A screaming baby is no fun

@BellaDoc (762)
San Diego, California
November 24, 2015 9:46pm CST
Our almost one year old son does not like his sleep. He'll only nap in someone arms, occasionally a carrier and often if the car is moving but for never more than 20 minutes. Nighttimes are disastrous for all of us. For years I worked several jobs, getting by on little sleep. And of course when I was working as a doctor in the NHS I had a work pattern that meant I slept at odd times and was always behind my sleep quota. But all that is nothing compared to the sleep deprivation caused by a second child. I suppose in time I will forget all about this. Although my in-laws remind me that my husband was apparently the same. Sigh. Must. Be. Positive.
19 people like this
22 responses
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
25 Nov 15
Oh you poor thing. My grand daughter was a terrible sleeper when she was small. But my daughter was a dream come true she did love to sleep.
3 people like this
@jstory07 (140085)
• Roseburg, Oregon
25 Nov 15
Try to keep him up as late as you can. Than maybe he will sleep through the night.
3 people like this
@UmiNoor (4522)
• Malaysia
25 Nov 15
A young baby can really deprive you of sleep and other activities too. Perhaps if you tire him out in the day, he'll sleep through the night?
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121740)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Dec 15
Hang in there! Eventually it will get better. My neighbor has twin babies that are the same way. They cry constantly, and I can hear them every time they are outside. I feel so bad for the poor mother, because it's hard enough taking care of one crying baby, but she has to take care of two!
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
25 Nov 15
Sympathies - but I'm sure it won't go on forever. Though it might feel like it.
2 people like this
@BellaDoc (762)
• San Diego, California
4 Dec 15
Right!
1 person likes this
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
@Belladoc Oh petal, that sounds awful. You must be soo tired. Is small blonde sleeping any better? Just remember baby boy is a lovely happy baby so you must be doing something right. xx
2 people like this
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
Btw that like was cos you'd posted not that I liked baby depriving you of the zeds x
2 people like this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
26 Nov 15
Reminds me of my son! There's nothing worse than broken sleep. Look after yourself while being a good mother.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23412)
• United Kingdom
3 Dec 15
Thats it blame your husband! It is a horrible time when the little so and so's will not sleep!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
25 Nov 15
Maybe you could get a big Teddy Bear that could hold him in his crib while he sleeps @Belladoc ? Is there a medical reason that he's not sleeping? What about some natural herbs that will help induce sleep.
@BellaDoc (762)
• San Diego, California
4 Dec 15
Thanks. I'm actually a physician. No medical reason, it's all behavioural.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
Our first child was so good, no trouble at all but the second one well and truly made up for it. I hope he starts sleeping for you soon.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
26 Nov 15
Oh, that sounds rough. I hope he settles soon. My late niece woke up nightly until she was in kindergarten. She was hungry and wanted milk. Eventually I taught her to get it herself. She still woke me but I didn't have to actually do anything. She was hard to get to sleep but once she was asleep she was a sound sleeper except for that middle of the night feeding!
1 person likes this
@shellyjaneo (1081)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 15
Oh no hopefully he will grow out of it soon, Vinnie was bad in the nights until he was about 8-9 months old. As he is poorly at the moment we have the opposite problem, he is sleeping constantly he has didn't get up until 11am yesterday then had too naps and went to bed at 5pm but was up at midnight 2am and 3.30am and my alarm went of at 6am so I do feel for you as a few days of it is killing me now that I'm out of practise x
1 person likes this
@k270585 (157)
29 Nov 15
Poor you, my 5 month old isn't really one for naps during the day but he does sleep through so I'm lucky in that sense. Hopefully it will get easier soon.
1 person likes this
• United Kingdom
2 Dec 15
My three girls were all pretty angelic when it came to sleeping but my son (now almost five) was VERY much like your little one (ie. total bedtime nightmare). It's horrible and you have my complete sympathy, hope he settles soon x
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
26 Apr 17
Very hard to be postive when you have a child like mine who cried day and night also. It lasted till he was much older in fits and starts but by the time he was five I had managed to handle him so that he did get to sleep earlier and sleep right through the night. But I did it all by myself. No fun I know what its like.
• Preston, England
7 Dec 15
No doubt the disruption will pass soon enough and you'll get more used to it before they find whole new ways to drive you crazy
@LadyDuck (472121)
• Switzerland
25 Nov 15
Why is he screaming? You should find the cause. My mom said that I screamed all the time and they finally found out that I was not a terrible baby, but I was allergic to the food they gave me.
@BellaDoc (762)
• San Diego, California
4 Dec 15
It's behavioural.
1 person likes this
• Canada
21 Dec 15
I've read your more recent post and see that you have been able to solve the problem. You've helped him learn how to sleep on his own which is something that will help him later in life as well.
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
22 Feb 16
Positive thinking - you go girl
7 Dec 15
definitely rough days that i can relate too. hope you get some rest