https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:04:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2808503 Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:26:57 +0000 gingerbebe 2808503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2808417 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 20:11:31 +0000 crazydoglady 2808417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: This is so awesome! I hope you are getting some sleep, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2808384 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 17:03:14 +0000 periwinklebee 2808384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can hardly believe it, but we've continued to see substantial improvements in sleep this week. Today he has gone down for four naps in the swing sleepy but awake, one of which was really long. I know babies are constantly changing, but I am enjoying it for however long it lasts. </p> <p>To everyone on this thread - you guys are my lifesavers. Like seriously - I can't tell you how insanely helpful the advice has been... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807975 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:39:02 +0000 periwinklebee 2807975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: p.s. I bought an audiobook of the weissbluth book you mentioned in another post and it's going to be my listening for the next few stroller ride naps - thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807956 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 08:33:51 +0000 periwinklebee 2807956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Yes, this exactly - I ran into a neighbor the other day and he asked "what's new?" Um, like, everything :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807588 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 13:52:41 +0000 SweetiePie 2807588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: that’s a really good plan, to let the reflux stuff sort itself out first. It’s really smart to look at it in steps so it’s not overwhelming. Also, if you change/work on one variable at a time it’s easier to identify what’s working and what’s not. </p> <p>And similar to what you and @annem1990: said about DHs - same over here. For the first few weeks my husband was very “I don’t understand why you’re so frazzled” and finally it dawned on me that his life really hadnt changed. I quit my job and decided to SAH so my life became a deluge of diapers and bottles and pumping and as you said spending all day trying to get him to sleep or stay asleep. He went back to work and didn’t skip a beat. He got up same time. Took the subway to work. Got coffee. Lunch. Did his same routine. Came home and saw the baby for maybe an hour? And then he did his normal stuff like tv and computer and chilling. When I finally asked him “how has your life changed” he got it. It clicked. I went from flying all over the world for business trips and logistics for the Oscars to changing my clothes multiple times a day because of pee, poop, excessive spit up, or all of the above. And never any validation of “great job! You’re doing so well!” like I got at work.<br /> It wasn’t his fault, mind you. He was doing his job and I was doing my new job. But because his job was the same it was hard for him to see what I was experiencing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807570 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 09:29:35 +0000 periwinklebee 2807570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: Thank you - that's amazing to hear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807568 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 09:27:32 +0000 Shantuck 2807568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Both my kiddos had reflux and we were told it usually takes a week or two for the benefits of the Zantac to kick in. With my bigger kid (who was the more uncomfortable of the two), he seemed like a different kid within two weeks of starting the Zantac. Hope things continue to improve for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807566 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 09:19:18 +0000 periwinklebee 2807566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: I say exactly the same thing to my husband. He *loves* the baby but is at work all day - and I do the night wakings since all the baby wants is the boob anyways. He's pretty jealous of my time with the baby and I think sometimes does not get how exhausting it is by the end of the day. I am enjoying it but sometimes I'm just TIRED. You give me hope though that someday he may be a good sleeper - I hear about people whose four year olds just do not sleep and sometimes wonder whether some children are just inclined to not :silly: </p> <p>@LBee: I always love your advice - your pumping and storage notes have been so useful! Yeah, elimination seems like a lot without obvious signs when it could just as much be something else... </p> <p>@themrsgoff: Super useful to know that cutting the obvious stuff worked! </p> <p>The baby napped sooo well yesterday - like better than even when he was only a day old. Of course it was on a Saturday when my husband could have helped if he was on a nap strike, but I will gladly take it. I think he's in sleep debt and really needs it before the 6 week growth spurt hits... Right now the best chance of getting him to nap by far is if he's cuddled up with me or in the stroller - think I'm going to focus on getting his reflux and other things that might be bothering him under control and worry about introducing good sleep habits once naps seem to be more consistently solid... