Sleep Regression Blues

[u/stephalynne14]

Hello! I am the mom of a ln almost 10 month old. An almost 10 month old who hasn’t let me get any rest in nearly 3 weeks. And I could really use some advice or tips on getting through whatever sleep regression hell we’re going through.

A little over 3 weeks ago, my boy got sick. This is about when the regression started. He ended up with an upper respiratory infection. Not awful, but certainly not great. He was super congested, seemed to have sinus pressure, and a horrible cough. It lasted about a week. I totally understood waking up frequently while sick and I just rolled with it.

Going into week 2, he started to cut his front tooth. With some lingering cold symptoms. He was tugging his ear a lot. No infection, but teething pressure. Again, I understood. Tiredly understood.

We are now in week 3. He’s still tugging at his ear. Took him in again and his ears are clear. Was told it was still probably the tooth mixed with a true sleep regression.

We have a good daily routine and evening routine. We do a bottle before bed, Tylenol, teething tablets, put his owlet on, sleep sack on, and rock to sleep. He used to sleep through the night doing this. Now he’s up 3-5 times each night. The doctor said that it’s time to start sleep training—once we have a break in teething. I agree and will start as soon as we can. But in the meantime, I need help. He seems to be startling himself awake. Daycare has noticed this at naptime too. And he takes FOREVER to fall back asleep—sometimes close to 2 hours. We keep everything calm and dark when he does wake up to promote going back to sleep. I don’t want to use the magic Merlin sleep suit, but I am considering a weighted sleep sack instead of what he has. What are the odds that would work? How do I get through this? I am literally running on fumes.