why won't she sleep consistently??

[gemstar100]

My daughter is now 5 weeks old. Whilst I was pregnant she moved and squirmed constantly. Now that she is out its the same. She is an extremely alert baby and she very often fights sleep. She has been known to stay awake for up to 5 hours straight - boo to the person who said newborns can't stay awake for more than 2 hours. At night - its a lottery - sometimes she is fine, will sleep in cot/moses basket for 2-3 hours at a time. Other times - no way - she won't sleep unless she is on my chest and the minute I try and put her down she squirms herself awake. An overtired baby - what a nightmare, which is what I am faced with today. I feel so guilty when I get frustrated with her.

Another issue that has started happening is that she is constantly moving and looking at things so she keeps coming off the breast which means that feeds are becoming a bit of a nightmare since I have a ample milk supply and the stuff squirts over both of us each time she comes off!

Any tips for a tired and frustrated mum?? Also was wondering if 7.56am is too early for a chocolate hobnob?

[TreeTrunkThighs]

Two things.

IMHO there being no pattern/consistency/predictability to newborns is the hardest and most important thing to accept in the early weeks. I didn't with DD1 and ended up quite stressed and unhappy. I did with DD2 and was much happier all round.

Secondly, it is NEVER too early for chocolate hobnobs.

Enjoy your lovely newborn (a bit that my newborn days are done)

[Inka2010]

My daughter was exactly the same! I consoled myself with the fact that being so active/alert meant she was intelligent My friend's baby does everything on cue, doesn't fuss or react to anything, and she confided in me recently that she thought he might be a bit dim

5 weeks is also very young. There is a long way to go yet and ways (when she is a bit older) you can encourage her to sleep more consistently. For now I would just say enjoy it, sleep where you can and nuture her strong personality. My daughter is 9 months now and she has so much character, but things were tough with her when she was newborn.

One thing you could do is try taking her out in the car/pram when you think she is getting tired, this may stop her becoming over-tired during the day and difficult to settle at night. Fisher Price also do a rainforest chair which swings, she might be a bit small for it now but it was good at rocking my daughter to sleep. It has different relaxing melodies and a rotating mobile which are quite calming. And there is the Slumber Bear which plays white noise.

[Tee2072]

I would agree with TreeTrunkThighs.

Only I would have put that its never too early for a chocolate hobnob first.

Seriously, that's newborns, or really any baby, for you. They are not consistent. Just try to go with the flow.

For the feeding bit, can you try going to a quiet room, where there is nothing to distract her? Might be a bit boring for you, but at least you won't be covered in milk!

[gemstar100]

Thanks so much for the tips! She is sort of falling asleep as we speak in the swinging chair which she is a bit young for and her head looks a tad awkward but hey if it works I am going with it! I guess I am just going to go with the flow - just need to keep it in perspective - like everyone is saying she is only 5 weeks after all!!Patience is a virtue

@ Inka2010 - made me feel much better. She is definitely what people would call 'free-spirited' but I am now just going to encourage her. She does seem very alert for her age and can spend 15 minutes entertaining herself on her activity mat which is enough time for me to pull on some clothes, have a hobnob and get her out in the pram!!

[InTheZenGarden]

Very impressed that you get 15 minutes to yourself while she is on her mat - definitely not to be taken for granted!

Have you tried a sling? DD wouldn't sleep in a moses basket during the day (but fortunately was fine at night). She would drop off happily in a sling - I would either then keep her in there, or carefully transfer her to her rocking swing chair thing - we had the Rainforest one too, it was fab

Even if you don't get an ideal solution, this phase does pass..... it may seem like an eternity when you're in the middle of it, but honestly, it whizzes by

[mrsjuan]

because she is a baby!

Never too early for hobnobs.

[rubyslippers]

swaddle or sling her for naps

and it is never, ever too early for hobnobs especially if you are breastfeeding

[tortoiseonthehalfshell]

Oh, gemstar, it's totally normal and you sound like a fantastic mum who is doing brilliantly.

Eat your Hobnob, take her to the park, enjoy her.

[grumpykat25]

Hi it really made me smile to read your post. My dd is 4 weeks 2 days and exactly the same! she really fights sleep unless she can "frog" on my chest- not the most practical solution! My lifesaver has been a ring sling- because she sits in it in a froggy position she loves it, and will sleep happily for a couple of hours (so long as I keep moving, good for shifting the baby weight!). It is the best over-tired reducer I have- she hates her car seat and the buggy and just likes to be close to mummy or daddy all the time.

I have no hob-nobs, but I've already hit the double chocolate cookies!

[gemstar100]

I have just bought a baba sling and still trying to get the hang of using it. She did have quite a good sleep in that in the 'frog' position. Trouble is I am crap with gadgets etc and trying to get her into the damn thing - for me - is a problem and she ends up getting annoyed at me manhandling her!! anyway I am now determined to stick with it as so many people recommend it. I am going to check out what this ring sling is as well. Does anyone else feel that with their first child they have just bought so much stuff and don't use half of it??? I need to put some of the stuff on Ebay and make some money back!

I must say that the swinging chair is a godsend!

DD has now not been to sleep (except for maybe 10-20min) since about 7.30am - despite being taken for a walk, swung about enthusiastically in the living room and having a feed. I wish I had my camera to hand when she pulled off the breast suddenly and sprayed herself in the face with milk - hysterical - it was everywhere!!

[VerityClinch]

gemstar, intruiged by your name... you've never been on a certain orange website, have you? If you know what I mean by that, WE HAVE TO TALK! As I think we have mutual friends...

No advice on the baby, my 9 month old is still all over the place, but congratulations on being a mummy anyway.