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807359 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 21:36:00 +0000 themrsgoff 2807359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I just cut obvious dairy - absolutely no milk (I've yet to start drinking it again), cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and butter. I don't think he had an actual protein allergy but he certainly did not tolerate lactose well at all. When he was about 5 months old and had been off dairy for about 2 months, I ordered a salad without realizing there would be a sprinkle of feta on top. Just that little bit was enough to set his stomach off and after an incredibly fussy few hours, ended up having both of us covered in curdled spit up. Like, tons of spit up. (He also didn't do well when I ate/drank citrus, so I stayed away from that also).</p> <p>Maybe try cutting just the obvious stuff for a week and see if there's a change?</p> <p>In our experience, he started tolerating it in small amounts at 9-10 months and at that point I'd offer him little bits of cheese too. Now at 16 months, he's got no dairy issues whatsoever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807351 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 20:22:43 +0000 LBee 2807351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: You didn’t ask me, but I had to cut dairy for my LO. Since they changed the regulations where the top allergens (one being milk) has to be disclosed under the ingredients list it hasn’t been as hard as I imagined! If I were to do it in your scenario, I’d go all in for 3 weeks then slowly add back. It takes about 3 weeks to get out of both of your systems. </p> <p>BUT, if my kid didn’t have blood in her poop I’d be enjoying a bowl of ice cream right now with my glass of wine. Postpartum is tough and I miss milk - without a glaring smoking gun I don’t know how motivated I’d be to cut it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807288 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:43:46 +0000 annem1990 2807288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: There was a several month period where I remember crying to DH that “I spend the whole day trying to either get him to sleep or stay asleep!” I felt like that’s all I did.<br /> That feeling passed once he hit about 3 months....you got this mama!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/3#post-2807274 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:13:38 +0000 periwinklebee 2807274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: Thank you :heart: I'm so glad you guys have turned a corner. Zantac is helping, but it's still so hard to get him to nap - today there is torrential rain - so no stroller rides (which in the afternoon seems to be the only way he'll nap) - and ugh, I just get sooo tired spending the day trying to get him to sleep, or keeping him from being hysterical off the boob when he just won't sleep. But he is really cute :grin: And you give me hope that we're not necessarily destined to a child who will never sleep.</p> <p>@themrsgoff: When you eliminated dairy, did you do a really strict elimination, or just avoid eating things that were obviously dairy? I know that there can be milk protein that is used in all sorts of foods, so it seems like a huge investment to totally cut when I have no idea if that's the issue. I try to avoid processed foods and make things from raw ingredients, but definitely not always possible with a baby who doesn't like to nap and doesn't like to be worn. I don't think my son has an allergy, as his stool looks fine, so wondering if just cutting obvious dairy intake would be enough to get a sense if this is part of the issue... </p> <p>@crazydoglady: @gingerbebe: you guys were right about the Mam. Just arrived this afternoon and he went from being able to keep a paci in all of 2 seconds to keeping that thing in for a minute or so. And we're going to hopefully train him to be better at it. He seems really content with it - today he just wanted to be on the boob nonstop and it definitely helped... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2807203 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 12:32:23 +0000 themrsgoff 2807203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So sorry... hang in there, this phase will pass.</p> <p>Is it possible that LO has an intolerance to something you're eating?</p> <p>I discovered that dairy gave my son quite an upset tummy - he had gas and would projectile spit up after every feed. When I finally figured it out, he was a different baby and started sleeping much better (at night, until 6 months when he went back to waking 2-8 times a night). He never was too much for napping until he hit 1 year. It was a lot of survival until that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806932 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 12:12:45 +0000 annem1990 2806932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: No advice, just want to commiserate! DS was miserable from about 3 weeks until 3 months. He slept decently, but when he was awake he screamed non-stop. I agonized over every possible reason and researched milk protein intolerance, reflux, has, etc. I swear he had symptoms of everything. It was so hard to know what to do. Our ped recommended just waiting it out and not doing anything drastic (like changing my diet). So glad I listened because at like 14 weeks, a switch flipped. He became so happy and content. He used to scream for up to an hour before every nap and bedtime (so like 7 times a day 🙄), but suddenly could be put down awake and fall asleep on his own. He was a totally different baby!