5 week old unsettled after daytime outings

[SomethingLovely]

Just wondering if others have experienced this? I've heard many mums say they've used going out with baby in the buggy to get their little ones to sleep... DD tends to wake up in the pram, and once awake doesn't go back to sleep. She doesn't cry, just lies awake staring at the sides of the pram! Outings in the daytime make for a very unsettled baby once we're home,sometimes for hours afterwards. I think she finds the whole experience of going out a bit much (we live in London so it means taking the bus or tube, and it's busy and noisy wherever we go) - is this normal? FTM so I'm learning every day! Maybe I'm being far too ambitious taking a newborn anywhere? Would be glad to hear others' experiences and insights! Thanks...

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

No experience sorry as the pram or car was the only place DS would sleep.

Have you tried a sling (not a baby carrier)?

[Choccyjules]

My DD got like this at the same age when we took her to meet too many people in one weekend. Maybe it's how they can get after a certain level of stimulation? Not that it sounds like you're over-stimulating her, she's clearly calm about being out and about.

[SomethingLovely]

Thanks both for your replies... Agree JJJ, seems many people use going out to get their little ones off to sleep, guess there's a benefit to not having to trawl the streets though, but would be nice to be able to go out without upsetting her! Haven't tried a sling, but she does like the carrier, might have to give that a try. And Choccy, I do get the impression she's overstimulated - not always to the point of bawling while we're out (though she can get cranky!) but once we get home she's just very grumpy and takes ages to sleep again...

[BotBotticelli]

Agree - she sounds overstimulated. How long are you going out the house for? I found for the first few months, DS was fine with little half hour trips up to our local high street, but I always had to come home after that otherwise he would go mentally grumpy the rest of the day. I remember one day when he was about 12 weeks old where i went to a baby group to meet my SIL in the morning, and then straight out to lunch with NCT group afterwards...was out of the house from 10am - 3pm and he was literally screaming all evening with tiredness. Although he dozed a bit in the buggy he hadn;t had a proper sleep like e would have in his moses basket or on my lap. It was all just too much for him. Maybe take it slowly and enjoy the excuse that having a newborn gives you to watch lots of boxsets and snuggle on the sofa??

Now DS is 10mo I HAVE to get out the house with him twice per day to various play groups/the park/swimming just to keep him entertained and I really miss those housebound first few months!!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Agree with Bot. If you do go out, I'd definitely try a sling. Because they are next to you, your heartbeat and breathing should help to regulate hers and hopefully keep her calm.

If its any consolation my DS always slept with one eye open while we were out and would wake as soon as anything interesting would go on. He's still inquisitive now and is doing really well at school

[SomethingLovely]

Thanks ladies - I feel quite guilty now, we've been going out for a couple of hours usually! I think because after getting home from the hospital in the first two weeks I felt quite depressed, and going out for long walks saved my sanity... And so we've just kept going like we're free to do whatever we please. Poor DD! so will definitely try a sling, and have bought a blackout cover for the pram for essential outings, and will organise all those series I've wanted to watch for cosy afternoons in!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Don't feel guilty at all. It's all so new for both and if its made you feel better then that's good.

How about giving her a huge feed, changing her nappy, maybe a top up fed and then going out for a shorter walk?

Are you going to any groups? When my pfb was this age I found that just going along to my local nct and having a cuppa and a chat kept me sane

[nailslikeknives]

If you want to try to reduce stimuli, you could try covering the buggy with a uv protector/cover when you want baby to sleep.

www.amazon.co.uk/Koo-Di-Universal-Sleep-Shade-Pushchairs/dp/B0081SIP0U/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1382734920&sr=8-10&keywords=Baby%20uv%20cover&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Sorry if that link doesn't quite work, but search koodi sleep shade on amazon and you'll find it.

[happyyonisleepyyoni]

Snooze shade is the one we had. Really useful "blackout blind" for pram. Highly recommended for helping LO sleep in pram in daytime.