Glider Swing
My four month old still wakes up all night long, what do I do?
On most nights, my four month old is up every hour to 2 hours. On good nights, she will sleep 3 hrs at a time, but never more than that. I have tried everything – swaddling, pacifier, feeding her, not feeding her, sleep positioners, the crib, the swing, the glider, taking her in bed with me – no matter what I do she still wakes up frequently throughout the night. I am absolutely exhausted. I have a toddler to take care of as well during the day and I am barely functional. My husband will not help at night. It’s not an option. What can I do to get her to sleep at night? I’ve talked to the pediatrician and she had no answers for me.
Oh my goodness…I was in your shoes. Unfortunately, I have no good answer, but I too tried everything and my son would wake constantly every 45 min-2 hrs. I considered myself lucky if I got a 3 hour stretch of sleep. And lots of people take for granted that husbands are able to help. Mine works 70+ hours a week. I also have no friends or family in the area. I’m so sorry – I have been there and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. I ended up toughing it out through 7 months and finally did the cry it out method which worked miracles. I think 4 months is a little early for that though.
Now that that is said…suggestions…you’ve tried a lot already. Can your husband at least watch your her on weekends while you nap? Do you have family/friends who could come help during the day so you can nap? Since she’s a little too young for strict cry it out, maybe you could do the “extinction with parental presence” thing? It’s basically where you are in the room comforting them the whole time but you do not pick them up. You could do this for naps as well as nighttime. It will be really tough but eventually she will learn (just like when she’s in the carseat) that no matter how much she cries, she’s not going to get picked up but since you’re still there comforting her she will still know she’s not alone and you still love her. I think that’s what I would do looking back, because even 4 months to go like you are is unhealthy. You can’t take care of your baby if you don’t take care of yourself…and who cares if your kid has to cry a little if it means you don’t kill them in an insomnia-induced car accident the next day?
