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6wk old DS cannot sleep in the day

7 replies

Beachmum85 · 12/01/2017 10:24

DS (6wks) is such a light sleeper, and with any noise wakes instantly. It's so hard because I have DD who is 3.5 and when she's at home he just can't drop off (which is most of the time).

The evenings are terrible as he just screams with over-tiredness (& I think a bit of colic). I've tried a walk in the sling, pram, car seat, rocking crib, etc and he just can't drop off without crying, or wakes as soon as the movement stops .

I feel so bad for DD because if he's awake he wants to feed constantly and generally only lasts a few mins in a bouncer or play mat before crying (which also upsets her).

HELP! Any tips?

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FATEdestiny · 12/01/2017 12:06

Will he fall asleep on the breast?

Light sleeping in one this tiny is usually down to feeding. Not that there is a problem with feeding, just that baby needs feeding very, very frequently so doesn't settle into long stretches of sleep.

Feed feed feed.

I'd also work on getting baby to take a dummy so he can suck for comfort without your nipple.

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FATEdestiny · 12/01/2017 12:08

Also - have you tried a swaddle?

I swear by dummy, swaddle and very limited awake time for the first 12 weeks.

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Beachmum85 · 12/01/2017 13:09

Thanks FATE.** DD was such a sleepy baby, she'd come off the boob then sleep for hours.

DS comes off the boob then pings awake or wakes after 10mins (or is woken up!). He has always been incredibly alert but agree he really needs to get into a cycle of sleeping most of the time.

Tried a dummy, again tried and tested with DD, but he doesn't seem to like it. Or a swaddle... arghhhh

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FATEdestiny · 12/01/2017 18:21

I'd keep trying with the dummy. It took me a month of relentless effort until my youngest finally accepted the dummy at 7 weeks. Immediately her sleep improved. All my other children took to a dummy immediately, some just take more effort I guess.

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Beachmum85 · 12/01/2017 18:32

Yes, I will definitely persevere with the dummy, thanks FATE.

Im a broken woman, I just endured several hours of relentless and inconsolable crying again this afternoon that cuts me in two...

On the one hand I feel sorry for DD because I'm hardly ever available, on the other hand I'm so annoyed because she keeps waking up DS and I feel like she sometimes does it on purpose 😩

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lilyborderterrier · 12/01/2017 19:28

White noise all the way love, my daughter hardly slept with in the daytime, never in the pushchair or sling, even in the Moses basket down stairs. So I moved her upstairs with a monitor and put on the sound of a hairdryer/ vacuum cleaner, she slept like a dream, I checked on her very often ( sleeping when she did when she was tiny ) as she got older she'd only nap in her cot which she did till she was 2.5 but it meant she napped ( it was a bit restricting in terms of doing groups etc but it worked)

Know this was just because she was on her own, but I'm 7 weeks pregnant and plan to try to do it with this baby the same while my daughter is at school. ( here's hoping!)