</p> <p>If the Zantac is working for you guys, keep it up. But don’t get discouraged if it stops working or he still seems miserable. Newborns are tough and sometimes there’s nothing we can do but wait it out. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806910 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 11:27:04 +0000 periwinklebee 2806910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Congrats!!! So glad he is here and healthy! And sleeping well :grin: Hah, yeah, I always thought I'd have a huge baby and also under-invested in newborn clothes - that's probably why my LO was smaller than average despite being late :silly: </p> <p>Good luck with the weight check! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806889 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 10:24:47 +0000 SweetiePie 2806889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: yes! He came at 36 weeks to the day! Tomorrow he’ll be 2 weeks old. Still crazy to look at him and realize that he should still be in there baking. My RCS wasn’t scheduled till 3/14! But he’s healthy and eating well. Super sleepy since he’s early but I know that could change any time now :wink:<br /> We have our weight check today so I’m very curious to see if he broke 7lbs! Which is also crazy since I didn’t get a lot of newborn stuff thinking he’d be 9-10lbs at birth 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806863 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 09:37:42 +0000 periwinklebee 2806863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: So much better! His naps still tend to be on the short side, but he's napping (!!!), and he slept a decent stretch last night! Feeling more human, more able to enjoy things, and much less worried about him</p> <p>@SweetiePie: Thank you :heart: :heart: feeling much more sane here and I think it's also a huge relief for the baby to be able to get some sleep. Already noticed him picking up a couple of new skills yesterday now that he's a bit more rested. I've been thinking of you too! Has the new little one arrived yet? </p> <p>@IRunForFun: Super interesting! I was surprised how quickly we've seen a difference with zantac but am definitely keeping an eye out to catch things early if reflux symptoms start deteriorating. Thank you! btw, I like your username :happy: Runner? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806817 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:46:09 +0000 LCTBQE 2806817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: SUCH good news!!! I'm glad to hear your boo is more comfortable and able to get much needed rest. What a good update, good for you for advocating for yourself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806815 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:35:29 +0000 IRunForFun 2806815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Yay! When I've posted on your sleep threads about my DD before I don't even know if I mentioned she also had silent reflux, and didn't get medicated until 3 months because we didn't realize what it was/how bad it was! We started on Zantac but it ultimately didn't work long term for her and we moved to a PPI. I think Zantac is more fast-acting though so it makes sense it gave your LO immediate relief! I hope t continues to help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806811 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:00:42 +0000 SweetiePie 2806811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: so glad you might be getting some relief soon! 🙌🏼 I’ve been thinking of you a lot. ❤️ It’s so hard. And you are AWESOME. Good job advocating, mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806759 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 15:24:50 +0000 periwinklebee 2806759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: @gingerbebe: thank you! </p> <p>and good reminder about the growth spurt/wonder weeks and dosage. When I contact the pediatrician to follow up, will be sure to inquire about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806688 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 11:30:05 +0000 gingerbebe 2806688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Woot! Yeah, just keep an eye on him. Also, don't forget 6 weeks is a big growth spurt and 8 weeks is a really bad Wonder Week, and 12 weeks there is usually both a growth spurt and Wonder Week, so fussing and worse naps during that time period will be normal - but you just have to watch for the other reflux symptoms to come back to see if the Zantac has stopped working. Also, Zantac is weight specific so make sure you stay on top of your doctor about the dosage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806687 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 11:25:39 +0000 jhd 2806687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee : aw yay! So glad to see this positive update! Sweet boy! I hope he continues to get good sleep today! