I think I'm falling into a serious depression

[Anonymous]

I never knew that I would be THAT sleep deprived with an almost 16 month old!! She’s been bad lately. It takes her an hour to fall asleep for her naps and nights are almost impossible. She wakes up shrieking and if I try to calm her down, the cries get to an unbearable intensity. She won’t stop until I or DH pick her up and hold her for HOURS!!! She won’t go to naps/fall asleep on her own when with me or DH. I KNOW SHE CAN DO IT!! She does it with my inlaws. She fusses for a few minutes but does fall asleep in the crib. It’s different with us. SHE GETS HYSTERICAL when she’s put in her crib and the only way she will fall asleep is if she’s rocked. I decreased her dose of Prevacid but I don’t think it’s from that. I don’t know what to do!

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry Marianna! I know how difficult the complete exhaustion can be, and you’re pregnant on top of that. What is Ariella eating right now? Have you started anything new in the last few weeks or even months? The reason I ask is because whenever Paige does this (waking in the night shrieking, inconsolable, up for over an hour crying) it is a food intolerance. Whenever we try a food, she seems good for a couple of days and then this behaviour starts. When we stop the food, the waking up screaming stops. Unfortunately in Paige’s case this has happened with EVERY food we’ve tried except for pears, but that’s a whole other story!

If you’re pretty sure it’s not the reflux, that’s the only other thing I could think of. I really hope you are able to figure it out and that you can all rest a bit better soon.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have an answer, but we went through this same thing over Christmas break. My wonderful sleeper suddenly took a turn for the worst! She used to go down without ANY crying. For about 3 weeks she fought EVERY nap and bedtime and we had to resort to cry it out again. It was really weird. It has finally gotten better. I am wondering now (in hind sight) if the change from not going to daycare and being in a routine threw her off. She didn’t see her babysitter for almost a month and I think she really missed her (even though she didn’t know how to express it). Now that we’re back in school and daycare etc…things have been easier.

I know the new lil guy isn’t here YET, but are there any other changes going on? Do you think she’s starting to realize that something big is about to happen? I’ve quickly learned that kiddos are a lot more perceptive than I thought!

[Anonymous]

I am sorry to hear what you are going through as well!..and YOU should be getting sleep now before baby #2 comes! OHH.. I really am feeling for you! SOO I have some questions..

Has she eaten anything lately that might be acting up her reflux? When shane does .. it shows up as night wakings and fighting sleep.

This then makes me think maybe try upping the prevacid just to see? What could it hurt?? Hopefully it might let you get some more sleep!?

Sometimes Shane does go through this too.. and it only lasts a week or so.. How long has she been doing this??

[Anonymous]

I am so sorry to hear it is so tough at the moment. I have nothing else to add other than what the other lady’s said. If she fights both you and dh but not the inlaws, perhaps they could come a stay at your house a couple of nights and help…you need to get some sleep. If it is behavioural (ie in response to something she is going through) this might help you work it out. Fingers crossed for you.

[Anonymous]

Therese, I was actually thinking of taking Ariella to the inlaws overnight so I and DH can get some sleep. They keep offering to take her but the time comes, bail out.

Sheri and Lauren, I can’t figure it out with her lately. I think she’s teething (I think her upper molars are coming in). DH and I heard her do the swallowing again so reflux???? Ugh…I can’t do this anymore! Do I increase her dose back to 30 mgs?? She’s on 15 mgs a day now. DH doesn’t want me to do it as we were hoping she’d be off the meds by now. I want to try increasing the dose to see how she does. If she gets better, then that’s what she needed. Next question that comes to mind “fine, I increase the dose but how long is she going to be on the meds?? until she’s a teenager?”. I’m just very upset, sorry for ranting.

Lauren, I do pray for lots of strength for when the baby comes. I don’t know how I’ll be getting up nights since I’m not really resting now. Something tells me we’ll have lots of “fun” and I won’t be enjoying the show!

[Anonymous]

Instead of increasing her dose again maybe try giving her some mylanta, maalox, or gaviscon. That way you don’t have to wait a few nights to see the difference and it’s much cheaper. If you think it could be teething maybe try some Ibprofin and see if that helps at all. If none of that helps maybe try cutting out something she’s eating that you may think is the culprit. I hope it gets better soon. You need some sleep mama so you do what you need to do to get that sleep. If you find she’s not in any pain then go from there. I am so far from a cry it out advocate, but if your getting depressed and you have a baby on the way than you do what you need to do.

[Anonymous]

I understand what you are going through here is the same michael is 14 mo old and doesnt sleep through the night sometimes it takes an hour to put him to sleep and then after 2 hrs he’ll wake up hysterical and screaming until i go and pick him up so i havent had a good night sleep since he was born the only comfort i can tell you is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE

[Anonymous]

Gabbs, thanks…I’m sure I’m not the only one going through this but it helps to hear it 🙂

Amy, I think she’s suspecting something big’s about to happen. She’s become too clingy to me all of a sudden, as if she doesn’t want to share me with anyone else. She’ll just put her head on my chest and lie there on our bed. I definitely believe that kids sense things like that.

[Author]

Posts