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3 week old not sleeping

15 replies

Sparklyuggs · 13/08/2017 04:38

Any advice welcome! DS is EBF and for the past few nights has not slept at all between 10pm and 8am. we have a Sleepyhead in a next to me, I've tried swaddling and it doesn't help.
DS seems to be snuffly and have nasal congestion but it only affects him at night, not in the day. I'm using saline spray already.

He will only sleep on me which I know is common but how on earth so I sleep? DH is away with work and we live abroad with no family/friends nearby. I'd be happy to supplement with formula if it would help him to sleep.

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Sparklyuggs · 13/08/2017 04:39

Do I sleep, apologies for the typo.

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Callamia · 13/08/2017 04:56

I'm awake right now with a nearly 3 week old who has been waking hourly. Tonight, I decided to keep him in bed with me, and his sleep times have improved. I've just had nearly 3hrs break. He's sleeping next to me, or just on my arm - so I can sleep without worrying about him falling off me. There are no covers on /near him etc.

When I put him in the sidecar crib, he gets reflux (not during the day though), and sleeps for very short periods (in the day, he sleeps for 3 hours easily).

Does your baby fall asleep after feeding at all? Even for v short periods? I'm not sure whether formula will help, if he's building supply or in a growth spurt. I'm usually willing to take the path of least resistance, so if he'll sleep in bed rather than next to for now, then fine. I hope you get some sleep soon.

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 13/08/2017 08:51

I'd google safe co-sleeping. BF him to sleep lying down next you in your bed but don't move him once he's asleep! Then you can fall asleep and hopefully you'll all sleep much better and much more safely.

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FATEdestiny · 13/08/2017 09:00

How well is baby feeding? Is he back to both weight and maintaining a centile line?

Are you winding baby after a feed?

Is baby falling asleep at the breast?

If this is your first child, just try to relax. The learning curve is massive and the realities of life with a baby are often very different to what you might expect. Just go with it.

Baby should just be waking, feeding, winding, going back to sleep - over 24 hours a day. There will be added in bits like changing nappies, bath or wash. But mostly baby should just be eating and sleeping. So if baby is not asleep, keep him at the breast feeding.

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rainbowpie · 13/08/2017 09:06

I had this with DD and it drove me mad. With DS I took all the covers off my bed and co-slept from day 1. He was about 8/9 weeks when he went into a cot next to my bed quite happily.

Top up formula feeds can mess up your milk supply.

Google "the fourth trimester".

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Sparklyuggs · 13/08/2017 09:10

Thanks for the responses. Normally he would fall asleep after feeding and was settled.

Fate he feeds very well, hes above birth weight and I wind him after a feed. If he starts to fall asleep during a feed I gently wake him to keep feeding so he gets a full feed and not just a 5 minute quickie.

I expect him to wake frequently, but he seems much more unsettled and distressed at night, especially by his blocked nose.

Out of interest, could I sleep with him on my chest with the nursing chair in the reclined position?

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GinIsIn · 13/08/2017 09:14

DO NOT SLEEP IN A CHAIR WITH THE BABY ON YOUR CHEST. It's really really important not to do that, or on the sofa. The majority of smotherings etc occur in just those situations as the baby can slide down between you and the furniture. Have a look at the safe co-sleeping guidelines.

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stargirl1701 · 13/08/2017 09:14
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rainbowpie · 13/08/2017 09:14

No!! No. Not in the chair. On a flat surface with no loose covers. Never on a chair in case he slips down and gets his face stuck.

Is he grunting? Both of mine grunted and snuffled a lot at that age. They were asleep but just very noisy for a while.

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FATEdestiny · 13/08/2017 09:52

he feeds very well, hes above birth weight and I wind him after a feed

In that case try a dummy. It allows for comfort sucking, that natural way babies fall asleep without crying.

I would also swaddle. It recreates the tight secure feeling of being in the womb. Being help to sleep is seeling similar feelings, but the swaddled baby keeps that 'being held feeling' whilst being put down.

Be gentle about putting baby down.