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806678 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 10:56:00 +0000 periwinklebee 2806678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: @snarkybiochemist: @jhd: Thank you all so much, you guys are awesome :grin: </p> <p>So, knock on wood, it seems to be really helping! I gave him a dose yesterday afternoon and he promptly took a 45 minute nap in my lap, which he hasn't done in a few weeks. Then he woke up, ate a bit, and took another hour nap on me while I was eating dinner and not even making any effort to get him to stay asleep. This morning, he fell asleep in the bathtub and seemed so content that I let him sleep there for awhile watching him there, and he's been asleep after the last feed for an hour. Night still involved pretty frequent wakings, I think in part because he is so sleepy that I had a really hard time getting him to take full feeds, but still - I don't want to jinx it but I feel like he has been able to rest so much better already. Poor little guy just seems exhausted, I hope he will be able to continue to catch up on sleep and that this will ultimately help him to be a more vigorous eater as well. He's 90th percentile for height but only 30th for weight - and may just be his build since he was like that at birth - but definitely room to put on a little more baby fat :silly: </p> <p>Anyways, I am so, so grateful to everyone here - the support and knowledge is amazing!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806628 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 20:42:16 +0000 jhd 2806628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: just wanted to chime in and echo others. you’re doing such a great job. I really hope your sweet baby starts feeling better on the medicine ASAP. Thinking of you! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806619 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 19:43:08 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2806619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I hope the zantac helps and yes you are doing such a good job, you advocated for your son and are doing everything you can to make him happy and healthy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806616 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:36:54 +0000 gingerbebe 2806616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Hey, I was in your shoes a few years ago, I totally understand how you feel. My SIL sent me a text message during the darkest days of that period and I'll tell you the same thing she told me:</p> <p>YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.</p> <p>That kid is loved, fed, held, being taken the doctor, and you are researching the crap out of how to make him comfortable and happy - YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. No matter what anyone says, no matter what a doctor tells you, YOU are doing a kick ass job LOVING THE HECK out that baby. You are doing awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806610 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:13:38 +0000 periwinklebee 2806610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Saw the pediatrician this afternoon and got a prescription for zantac. The baby was wailing most of the time there and increased the volume by a factor of ten when the doctor laid him flat on the exam table, and she was like "yup, I think he has reflux." My confidence as a new mom is pretty low and I was initially convinced I must be doing something obvious wrong that was keeping him from being comfortable. I don't expect any miracles but hopefully it helps him to be a bit more comfortable and rest better. </p> <p>@jape14: Thank you, I'm going to check out baby connect, as I think this could be quite helpful, for reflux and also more generally. </p> <p>@LBee: They weren't able to do a weighted feed today but I'm definitely going to push for it in the future if this doesn't help. </p> <p>@crazydoglady: @gingerbebe: thanks for the recommendation. I'd love for him to take a paci, at least on occasion. Just ordered the MAM, I figure for 4 bucks regardless it's worth a shot. </p> <p>@gingerbebe: that's really good to know about the PPIs and we will reevaluate if zantac hasn't helped in a week or he gets worse. that's also really interesting about elimination. I haven't had a drop of caffeine or chocolate since he was born since I was worried it would just make being unsettled worse :sad: but I've been a bit resistant to dairy elimination since yogurt is such an easy way to get some fat and protein. I read today after you mentioned this that having a milk protein intolerance is commonly associated with reflux, though so far we haven't seen other signs of it like bloody stool. I may try eliminating dairy once the zantac has had enough time to hopefully kick in, so I can tell if it also has an effect... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep/page/2#post-2806569 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:42:48 +0000 gingerbebe 2806569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neither of my kids took pacis well - they just didn't care for it. I don't know if the reflux was a factor or not. BUT DS2 did take the MAM pacis and MAM bottles the best by far. They fit their faces better and the nipple was flat and soft. I could definitely sit and rock and soothe DS2 by holding a MAM paci to his face for a while if I was over nursing. </p>