How do I shift bedtime forward?

[Jane7]

My seven week old currently goes to sleep between 9.30pm and 10pm every night. His awake time seems to be between 6pm and 9pm. I'm keen to shift this forward so I can reclaim my evenings and have him going to bed around 7pm but if I try to put him down earlier, he simply resists and won't drop off until after 9.30pm. He then sleeps, waking up for two feeds, until 9am the next morning. Does anyone have any tips for how to shift this? Perhaps he is sleeping too much in the day?? Thank you in advance.

[nailpolish]

i think you have to wait til he is a bit older
he is still very young IMO to try and establish routine

[Littlefish]

To be honest, I wouldn't bother until he's a quite a bit older. He's only 7 weeks old, he doesn't know about day and night yet. Just let him find his own routine in time. If you've tried putting him down earlier and he stays awake anyway, then you just need to leave things alone for the moment.

[Littlefish]

Sorry - xposted with naily

[nailpolish]

i dont want to sound mean, but the 'routine' you and he have just now sounds perfect, its a lot better than some very young babies have

be patient, you will get your evenings back one day

[Neeerly3]

i think my dt's were still going to bed anywhere between 8.30 and 9.30 depending on days antics up til they were 5/6 months old - they started nursery which kind of got them into a morning and evening routine and I was able to jiggle the days bottles better to get bedtime nearer 7.....

[arthymum]

My DS was exactly like this until he was about 11 weeks (which is about when everyone told us it would get easier!) In fact I posted a similar question on here about three weeks ago! He did not want to go to bed before 10 thank you very much! We persevered gently with a bedtime routine and suddenly it got a bit earlier. He is now 13 weeks and goes to sleep between 8 and 8.30. Over time I will try and creep it backward more. The best advice everyone on here gave me was not to stress so much - it will happen in time.

(Oh - and for us I find it's vital he doesn't get overtired and so gets lots of naps during the day. If he's awake for longer than two hours, we tend to have meltdown!)

[littleboyblue]

I would move it forward 15mins every night until you get to desired time. that way it's not too much of a change for lo.

Ds had really bad colic so I was putting him upstairs to bed from about 2 weeks as needed that time away from him.

Just do it gradually. Goodluck

[walkingwomb]

What arthymum said. I use to start my DD's bedtime routine at 9 until i had to start waking her up to start her routine at about 11 weeks! I moved her bedtime forward and hour then. It will happen in time

[Jane7]

thanks for all these tips. i realize i have been getting a bit hung up on the routine when my ds is still only very little (7 weeks). It was after a weekend with my mil saying things like: little babies should be in bed by seven o clock.... last night i relaxed about it and managed to have a really nice evening with ds gurgling on his playmat while i had supper with friends. he was out by 10pm, up at 3.15am for a feed and then again at 6.45, which i don't think is too bad.

[littleboyblue]

Why should he be in bed by 7? He hasn't got to go to school or anything the following day.... Someone said that to me when ds was very young. I chose to put him to bed at 7 because he'd scream all day and would get to that point where I couldn't have him round me anymore.
It's a personal choice, you've got to do what you're happy with