Is this madness or sensible? Sane people this way please

[Mississippilessly]

I have posted on MN a lot recently. I have a lovely 7 week old DS. We have had some medical issues which have been upsetting. He also has some digestive issues which I think are actually pretty mild when I see what oher people are going through. He is EBF which I am finding a little tricky but not horrendous.

I am quite anxious. I get worried about things and spend hrs researching them. Thankfully DH is more level headed otherwise I would have already gone to a cranial osteopath and a lactation consultant for what are potentially imaginary issues!
This has been made worse by the fact I have been given bad/dangerous advice from GPs/HVs/Midwives. I have trouble trusting them because of this.

I am particularly amxious that he is not sleeping enough. I think he is getting about 14 hrs a day but everywhere says they need more. DS wont sleep in the day in his cot or his pram - even if i go for a walk. He will only sleep in his sling and ideally during a walk. So last night at 6pm DH took him for a walk (slept til 10pm - not the plan!!!) And i did the same at 7.30 this morning.
Is this stupid? Am I worrying over nothing or actually just responding to what my baby needs? The positive has been that he is now asleep and i have my hands free - usually I am still stuck in bed.

My head hurts from thinking. If you got this far - THANK YOU.

Just go with it. That's always been my parenting mantra.

Yep. It's fine. They're all different. If he's thriving and happy, you're doing brilliantly.

If your anxiety gets too much, please consider a chat with your gp

Walking your baby to sleep is completely normal and fine
However it sounds as though you need some help as I would say your level of anxiety is really not normal

It might be that the upright position and swaddling effect of the sling is what he likes, especially if he's having some digestive problems. Have you thought about swaddling when he's not in the sling?
I've heard of the first three months or so being referred to as the fourth trimester of pregnancy where both you and your baby are getting used to being separate beings - they'd much rather still be tucked up inside you!
It might be worth trying to speak to someone about your anxiety, as the poster above suggests, just so you can enjoy these first few months with your baby. It's such a big adjustment and there's (mostly!) no right or wrong way to do things - make it work for you. Good luck and hope things get better soon.

My ds didn’t sleep as much as he was supposed to. He dropped naps well before one. I was responding to him and there are all different.

DS1 only really ever cat napped. He’s 11 now and has always needed little sleep, can go to bed late and get up very early with no effect. DD on the other hand takes after me and would sleep all day and is a nightmare to wake up!

Go with the flow. My DS would only fall asleep attached to the boob,I’d have to very very carefully unlatch him and even then he’d only sleep on me. The only other way was walking him in his pram-I remember the winter after he was born,he was 9 months old,trudging through the snow in a desperate attempt to get a nap out of him.

Their needs gradually change and low and behold he’s now 10 and doesn’t need milk or a pram to nod off.

Just try and relax and enjoy your baby,listen to what they need not what the perfect parenting books tell you.

My 5 week old has never slept as much as they say he should. We average around 11 hours counting his big sleeps, but I guess maybe there is a bit more with all the micro sleeps. This does worry me a bit to be honest as I know how important sleep is for development so I plan to mention it at his 6 week check. However, he seems to be hitting some milestones and is strong and alert so it can’t be doing him too much harm.
I think it’s so easy as a new parent to read too much into everything and then catastrophise. I know I’ve done that on more than one occasion! If it’s causing you a lot of anxiety though you should mention it to your GP. Maybe a touch of PND?

Thanks everyone.
I just had my 6 week check and said i was feeling anxious. He told me that was normal - not very helpful.

However everything else is good, DS's thrush has gone and i have healed!

Most people I know went a little insane after having a baby. It's normal!

Always worth remembering that no baby has read the manual, they are all different so even if the book says they need x hours of sleep that doesn’t mean your baby does!

Do what works for you all, if a walk means sleep then fantastic the fresh air will do you all good anyway!

Walking the baby to sleep in a sling sounds completely fine. Most people consider it normal to put a baby in a pram and take them for a walk until they sleep, and what you are doing is not really any different except he prefers it probably because he is snuggled up close to you. What could be wrong with responding to your tiny baby's needs? But, yes, I remember how easy it is to doubt yourself and not know what to do for the best at this stage. My DD definitely didn't sleep as much as the 'experts' said she should have as a tiny baby (she didn't sleep at all ever unless I was holding her) and still doesn't sleep as much as she should nearly 4 years later.

Yeah your DS sounds like my DD. Only likes to nap on people.

Enjoy the cuddles!