I'm a first time mum to a challenging 7 week old. He seriously fights sleep during the day and putting him down for naps has become an hourly and tearful (both of us) struggle.
After waking up, I feed and change him, play a little if he's happy and then I see the cues e.g. zoning out, yawns etc. This is usually within an hour of being up. I can then spend upto 45 mins trying to get him to nap before giving up. I've tried it all- swaddling, white noise, bouncy chair, dummy, dark room, co-sleeping, shush pat, feeding, rocking/swaying/bouncing. I can see his eyes close then they spring open as he fights sleep. I'd be happy for him to sleep on me, but he just squirms and refuses. He will sleep in a carrier (thank god), but I have to be constantly moving and even then the average nap is only about an hour. I'm now starting to feel exhausted carrying him for up to 6 hours a day. He is ebf and still waking every 2/3 hours in the night so I'd love the chance to be able to rest, even sit down a bit more, during the day.
To top it off, he has such a difficult temperament at the moment. Yesterday, he whinged and cried literally the entire time he was awake leaving me feeling like the worst mum ever and emotionally drained. I'm hoping this is just a phase (wonder week leap 1), but I hate seeing him so unhappy.
The doctor doesn't seem concerned as he's put on 5lb since birth. I have a wonderful husband who does so much in the evenings and weekends. However, I find myself dreading the long days and not enjoying motherhood at all.
So apologies for the long post. I'm just looking for some reassurance that this will pass and any helpful advice. Is this normal behaviour?
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Behaviour/development
Feeling down with 7 week old. When does it get better?
Ibu1986 · 22/06/2015 05:25
Bless you, he's so wee and it can be so much harder than people realise. Given the time of year I would get out of the house as much as you can for your own sanity - never mind if it's a baby group, just walk/find cafes etc, while he is so portable. I'm not sure on the sleep - if he fights it so much maybe it would be better to wait? - but it might be worth reposting in the sleep section for specific help with the naps. Since he's be, how is he when he's on the breast, does he have a moment of contentment then? If he's still unhappy then, there could be a reflux type issue perhaps. Bf groups are great for meeting other new mums as well as good advice about feeding patterns etc.
The best news is that everything changes so fast at the moment - the further into the "fourth trimester" you get the more comfortable they seem to be. I remember my babies as just one long open mouth before three months!
I hope today goes a bit better for you, and no, you are not a rubbish mum 
I logged in for first time in over a year to respond to yr post because I really feel your pain.
My DS2 is now 12 weeks old & it has been a completely different experience to my first DS.
From a week or two he cried & cried, often really shrill extreme crying that could go on for hours. One day he cried for about 10 hours with a half an hour nap in the middle.
Because he was number 2 I knew this wasn't normal & pushed with the Drs (& racked my brains plus Dr google!) to work out the problem.
Other symptoms included a constant little cough, and only being settled squashed upright against my chest.
It was so exhausting (having a toddler to deal with too) that we hired a night nurse to help a few nights a week. She confirmed that the crying was more than you'd expect.
It became clear that he was suffering from silent reflux. I.e acid was flowing up & down his throat constantly leading to great pain & an irritated cough. Because he was rarely sick he didn't lose weight but in fact this often exacerbates the symptoms as the acid isn't ejected.
He is now on medication which has helped hugely although we do still get bad days.
I feel like we missed out on seeing development leaps etc. they happened but were tiny fleeting moments every few days amongst his crying. Now we get to see the lovely giggles etc.
Sorry for such a long post but hope it has helped you to realise that constant crying is not a normal baby state. It may not be reflux and could be any number of things but it sounds similar enough to pursue as a possibility. If you get fobbed off (first Dr I saw patronisingly said "So are you a first time mother? Babies do cry you know" & was put out when I said no, I'd had a baby before who actually hadn't cried all day!) try & see different Drs til you get one who you think listens.
I found it all hugely draining & have lost over a stone in 2 months (actually the only good thing). It's been much longer to bond this time.
Good luck & I promise life will improve (until the terrible twos but that's a whole other matter 
)
My heart goes out to you. My DS was a "normal" baby, no reflux or anything but by goodness it was tough. The long days until my husband got home. The exhaustion. The relentless nap battle. In those first early weeks he just nodded on/off as I fed him or he sat on my knee or in his bouncer. But I found it so difficult. I never got rest and I was completely exhausted. Witching hours were the worst. About 6pm until 11pm, DS would feed and cry and writhe and cry and feed and on and on.
I don't have any further advice (other than PP suggesting pursue GP if you think something is wrong) but just wanted to let you know it DOES get better, it gets easier, it gets to be enjoyable, you will sleep again. Just take every day as it comes
My DS was like this at that age. Not one thing wrong with him, although i thought at the time that there must be!! For him, tiredness was a MAJOR (in fact the only) factor in his crying.
You obviously have no feeding issues, so it may well be that he's just massively overtired and overstimulated.
Put him down no more than 45 mins from waking from each nap. Keep 'play' to a minimum. These toys marketed at 0+ really get on my wick. The world is enough stimulus, they don't need toys and flashing lights etc.
My DS is now 8 months and he is the happiest little boy. But I would strongly advise taking a week (for example) and really try to nail the naps as it worked wonders for us. And remember, sleep encourages sleep, so you are not potentially damaging night sleep, but aiding it.
Good luck! It's tough!
The fussy feeding could be due to a growth spurt (my DS was horrendous to feed during them) but the rest definitely sounds like reflux or allergy I think, hope you manage to get some answers 
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