple of hours.
It did more for the infection than any antibiotic. I gave antibiotics to my first daughter- by the time the second one came- breastmilk was my first line if defense.
try using the Baby Whisperer's EASY method for a schedule, and the Happiest Baby on the Block 5 s's method. Those two combined will make cio not be a needed thing (at that age)
EASY - when the baby wakes up it Eats. After you feed it, then it has Activity - bouncy seat, tummy time, sitting up and playing with toys, swing, exersaucer, etc. When the baby gets fussy check the B's - boredom, butt or burp. If it's none of those then off to Sleep. Don't wait for the baby to do more than get the tiniest bit fussy, then see what is causing the fusses - if it's just that they needed their diaper change do that, but if it's not the activity is boring, the butt is dirty or they have to burp, then put them down. This may happen after as short as 45 minutes, don't freak, it really means they are tired.
Now, to get them to sleep use the 5 s's. Swaddle the baby, hold the baby on their side and sway as they suck on something (paci, your knuckle or their finger/thumb) and make a shush noise. This will calm your baby. When the baby is calm, but not asleep yet, keeping them swaddled lay them in the bed. I like to pat them instead of sway after a minute or two cause you can still pat after they are put down but you can't sway, so pat the baby and continue patting gradually decreasing it as you put them in the bed. Also continue the shushing as you put them down, again gradually getting quieter.
If you do these two you will find a well rested, easily managed baby in no time.
