Hi all, any tips on how to get my 7 month old to eat and sleep??

[Tam23]

Oh, my precious high needs baby is up to her old tricks again! lol. I'll give you a bit of background to understand. From the day she entered the world she never slept. She hates anything foreign in her mouth so no chance of using a dummy/pacifier/bottle etc. She also hates being in her car seat, pram, baby carrier, sling, bouncy chair, well, any device really to hold a baby instead of me! When she starts her screaming it can last from a few seconds to six or more hours (it's times like that I feel like literally bangin my head against a wall ). Any who, my dilemma is getting my precious one off to sleep. Currently the only way to get her to sleep is if I wrap (yep, at seven months!) her, pat her back and bounce her over my knee. Once she's in a semi-consious state I then flip her over where she wants to suck on my little finger (heaven forbid I don't let her suck on my finger!!). This can take anywhere from half an hour to three hours (count 'em! three) to get her to sleep. I have tried in vain to do something else to get her to sleep and she just won't have it. Not even nurse to sleep (unless it is night time then that's a different story again)!! I tried to toughen up and let her cry one time. I couldn't handle it after a few minute and went in and picked her up. It took FOUR HOURS to stop her screaming/crying. It broke my heart to see tears.

As for feeding breastfeeding is going really well but I'm concerned about her solids intake. Every time without fail she'll chew her food then spit it out and go for another bite. I've skipped pureed food altogether because she would scream until I stopped so I give her large chunks so she can feed herself. She is much happier to do it herself than me waving a spoon at her mouth.

I would really love ANY adivce on how to help my beautiful little girl. Hubby wants me to stop picking her up so much and to let her cry it out. He doesn't get it because he's in the Navy so not around all the time and doesn't see it. I always get up to her at night because feeding her is the easiest way to get her back to sleep when dark. Hubby can't do that one! I now sleep in my daughter's room because she wakes so frequently I'm sick of making the journey between rooms.

Please help!!

[fussyinflorida]

I can really sympathize with you because I have a similar sleeping/breastfeeding situation with my little one. My husband sleeps in another room all together so at least one of us can get a good night's rest. Anyway, as far as the feeding goes I would continue to try pureed foods. I know it may not seem like she is eating much, but it can take many attempts before she actually swallows. Some people even try rice cereal in a bottle. I haven't done that one but know many who have and swear by it, especially with finicky eaters who need more substance than just breastmilk.

Also, my husband and I are going to be trying the cry it out method beginning this weekend. I know it's going to be hard, but there is research behind it. You may want to look into it because 7 months without one good night sleep is enough to drive anyone crazy!

[Tam23]

I did the 'controlled crying' method with my eldest a few years back and regret doing it. She wasn't a high needs baby, just a terrible sleeper. I started it when she was six months and had to redo it at least once a week until she was 15 months old. It worked but only ever for a few days. I vowed never to put any more of my children through that. Now that she's four I guess I do the 'cry it out' method at bed time whenever she's being silly. She is old enough to understand and knows that she is misbehaving. As for my baby, she doesn't understand a word that comes out of my mouth and she won't understand why she is being put in her cot with me not returning. Well, that's my take on it. You do what you think is right for your family.

Hubby told me last night that he wants to keep our baby awake all day (cut out all sleeps!!!) with the hope that she'll sleep all night. I'm kinda glad that he works full time!! He only said that because he wants me to get some sleep too (I got him to explain why he suggested that). I live on 3 hours sleep a night and have already crashed the car with our baby in it due to fatigue (minor bump, that's all).

[Hollyadmin]

I felt the same way about 'crying it out'. We did it with our daughter, and it worked, but I still feel bad about the crying. I definitely advocate it though when you as the parent feel you're at your wit's end...better to teach sleep, even with crying, than for your child not to get enough sleep.

Anyways, just wondering if you're read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth?  He talks a lot about 'sleep begetting sleep', so your husband's idea of keeping her up all day probably wouldn't be endorsed by Weissbluth He gives great tips for how to get your baby to sleep and get into a routine. I have found the book invaluable with both my kids.

[Tam23]

I have read Marc Weisbluth's book. I borrowed it from the library when I was pregnant because I wanted to make sure I had a sound knowledge on what to do if my baby wouldn't sleep. Then God gave me a high needs baby so I now have to look at parenting from a different angle. I might borrow it again for a refresher. It's been around a year since I read it.

Recently we had a few shocking nights. Every one was sick and my baby was getting her second tooth. She wasn't coping at all. She would cough that horrible bark-like cough during her sleep every 5-10 minutes (no kidding!!). The sound would wake her up and she would start screaming because she woke up before she was ready. I think hubby and I got a combined 3 hours sleep those nights. After harrassing my doctor long enough she finally realised there was a problem and gave me medication that works (you'll be surprised how often docs give you medication that they know doesn't work just to get you off their back ).

Anywho, my darling princess is now back to waking 2-3 times a night and being awake for a total of 2 hours. It's not ideal but it most certainly is better that before and I definitly can handle it!!

[sombrabella]

Tam23, I feel for you!!  My baby is not a sleeper either, and will not sleep without me.  He also hates confinement of any sort, although he is learning to tolerate his stroller for short walks.  So I don't have any good sleep advice, just sympathy 

As far as eating goes, at 7 months your little girl just may not be ready for solids.  If she is a healthy weight, I wouldn't push the issue.  In a few months when she has more hand coordination, she may enjoy feeding herself finger foods.  Have you ever heard of baby-led weaning?  It's sort of a trendy thing right now, and I don't entirely agree with the concept, but it's interesting, and reading about it might give you some ideas.  Do an internet search sometime if you're not familiar with it.

[Tam23]

I found out why my baby is so upset all the time. She has a dairy intolerance. I'm very excited about my discovery because the day I stopped eating dairy she woke only twice that night!!!!! And wakes only once a night for a few minutes since then.

I decided to bite the bullet and accept paying hundreds of dollars just to see the paediatrician. That visit angered me so much!! I told him what was going on and all about what was happening and he refused to listen. I tried telling him that I think there is some issue other than being a poor sleeper. His advice: put her in her cot at 7pm, shut the door and go to bed yourself with the baby monitor turned off. Only enter the room again after 7am (I've washed my hands on that man, you had to be there to see how cold he was to me). After spending the rest of the day fuming, ranting, raving etc I decided that all advice from other's regarding her sleep was no longer wanted. The following day I chose to cut out dairy for a couple of weeks and if nothing happened gluten too. The result was instant. She now sleeps like a 'normal' baby and only cries when hurt or tired. I have never seen her so happy!!! At 9 months she's finally the baby I dreamed about.

For all those parent's out there who are breastfeeding their little one, cut out all forms of dairy for a few weeks to see what happens. You've got nothing to lose and only sleep to gain!! If that doesn't work try another major allergy group (soy, gluten/wheat, egg, fish etc). If you do go down this path I really hope that you find an answer to your sad baby.