Hi
Sounds like sedation may be the way to go....not  for bub but for you
He will be picking up on your stress and this makes it even harder....
Do you have someone you could leave him safely with for a night so that you get some much needed rest as well.....If you are calm and settled that will help bub too......
I know myself when i have not had enough sleep i tend to deal with Jalan a lot worse than when i have had a good nights sleep......
My friend has a 4 year old that still wakes up at night no matter what they do
He may have a tummy ache or ear ache or teething...any number of things will make him miserable......
Be strong and tell him if he cries mummy isn't picking him up....no reward for bad behaviours  It is slowly starting to work on our 15 month old......
Good luck
Luv Deb

along the same lines as a chiro, an osteopath uses a holistic approach to ensure a baby is "functioning" (for want of a better word) appropriately. It is a very gentle treatment and may help. (We have seen an osteo for my son's ears which completely stopped his infections, just from gentle head manipulation.)

First of all, I hope you're getting some time out so you're not getting too stressed. Sleep deprivation is torture (literally). It can make you edgy, and if you're on edge your baby will be too. It's something everyone says, and it doesn't help much when you feel there is nothing you can do about it.

So FIRST - organise someone to take him for a while so you can have some time out - even if it's just to go grocery shopping or have a coffee. It doesn't make you a bad parent to have time away from him. In fact it will be good for both of you.

SECOND - he is overtired. And that will make him whingey and unsettled. Talk to your doctor - he may recomend Fenergen (sp?) or something to help establish a sleeping routine.

THIRD - a child like this can knock the 'mummyhood' right out of you. It sounds tough, but constant crying can drive you to distraction - and the more they cry, the more we want to fix it, and hug them and make it better. But sometimes we can't and you need to know that you are NOT a bad parent. This is not your doing, and in time it will improve. Write this on the bathroom mirror if you need to remind yourself. Don't let anyone make you feel bad because he is like this and their child isn't/wasn't.

FOURTH - look at alternative reasons for him being unsettled. My eldest son slept 4 out of every 24 hours for 2 years. He would cry all the time (overtired Whinge more than a cry). I ended up taking him to the chiropractor and his neck was out - apparently it often happens during quick births. The chiro explained that he basically had a headache his whole life. His sleeping improved straight away, and after 3 visits he was sleeping normally. Now we have to drag him out of bed (but I believe that's normal for a 14 yo - lol )

FIFTH - take a breath and think that you must be a very special person  to have such a special little boy, because there is an old saying "you never get more than you can handle".

Big Hugs, I'll be thinking of you.

 

Oh this must be torture for you and your baby. If you have tried everything to get him to sleep, as you have, it could be something physical or mental. You might try a second opinion - there are so many things that affect sleep!! Some babies just can't sleep, or so I've heard - some children have insomnia. Mind you if your baby is severely sleep deprived he will have a lot of difficulty getting to sleep. When you say he's in a routine, do you think maybe you could adjust the routine? My little boy has had lots of sleep probs too so an adjustment in routine at such times always picked him up again. Nicky at 10 months switched to one day sleep at 12pm.  You might consider taking him to a sleep doctor if a change in routine doesn't do the trick. Remember, he needs to have consistency for at least 3-4 days  and should be getting  about 13 hours sleep in total a day. Sleep begets sleep. If he's not getting this it'll be more difficult for him to get to sleep. I hope this helps and I really hope you and bub can get the sleep issue sorted. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. Take care and let us all know how you go. 's Hayley xx

You sound like you're going through a very trying time.......I would perhaps change doctors and go to a paediatrician,I think you and your bub are suffering needlessly.It can be so hard to get a doctor to listen,I do think if you keep perservering an answer will be found.I hope you get the help you and your bub deserve hugs Merle

I would maybe take him to a different doctor?   There is obviously something wrong.  I watched a show once where a woman had a similar problem and it turned out her son was deaf?  Not saying yours could be deaf but it could be something like that.  He could have something more serious, autism etc.... He's trying to communicate something to you and if all the usual things like hunger, sleep, wind etc have been ruled out then it is something out of the norm.

Yes, I agree deffinatly try changing laundry soap, when my daughter was a baby I couldn't even use dryer sheets or fabric softener of any kind. Also, we didn't find out until she was older, but she was lactose intolerant and her formula gave her bad gas, I breast fed her for awhiel then switched but never clued in. Good luck and I hope baby boy is feeling better soon.

Has your pediatrician examined your son's ears? He could have an undiagnosed ear infection, often kids will have them but not tug on their ears or do anything else to indicate they are in pain.  Could he have Gastric Reflux Disease? Tell your pediatrician that something just isn't right and you want a more thorough exam.

After that, I would look at other stimulus problems such as: is the laundry detergent you're using irritating his skin? Do his clothes and sheets make him itchy and that's why he cries during the day and at night?  Some babies are very sensitive to sensations like that.

Good luck and let us know if you find the answer. You need your sleep and so does your baby!