  • feed to drowsy
  • wind
  • put in swaddle
  • reoffer breast to calm
  • put dummy in
  • hold in your arms, head above stomach, sway slightly until asleep.
  • keep baby in position as you put down. Bend at waist, keeping baby next to your body until you are hovering horizontally over the cot/basket.
  • Lowest the last few cm into the mattress, keep your face close to baby's. Shush if unsettled, tap on dummy to encourage sucking.
  • as you put baby down, put your hand firmly on baby's chest, to replace the feeling of being next to your chest.
  • wait there. Hand on chest. Fact next to baby, cheek to cheek. Shush shush, tap on dummy gently if not sucking. Stay stationary until calm and settled.
  • then slowly, ninja style, withdraw.


If baby wakes, go back a few steps and repeat.
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Sparklyuggs · 13/08/2017 10:04

Thanks fate are there any dummy brands you recommend?

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FATEdestiny · 13/08/2017 10:59

If you've not tried one yet, baby might just take to any dummy you give. Most babies who have dummies do.

Other babies are more fussy. I always swear by the bulbous cherry teat dummy - I find they stay in better in the newborn. Other people swear by MAM dummies, I think they have a flatter teat. Then there are the teats that have a bit at the end that points upwards. Just see how you go.

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Sparklyuggs · 14/08/2017 01:28

Thanks again everyone, I'm not feeding in the chair as it's too tempting to doze off in there. Currently got DS swaddled and feeding in bed with me and hoping to get him down into his Sleepyhead in the next to me afterwards.

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jessi325 · 09/01/2021 06:26

Is your little one sleeping through the night yet?

If your answer is “no,” I totally feel for you!

Dealing with sleep challenges is one of the most
difficult parts of parenting.

Not only do you have to deal with a fussy baby,
you have to do it when you’re totally exhausted
and at your wit’s end.

It’s easy to see why sleep deprivation is such an
effective form of torture!

Here’s something that will help end your pain—
a site that’s dedicated to teaching healthy sleep
habits to children.

Click here to check it out:

//www.sleepsense.net

The site is run by professional sleep and parenting
consultant, Dana Obleman, who pretty much rocks
my world. I used her sleep strategies to wean my
own SON/DAUGHTER from constant night-time breastfeeding
when he/she was just ## months old.

I hadn’t slept more than two hours since he/she was born…
I thought I was going insane!

But within three days of using the strategies Dana teaches in
her Sleep Sense Program, I was able to get my SON/DAUGHTER to sleep a full
twelve hours at night.

It was such an amazing feeling.

Right now, Dana is giving away free customized sleep
plans on her website.

If you and your little one are in desperate need of a
good night’s sleep, you should totally grab one.

You can pick up your free sleep plan here:

//www.sleepsense.net

Here’s to no longer being a sleep-deprived
zombie!

All the best,

YOUR NAME HERE.

P.S. It really is possible to teach your child how to
sleep through the night in his or her own bed.

You can do it in just a few nights… and Dana is the
perfect person to show you how.

Learn more at:

//www.sleepsense.net

Report
jessi325 · 09/01/2021 06:29

Is your little one sleeping through the night yet?

If your answer is “no,” I totally feel for you!

Dealing with sleep challenges is one of the most
difficult parts of parenting.

Not only do you have to deal with a fussy baby,
you have to do it when you’re totally exhausted
and at your wit’s end.

It’s easy to see why sleep deprivation is such an
effective form of torture!

Here’s something that will help end your pain—
a site that’s dedicated to teaching healthy sleep
habits to children.

Click here to check it out:

//www.sleepsense.net

The site is run by professional sleep and parenting
consultant, Dana Obleman, who pretty much rocks
my world. I used her sleep strategies to wean my
own SON/DAUGHTER from constant night-time breastfeeding
when he/she was just ## months old.

I hadn’t slept more than two hours since he/she was born…
I thought I was going insane!

But within three days of using the strategies Dana teaches in
her Sleep Sense Program, I was able to get my SON/DAUGHTER to sleep a full
twelve hours at night.

It was such an amazing feeling.

Right now, Dana is giving away free customized sleep
plans on her website.

If you and your little one are in desperate need of a
good night’s sleep, you should totally grab one.

You can pick up your free sleep plan here:

bit.ly/2L99riq
Here’s to no longer being a sleep-deprived
zombie!

All the best,

YOUR NAME HERE.

P.S. It really is possible to teach your child how to
sleep through the night in his or her own bed.

You can do it in just a few nights… and Dana is the
perfect person to show you how.

Learn more at:

bit.ly/2L99riq

Report
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