fighting the day sleeps

[tattoo_mama]

DD is 3 months old and learnt to self settle (with dummy) at 4 weeks, and now suddenly cant do it..

before, when she showed tired signs i could swaddle her, pop her down with dummy and 9 times out of 10 she would self settle.

over the last week or two, its like she knows im putting her to sleep..i lie her on the bed and before ive even swaddled her she starts screaming. i swaddle her and try to put the dummy in and she just keeps spiting it out, im having to rock her til she is almost asleep then put her down, or stand there holding her dummy in and sushing for 15-20 mins til she wears herself out.

i cant unswaddle her cause she whacks herself in the face when tired and cannot sleep unswaddled, and often as soon as i pick her up to rock her the cheeky bugger smiles...so i assume either shes over self settling and wants me to do it, or i think oh shes smiling shes not tired and as soon as i unswaddle her she screams with overtiredness.

im still putting her to bed at 1st sign of tired signs e.g. rubbing eyes, grizzling, nothings changed in my self settle routine, its just like she KNOWS now and tries to fight it...only day sleeps though, nighttime shes fine...any ideas? TIA

[briggsy's girl]

Emma, your DD is coming up to another Wonder Week - and it might be causing you some grief. at around the 12 week mark (give or take) they go through a developmental leap - and one of the main things that they do is get more clingy, won't sleep as much (even though exhausted) unless close to mum. my DD is coming up to this and i've noticed she is more "mummy's girl" than she was before, doesn't settle for day sleeps at all unless being cuddled etc

it's painful in that you can't get anything done, but i figure it's a big change that she is going through as she makes those developmental leaps, so i work with her instead of against.

if you want more info on what to look for in the wonder week coming up, i'll grab the book and give you the highlights (if you can get your hands on it, it's awesome - goes through the developmental milestones up to about 14 months). makes DD's behaviour make so much more sense!

[tattoo_mama]

whats the book called and whos it byh? yes BG she has been terribly clingy and cries when i leave her sight usually she couldnt care less!!! and wants to be rocked to sleep for day sleeps ugh

[rachel6188]

no advice just hugs em...hoping she'l start settling for you again soon hun xox

[anna]

The book is called "The Wonder Weeks". Google it to get more info.
As part of their theory it is normal for babies to "regress" at certain developmental milestones, and sleep is a big sign of this regression.

Don't stress. Just try and go with it and she should be back to normal pretty quickly. You will notice new skills though in the next week or so and don't be surprised if she suddenly outgrows her clothes!

HTH

[briggsy's girl]

sorry i didn't get back to you sooner hun - the book is The Wonder Weeks - i picked it up on Ebay - it's not one i've seen in any stores around here. reading it made some of DD's behaviours make soooooo much more sense!