Morning Alarm and co-sleeping...need Suggestions

Just in case you didn't get enough responses.... =)

I use my cell phone- I can hear it vibrate because I'm so sensitive in the morning. Or, I use a ring that sounds like a soft doorbell. It doesn't wake up my daughter who cosleeps with us.

Best wishes!

My son had terrible acid reflux too, I took him to see a Kinesiologist called Dr Byrnes and he gave me a probiotic powder which has worked wonders for him. He is based in Woodland Hills, phone number ###-###-####. I have heard of another probiotic called L Reuteri which is supposed to be effective also. I am assuming you have already tried Gripe Water and Mylicon. Good luck!!!

My son was the same way. I slept (sorta) in a lazy boy while holdimg him. You know she is in so much pain. My son has mostly grown out of it. But, Previcid was a huge help.

How about if you try an unconventional alarm? I have one that makes sounds from nature (waves, wind, birds) and no one but me wakes up. I think I bought it at Target. Also, don't let any doctor tell you when it's time for your children to stop co-sleeping. Everyone has their own opinion, and that's all it is is -- an opinion. Your family should do what is right for YOU! I read in a Dr. Sears book that that type of info doesn't need to touch your doctor's ears ;]

well I'm not going to address all those other issues you've got going on here, but if you aren't too deep of a sleeper, how about putting your cell phone alarm on and putting it under your pillow and then know exactly what button to press to stop it quick (mine was just any button on the outside). Maybe a watch alarm would work.

Sounds like you have lots of good advice. I do think that trying a papsan chair or a swing might be the best option to try first, especially since she is already in her own room. If you can keep her there and help her to sleep well, that will help everyone and get sleep for everyone. My sister used her stroller for my nephew - that kept him elevated, yet he felt comfortable and snuggled.

If sleep and missing your husband are a large part of the problem, having her sleep in a swing or bouncer or elevated crib mattress should help the reflux and give you and your husband your bed back - together.

It doesn't sound like co-sleeping is actually going to help her sleep better, but be easier on you, which in the long run, won't help anything, especially when you want her to sleep because she feels better. Also, not be make anyone upset, but there are usually a lot of posts regarding how difficult it is to stop co-sleeping because the transition is difficult and takes up a lot of sleep time. Just something to think about.

Whatever solution you choose, it should address the acid reflux, not just your sleep and hers.

About the alarm - my clock radio wakes up my daughter, so my husband sets the alarm on his cell phone (uses a tone that's more gentle but still wakes us up).

It's so hard to tell what will wake them. The other day while my daughter was sleeping, the smoke detector right outside her room went off (we were making dinner and I guess it was kind of smokey), and my husband knocked over a couple of chairs trying to get to it. Even through the smoke alarm and all the clunking sounds, she was oblivious! She didn't even move. But the clock radio in the next room will wake her up every time.

I don't think she will wake up from the alarm if you set it up to radio and be very quick to turn it off:). But by co-sleeping you two will be very close and in sync, so she may end up waking up whenever you wake-up

My 5 month old sleeps in a crib next to my bed. I have an RCA alarm clock with big blue numbers that I can read with my glasses off:) The alarm starts out very quiet and slowly gets louder if you don't turn it off. So far, it has never woken my baby; not even the time I got up early and forget about the alarm. I heard the alarm blasting next to her as I stepped out of the shower! It has the music setting as well. I'm pretty sure I bought it at target.

Have you tried putting her to sleep slightly upright? Like in her carseat or in something like tha baby Papasan seat? It just might work wonders...

My son had an awful problem with reflux, although he was on medication. At 5 months, I had him sleeping in one of those Papasan seats. (I slept on the sofa next to him.) Keeping him slightly elevated really helped. I moved him to his crib when he eventually outgrew the seat. I then elevated the crib mattress by placing a few towels underneath one end. Hope this helps!

If co-sleeping works, then keep doing it. For us, it's the best way for everyone to get enough sleep and to still be together. I agree completely that your doctor doesn't need to know where your baby is sleeping. Doctors aren't trained in parenting and it's none of their business! Acid reflux aside, 5 months is way too young for any kind of sleep training. Clearly she's in pain and is probably scared and needs you. I wouldn't worry about the alarm. Either set it to the radio on the classical station, or a cell phone on vibrate. Eventually you will all synch up to the schedule. Good luck and I hope you and your little girl get some sleep soon!

