Man! It's hard work...

[stella]

Just read this after talking on the phone to a friend who had ' been up all night' again with her young child who does not like to sleep. It may not help much to know you are not alone but it will pass, hope you get some sleep soon

[chris]

I sleep on my tummy, that's why I have wrinkles!
Seren - lovely name - doesn't it mean star?

Yes, it's Welsh for star - my wife is welsh. I'd never heard of it before, and only had heard it after living in Wales for a year, so thought hmm, yes that's nice. It was that, or Mia, or Aoife - mrs wasn't too keen on Mia (past girlfriend like), and Aoife (Irish - "eefa") she said people would have problems spelling it.

5mins, tonigth stopped crying. I went in after ten to check on her, and she was trying to wedge her head between the cot bars! Moved her back on her back, and she started crying again, for around 2 mins - moved on her stomach again, and flat out. Just popped up, still the same position Which has been great as I depserately needed to pot on my cucs and toms (in big boy black 23cm pots now! ) Mrs is going to go APE when she sees the breakfast bar is covered in massive pots now heh.

So seems to be getting better... they say 3 nights + is the start of a routine, so fingers crossed! Thanks for all the support wishes again I slept quite well last night, think the mrs did too so yep been good.

[binley100]

Glad to hear your nights are getting better..long may it continue
What a lovely name. Both mine have Welsh middle names Sian and Rhiannon that's cos OH's family are Welsh.

[miffy]

My son didn't sleep through the whole night until he was nearly 3 but he has never needed much sleep, it is hard and i totally sympathise with you. I now am kept awake at night waiting for him to come home so i know he is back safely and then i can relax and go to sleep!

[zebedee]

Wait til she hits 13 - 14! Teenage daughters are Gods revenge for being teenage boys!!!

[gorgeousgrower]

lol Crazy !

Just checked on her as no grumbles yet, still on her tummy snoring away. Maybe she prefers sleeping on her belly (prob forces wind out?) In the mean time I just made a slug kebab by skewering 17 of the beggers that have been feasting on my turnips. Odd, no slim trails, must be under the soil or something.

My daughter (2nd baby) slept on her tummy, knees tucked in and bum in air from a few weeks old. It was the only way I could get her to sleep AND it gave me easy access to pat her back and settle her when she woke on numerous occasions in the night. She was born just under 6lb and 46cm long and would only ever drink 2oz of milk at any one time - we got through about 10-12 bottles a day! She didn't sleep through the night until she was 7 months old. It took alot of determination on our part and I still feel really proud that WE WON THE BATTLE! Now both her and her older brother are excellent sleepers.

Hope you don't mind this advice - if you find that after a few nights things return to a poor sleep pattern, please don't give up on your method. You have proved that this works for you. As long as you know that she's not ill, hungry or anything else, then carry on with the same method. Consistency is really important. It may take alot longer than you think to crack. But don't, whatever you do, change your tactics.

At the time when mine were small there felt like no end in sight. But now when I look back I realise that it was such a really short time in their beautiful lives.

[lizzylemon]

Put my little angel to bed for her afternoon nap. She was awake for ages and ages and ages and ages and ages. I completely ignored all the screaming, shouting, throwing toys etc etc (Id switched the monitor off).

Was in the room next to hers and heard a very weird snorting typing noise. Opened the door to see what was going on. Faced with daughter, covered in poo, poking blobs of it up her nose.

So you see, sometimes you just can't win - they'll do anything not to sleep

[chris]

lol! lovely!

Just posted back from an update.. Been a couple weeks now, and have made a small change to it, rather than me taking Seren away from my wife to put her into bed (wife used to feed her on our bed) we've put a chair in her room, and my wife feeds her if she'll have any before bed and then just pops her in the cot and walks out, turns lift off and shuts door saying sleep. She now either watches and snuggles down, or cries a bit until shes gone out the room and then settles down. Have had the odd night break the mould, but it's definately an improvement. Knda feel human again!

[jackyspratty]

Nice one chris, thats great! I can remember that feeling well, whenyou start to see a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel! Keep going, it all falls into place eventually, and a full nights sleep is not too far away!

[chris]

boom !

Bed 18:30 - first wake: 05:30

[HeyWayne]

Excellent, great when it happens eh? If only it lasted...

Teething's fun.

[Hilary B]

Interesting how many people recommend moving baby into parents' room. I had to do the opposite.
When first one was a few months old, we decided she could sleep in the next room, slept right through (8 hours), most nights from then on. We came to the conclusion that we woke her up when either of us turned over in our sleep, or snored, or whatever else we did without waking that made a tiny noise......

[Comfreyfan]

Excellent news that you're getting some sleep again - it really can be such a nightmare and you'll have more sympathy than you can imagine from just about all parents! I can only agree with everyone who says they are all so very different - my first child slept through the night from the day he was born, whereas my third didn't sleep through the night until she started school! Who knows, your second may be an expert sleeper!

[lizzylemon]

That's really great news - i'm so pleased that you're finding a way forward with the sleep thing. Life gets so much easier all around after a few hours kip. Hope it keeps going well for you all.

[scripted]

Take her into bed with you, that's where baby primates should be. Sleep propped up on pillows and have her on your chest. I guarantee she will sleep peacefully through the night.

I don't think thats a good idea personally, my two boys have only ever spent a couple of nights in my bed and that was because they were very ill and i wanted to keep my eye, well ear on them.

They know they only sleep in thier beds and so have never had any issues with the betime regime.