HI
Im after some assistance. My DD just turned 1. She has been an awful sleeper from day 1 and still does not sleep through the night, although is improving. My issue is that she seems to CONSTANTLY be unhappy, she will have periods of 'good' times but overall i see her as an awful baby! She does suffer from eczema which im trying to sort out as its causing her grief. I had a very traumatic birth so had a lot of issues bonding with her but now i find myself constantly frustrated with her! I believe she is currently teething causing more unsettled periods. I would like to know if anyone elses babies act this way, how you deal with it and any other advice. I really am not enjoying being a mother and it upsets me greatly to say that, I love my daughter dearly but am struggling with the constant battles i seem to face with her. Also if anyone has any eczema tips! id love to know!!
thanks

Sorry to hear that your feeling this way it must be tough!

Could she be bored? I find that when my 11 month old DS is home for too long he starts getting a bit frustrated and upset. When I take him out to the shops or the beach or park he definitely perks up and is completely different when we get home. Joining a mums group or taking her to playgroup could help to.

Also have you looked at her diet? Could she have an allergy that is unsettling her stomach or causing her pain? What kind of foods does she eat regularly? Foods can have a big impact on childhood behaviour and should definitely be looked at.

Sorry don't have any advice about the eczema.

I really hope you are able to find out what's bothering her so much. Good luck

HI
Im after some assistance. My DD just turned 1. She has been an awful sleeper from day 1 and still does not sleep through the night, although is improving. My issue is that she seems to CONSTANTLY be unhappy, she will have periods of 'good' times but overall i see her as an awful baby! She does suffer from eczema which im trying to sort out as its causing her grief. I had a very traumatic birth so had a lot of issues bonding with her but now i find myself constantly frustrated with her! I believe she is currently teething causing more unsettled periods. I would like to know if anyone elses babies act this way, how you deal with it and any other advice. I really am not enjoying being a mother and it upsets me greatly to say that, I love my daughter dearly but am struggling with the constant battles i seem to face with her. Also if anyone has any eczema tips! id love to know!!
thanks

Hi

I think something is amiss if she's constantly unhappy... what have you explored so far?

Do you think its the eczema that's causing the sleeping problems?

The first thought that popped into my mind was trying a chiropractor, if your bub has been unhappy and not sleeping well since birth there may be something that is causing her pain - her neck or back or hips may be out (not noticeable to the naked eye) but which may be eased if she's held but not when laying down.

Possibly there's some other issue.

I'd be exploring all options with a visit to your GP, or child health nurse and if nothing is discovered there then a chiropractor. You could also try contacting the Tresillian centre... they have an advice line.

http://www.tresillian.net/

I also think you need to get some help with how you are feeling, you need to take care of you too - counselling can be a wonderful thing and also accupuncture is a fantastic stress relief option.

All the best xo

I know how you feel!


My DD2 is a great sleeper once she's asleep, but during the day she can be an absolute terror! She whinges, cries & carries on & it's very difficult to keep her happy. For me, even when she is in a good mood, I still get nervous about when her mood will change again.

She also had a traumatic birth (emergency c-section due to fetal distress after 15 hour labour), and we were in & out of hospital with health issues for the first few months of life.

Some things I find that help is

*lots of snacks throughout the day rather than meals,

*rotate her toys so she has something 'new' to play with every week, one thing my daughter LOVES is a heavy pot (so she cant lift it) filled with a little bit of water, a cup & a ladel. Put a towel underneath if you're inside & let her play away wink,

*spend one on one time with her- She could be going through seperation anxiety & her whinging may be her telling you that she needs/wants her mum. Do you roam the house alot? Going from one room to the next alot? My DD2 gets really upset when I do this & I find it helps to put in the time to hold her as I walk into a different room.

* Maybe an ear infection? Have you had her checked out by a GP to see if there's anything medical that's bothering her?

Most importantly look after yourself. If you're stressed out & not happy, then she'll probably pick up on those feelings.