All you can do is try. I have three kids who have all slept with us thru out different stages, some times we wake to still find one in our room. So far my alarm has not woken one of them. And there was a time I was you! Luckily I can tell you that she will sleep thru the night, not sure when but she will. Then do NOT get a puppy LOL All my kids sleep thru the night now and we brought home a puppy who is up several times a night LOL Good luck to you and your hubby, its tough not sleeping, but it will come. I would try placing your daughter in a more upright postion, it might help.

I found that when my kids were babies, they slept through noise, including drying my hair with them in the same room. They were sound sleepers. I guess you won't know until you try. You could maybe try having the alarm go off during one of her day naps to see if she wakes up. Get an alarm that plays music, it's not so startling. Good luck!

We cosleep and my husband has to get up EARLY. He puts his cell phone on vibrate..down his jammies!! It works. Hope that helps :O)

Just a tip for an alarm, we used our cell phones. Set them on vibrate stick under pillow and the baby will not hear a thing.

Hi C.,
I am wondering if yo have tried Colic Calm? I know your daughter does not have Colic, but this stuff is amazing with helping with upset tummies, etc.
Also, have you tried having her sleep in her crib in a bouncy seat or reclined her mattress? Another option is to have her sleep upright in her swing. I worked in infant care and we used to do this for our acid reflux kiddos and they would sleep quite soundly. I believe gravity helps to keep the stomach acid from going back up the esophagus until their bodies are a little more mature.

I just want to give you my support - our 13 month old STILL doesn't sleep through the night but she does wake a lot less frequently than she used to. She was also waking every half hour at some points. Aggh!! It is SO hard. I have never been able to let her cry alone. Now my husband sleeps with her (we did night weaning at 11 months b/c of OUR sleep deprivation) which seems to help but when she was 4 months, I slept with her. I think the alarm would wake her up but I'm sure other people will have good advice for you about that. HANG IN THERE!!!! (I am trying to hang in there too...)

I would try the alarm on a weekend to see how she responds to it. also on your work days wake up fifteen minuets earlier to give yourself extra time just in case she does wake. We co-sleep in different rooms. My son and I together and my husband alone, we have a crazy work schedule and a really old, creaky, LOUD house, thin walls and echos. My boy used to wake several times through the night but NEVER woke because of our LOUD beeping alarm. He did forever wake to the music, had it been selected. He is now sleeping beautifully. I miss my husband terribly, but we have made this work for now and the sleep we now have nightly is so important to ALL of our health.
Good Luck!

Hi C.,
Wow you and your family must be going through so much! The reflux will eventually get better, but are you sure that that is the reason she is waking up so often? I know from expierence that babies/toddlers wake up out of habit. Even though she is so young, it is a possibility that she wakes up because she wants you? I really don't have any advise for you other then this wonderful on-line book that I can send to you. It is called "Sleep Sense Program"
Just email me at ____@____.com, and I will shoot it to you. (and any other mom who might need it)
I know the reflex is a terrible thing to deal with for every one, but she will out grow it.
I hope to hear from you soon!
M.

If cosleeping would be easier and give you all more rest...DO IT! I don't know why a Dr would tell you to have a 5mo old sleep in a separate room when they need constant care throughout the night. I get the whole separate bed arguments for SIDS (though we've always coslept), but why a different room? You should do what you feel is best for your baby...and for you! I find cosleeping helps my daughter sleep much better through the night. She's 17mo, so we put her in her own crib/room at night, but bring her in if/when she wakes up overnight. She was in our bed 0-6weeks, then in a bassinet next to our bed (sometimes in bed with us) through 6 months, and then either her crib/room or in our bed since then. Sure, we still have to get up at night, but we love snuggling her and waking with her there. We still have mom/dad time when she's down in her crib, so it's been a good compromise for all of us.
I really hope she gets some relief from her reflux and that she starts sleeping for longer periods. I can't imagine how frazzled you are on such little sleep! We've gone through phases of it, but nothing like what you are dealing with. It will pass and you'll find rest, I'm sure...just stay strong in the meantime and find what works for you! Keep us posted on how you are doing!

