Anybody PLEASE I need help...

I just want to cry, my little girl is not a sleeper! she is 4 1/2 months old and she does not sleep. She didn't sleep at all last night and was only calm when she was nursing and she not even swallowing! she just likes it and when I take her off she screams her head off.

I have tried to give her a binky and she doesn't want to hear it. She is officially teething and won't take a teething ring or anything. I am at my wits end and to make it worse I am a full time working Mom and I can't even keep my head up. We just started her on cereal last night and she ate like a champ, however it didn't seem to help put her to sleep.

This morning she seemed so needy, she didn't even open her eyes once, she just cried when I took her off my breast. Somebody help me...I need sleep. Thanks for listening.

P.S. FYI she doesn't nap either..the longest she naps is a 1/2 hour to an hour the most. once a day.

Maybe its not her teeth... maybe it has something to do with the cereal...

Is she biting you? Is she in pain?
Can you give her some teething meds like Anbesol or something along those lines.

BITING???? She is knawing and pulling on me. We have the little teethers and I only tried it once and she hated it, should I try it again......oops sorry I fell asleep there!

ETS: She wasn't a sleeper prior to the cereal

Ok. I feel your pain. Emma wasnt a sleeper till 9 months!!! BUT back to you.

They make teethers that vibrate. Does she take a pacifier? Emma never did but she realized it was something for her to chew on.

WAKE UP!!! It will be over soon. Ya know. 5 months isnt that long

From Babycenter

Why it happens
Babies going through the sometimes painful teething process can be plagued by crankiness and loss of appetite, as well as bouts of wailing and gum gnashing. But, says sleep expert Jodi Mindell, it may just be a coincidence if your baby starts having trouble sleeping right as her new choppers are coming in. How so? Between 6 and 10 months — the age most infants cut their first teeth — babies are making huge strides in their cognitive and physical development. As they learn new skills such as sitting, crawling, and rolling over, babies get excited and can find it hard to take a break from practicing long enough to get a good night's rest.

What you can do about it
If your baby is waking up frequently at night or having trouble falling asleep but doesn't seem to be in pain, stick to your regular sleep routine as closely as possible. If you change the rules, even for a short time, she'll have trouble getting back on track. But if her gums are hurting, you can help soothe them by massaging them gently with one finger or giving her something cold to chew on, such as a plump, frozen bagel, a gel-filled teething ring, or a chilled wet washcloth. (If you use a plastic teething ring, be sure to remove it from the freezer before it becomes rock hard or it may bruise already tender gums.) If your child has a fever or any other signs of illness, call the doctor. She's probably sick, not just in teething pain

I just want to say that you're not alone! Lyla will be 6 months this Friday, and I haven't had a good night's sleep since before she was born (she has slept 4-5 hours in a row only a few times, it's usually anywhere from 1-3 hours a a time). She's the same way with naps (takes forever for her to fall asleep and then she's up 2-30 minutes later), so it's not like I can 'sleep when the baby sleeps'. I have to say that I couldn't even imagine having to get up and ready to go to work, so I really feel for you.

The thing that has saved me from going insane is cosleeping, but I try to only do it when I just can't take getting up every hour and going into her room, rocking, nursing, falling asleep in the chair with her and then finally putting her back down, only to get up again within 2 hours.

With Lyla, I don't think it's gas pain, teething, being too hot/cold, etc. I really think she just needs to be held and nursed by me all day and night long! I've read books and tried everything except crying it out. But we are totally not ready to let her cry it out. Most likely she will cry for an hour or so before she falls asleep, and I'd rather not let her do that. She cries enough in the car as it is!

I hope we can support each other through this.

NIHA, you don't know how your words were so encouraging...I did the co-sleeper thing last night too, because like you I fall asleep in the rocker with her and I swear I scare myself when my head snaps back with her in my arms!

She will lay next to me in the bed with my breast in her mouth but here's the kicker...she still doesn't sleep which then causes another problem....Mommy has BACK pain!

Like you I just think she just likes the whole nurturing part of BF'ing, and we will never let her cry it out..heaven forbid.

My friend went through the same thing, and her daughter was diagnosed with GERD (I can't remember exactly what that stands for... sorry ) at 5.5 months. Once she was put on meds she slept like an angel, and within 6 weeks they weaned her off the meds and she's been a pleasure ever since.

GOOD LUCK!

Camille, I tend to get stiff from cosleeping also. Are you saying that even if she's in a deep sleep, if you latch her off, she won't stay asleep? For us, it's also not the solution b/c we're both light sleepers, and her movements will wake me, and vice versa and she wants to stay latched on if she wakes up. BUT, when I've been severely sleep deprived, it is better than little to no sleep.

Have you read No Cry Sleep Solution? It has a lot of tips to teach a baby who is used to nursing to sleep how to fall asleep without nursing.

I tried zantac, Lyla was not diagnosed with GERD, but her Dr. said no harm in giving it to her, since we don't know why she's so fussy. It's a strong peppermint taste, which she wasn't too thrilled about and it didn't make a difference. Now, we're trying Gripe water, it's an herbal water for gas, colick, etc.

Another co-sleeper here. *raises hand* The past 3 nights Damien has been waking every 2-3 hours when he was sleeping for 6-7 sometimes 8 hours straight. I just prop up pillows and use my Boppy and my Snoogle and he nurses till we both fall asleep. When he wakes up my breast is usually already out so I just put it back in his mouth and we go back to sleep. Probably not the best solution but at least I am getting some sleep. I am so worried about when I go back to work next month

What is GERD and where can I get information on that??

Mia doesn't sleep, she just sucks but she is awake, when she does fall off to sleep my nipple comes out of her mouth and then she's awake again. My doctor's view on this is 'when she's tired she will sleep', 'when she is hungry she will eat' I'm worried that it may be something more...

Yikes that would worry me too. I would maybe get a second opinion. Wish I could help more. I can only imagine the frustation level you must be feeling with having to go to work. How is she during the day? This is why God makes babies so darn cute, so we don't go completely out of our minds.

GERD is (if I remember correctly) Gastroesphogeal Reflux Disease. I tried calling my friend to get info for you, but she's not home.
Based on what you've said about Mia, it doesn't sound like that's the culprit. Babies with GERD cry unconsolably for hours on end.

I just want to lend some support Can you try to pump breastmilk and use a bottle in those super early morning hours? I am not sure if it will help- as I am NO expert at all this but it would allow your husband to help you while you get an extra few hours of sleep.

I am not sure if this could be a supply issue, but she could be eating because she is hungry and needs you to produce more milk. Have you ever pumped? If not, you caould try to see how much you get. She could also be going through a growth spurt. My gut is telling me she nurses often for comfort, as you said. I have a book called Sleeping Through the Night by Jodi Mindell. I think this topic may be covered in there. You may want to read a book on the topic. Sorry I could not help more.

ETA: I forgot to mention that I give Annalise Hyland's teething tablets. They are homeopathic and work best for her. I would buy a bottle since they are only about $4. It's worth a shot.