3.5 Month Old and MOM Can't Sleep

I know this is going to be tough but my Dr recommended it for my children. At 3 months they should be sleeping through the night and there is no reason that a baby needs to get up during the night(mostly just habit). So let your baby cry during the night feedings...I know sounds mean but works. You will sleep and baby will sleep after a few nights but wow what a relief. For you I would make sure its quiet,no caffeine an hour before bedtime,and maybe read or watch a bit of tv before going to bed.

First of all make sure you are not drinking anything caffeinated close to bedtime. Then RELAX! Whatever you do to relax normally do at this time. Don't take this time to play catch up with housework or anything that will keep you up. If reading puts you to sleep then keep a book by the bed. Try putting on some classic music on low. I find myself constantly going over everything I need to do the next day as I lay there thinking I need to go to sleep. Try making a to do list before bed. That way you are already prepared for the next day and have a jump on getting organized in the morning. Hope this helps.

I am having similar problems. I have a hard time falling asleep after my daughter falls asleep. What I found that helps a little is to turn off all the lights and limit the noise level. If I don't fall asleep then I can at least relax a little until the next feeding time.

My daughter is 18 months and sleeping through the night, and I am the one that isn't. I toss and turn for an hour trying to settle down for bedtime. I found what works best is a really hot shower right before bed cause it relaxes my muscles. I have also tried zoning into TV or doing puzzles. I don't think my sleep will ever be the same again.

You MAY want to look into post-partum depression. I AM NOT saying you have it but when I was checked for it a lot of the questions revolved around sleep. If you think you may have it that may be why you are having a difficult time sleeping. I hope that this isn't the case. Good luck with the sleep. Maybe you are just wide awake after he wakes up. It sounds like you go to bed fine so hopefully it isn't anything more than that.

From what I read you are talking about YOU not sleeping right?

A child is not expected to sleep thru the night by 3 months.
The experts say by 6mos. 3 mos is so early. But u can start a bedtime routine that will cue him that sleepy time is coming..

I co-slept with my little one until she was 4-5mos, so I could get up, feed her (half-sleep) and fall right back asleep.

The 2nd half of the night, my husband will get up with her and feed her pumped milk. Maybe (if u have a partner) can take over the 2nd part so both of you get uninterrupted 6 hours of sleep. We split our shifts: 9pm - 3am was the first shift, and 2nd shift was 3am to 7am or so.

I am all for the cry it out method, but for now that method is too early to implement.

If you are alone, and need to get back to sleep after a feeding, take a quick hot shower or do something that makes u sleepy (drink warm milk, etc).

Are you co-sleeping? If not, I would try this for better sleep.
Amy