I would do two things. First, elevate her head in the crib (use books or blankets *under* the mattress, not a pillow); second, educate yourself on sleep training methods. At five months... and even with acid reflux... she is neurologically able to learn to fall asleep on her own. The book "Baby 411" has a list of the various methods, and even ranks them. Our Lamaze instructor insisted that the Ferber method was *the* best. After doing some reading and looking around online <http://www.babycenter.com/0_baby-sleep-training-the-basic..., we decided on the Sears method. It worked like a dream (pun maybe intended... just a little). The most important thing is to choose a method that fits with your parenting style and stick to it.

You can do it!!! :+)

Is your crib at an angel? My son (9 months) had horrible acid reflux ( it's getting better and better!). He still sleeps with about 3.5 inch of books under the head of his bed. It made a huge difference. I have 3 books under each side of the head of the bed, raising it about 3.5/4 inches up. Our specialist said the bed has to be at a 30 degree angle to make a difference. It made a difference the first night. He only woke up 3 or 4 times at that point. We also introduced solids at 4 months. That takes a little bit to make a difference. Rice cereal was too hard on his stomach and gave him gas. Does your little girl pass stool regularly? Once I managed to get my little guy regular, it made a huge difference. I made my own food and added a lot of greens. Veggies are their friends. You need to be careful with fruits.

And you are right, you can't let them cry it out. I wish I could do it with my son with reflux like I did with my oldest but it's just mean. It hurts them.

I use my cell on vibrate. Doesn't wake the baby but the vibrations on my side table wakes me.

Good luck! It does get better!

Hi C.,

My daughter had horrible acid reflux for the first 8 months. It was hard and the only way she could sleep was if we held her at an angle and gently rocked her so sleep was hit and miss. I found at Babies R Us a little portable rocking chair that had a light vibration motion to it. I would swaddle Chloe and put her in the chair (it has straps), put on the vibration, and let her drift off to the sound of my voice. She could sleep for 3-4 hours at a time at first and then 4-6 hours. The chair was small enough to fit in the crib and to lug around when we were up. It helped her reflux a lot. Good luck and hang in there.

Let her sleep with you! I'm a working mom too and I understand how hard it is to get sleep, any sleep when your baby is up all night. Do what you need to do. You can correct the sleeping in your room thing later once the acid reflux has gone away and your daughter is a little older. Go with your instincts on this and it sounds like they are leaning towards co-sleeping!

As for the alarm...I use a music alarm rather than the alarm noise...it never woke up my oldest son and my youngest sleeps through it most mornings as well.

Good luck!
-M

Why does your dr say that you have to have the baby in her own room? That's just dumb - if you like having the baby with you and you all sleep better together then bring her back. I'm a first time mom too and our doctor was trying to tell me the same thing (at 2 months!), and I just didn't feel comfortable putting my son so far away from me because I'm a worry-wort. Every month the doctor asked me where my son was sleeping and I shamefully told her that the baby was still in my room. She made me feel like such an awful parent (though I didn't know why). Eventually I asked her why I "had" to put him in the other room and she said "because it will be harder to move him when he's older". Pff, sure -- from then on I decided to ignore her (other than on medicine/health) issues and do what was best for us...my life improved DRAMATICALLY that day.

Anyway...my son sleeps in my room with me and I have a vibrating alarm that goesunder my pillow. It doesn't make any noise and does not wake my son up. Just google "vibrating alarm clock" and you'll find a ton of options. I'm sure a cell phone could do this too.

Good Luck!

Hey there - I'm sorry to hear about the acid reflux. I can't help you with that as I'm sure a doctor is doing everything they can. I can tell you that my husband and I co-sleep with my son and have since he was born. (He's 2 1/2 now). We're transitioning soon... I think! Anyway - alarm clocks do not wake him up. We both use our cell phones as alarm clocks but my husband sometimes uses a R. alarm clock. No matter what, he doesn't wake up. In order for ME not to wake up if my husband is getting up early (I am a light sleeper) I ask him to put his cell phone on vibrate in his sweats pocket. It sometimes wakes me up because I can still hear the vibrating but that is a sure fire not going to wake the baby. Good luck!