8 week old baby won't let me sleep!

[Firsttimemummy19]

I'm just after a bit of advice really.

My DS is 8 weeks old and is a very clingy baby. I'm the day it's fine as he will just fall
asleep in the sling but night times are getting to be quite painful. He sleeps for 2 hours when we first go to bed then wakes for s feed (EBF) but then he's clingy and makes constant noises and murmurs if he's not attached to me which means I get next to no sleep.

Can anyone give me some advice? Is it worth trying a dummy at night? I really didn't want him to have one but I'm that tired I can hardly focus!

Normal im afraid, babies aren't cindisive to good sleep. Yes try a dummy.

My advice would be. Put him in his own room. If hes not crying to be fed or changed, keep checking on him but no contact and no lights on. He has to learn to settle himself. The sooner The better.
Also dont hold him all day. Hold him if he needs it but he has to learn that you're there but not going to touch him non stop.
Its really hard but we all get through it.
Good luck

The advice above is against Sids advice and would put your baby at higher risk of cot death.

8 weeks old is a well known challenging period as baby is making a mental leap. Look up wonder weeks, there's an app that explains each leap and the kind of behaviour to expect.
Babies will feed more, be really clingy and fussy in the lead up to gaining new skills. These periods are called Wonder Weeks.
There's nothing wrong with using a dummy, you're far enough into breastfeeding that it won't mess up supply. My 12 week old will only daytime nap if he has a dummy.
Can you co-sleep safely?
Can someone take the baby just after he's fed so you can catch up on sleep?
I don't have much more advice than to just hang in there, it will get better.

Ignore slowcookervegans advice, it’s really bad

Have you tried a bednest/poddlepod/sleepyhead? My DC3 is 21 weeks and prefers to be cuddled all night, totally normal but the pod means I can put him down in his bedside cot and he still feels secure and snuggled.

Don't put him in his own room yet he's far too little... as a PP said that's contrary to safe sleep guidelines. Re being clingy, read up on the 4th trimester - totally normal for them to want to be in physical contact with their mother at this age. Could you try a next to me type crib?

@Slowcookervegan God there's no way I'd put him in his own room yet, he's only tiny! Also I love holding him and other advice given was to make the most of cuddles which I intend to!

Thanks everyone else, I've just bought the app wonder weeks so hopefully that will help prepare me for other behaviours :)

Sorry I meant babynest not bednest

I’m intensely depressed by slowcooker’s advice. Eight weeks is so very tiny. OP, you might like to consider a bedside crib or to look at the Lullaby Trust’s advice on safer co-sleeping arrangements.

I have a next to me crib but he doesn't like it, I've got a sleepyhead too but been given different advice on it so get worried when he's in it. We bed share at the moment so I don't have to get up to feed him but as soon as I slip away to try and feed he gets upset. He like my boob in his mouth all night

** to try and sleep

Pretty normal & feels like hell when you’re in the midst of it, but it does pass, honestly. No advice but just power on through - you are doing brilliantly!

Try a dummy then, OP. It will do no harm and in fact there’s evidence that they give some protection against SIDS. Some babies are just very ‘sucky’!

Wonder weeks has been completely debunked. The guy who wrote it has been struck off in his home country and is disgraced in the academic world.

8 week old babies don't really sleep. Do you have a partner who can at least let you get a couple of hours in the afternoon or something? It will get better.

Have you tried Velcro swaddles? And yes definitely worth trying a dummy.

He wants to be close to you which is completely normal but that doesn't mean it's easy for you. The first few weeks are so tough. Sleep deprivation is quite literally torture!

Please try not worry about the Sleepyhead. Some of my friends have been put off using them by uninformed midwives who told them they're dangerous. Sleepyheads are 100% breathable and conform to British Standard regulations. Look at their website for specifics.

Definitely try swaddling and a dummy. Sucking is a great comfort to newborns. Swaddling makes babies feel like they are being cuddled and stops them being woken by their startle reflex. Miracle Blankets are, in my opinion, the best swaddle blankets available and are well worth the money.

Its normal and its hellish.
Sorry.
I agree with swaddling, that really did help and get me 30 minutes rest at a time
😤

Try a dummy, you might get lucky and he'll take it if he's a sucky baby. Mine refused the dummy, I was gutted.

It's so, so hard OP, but does pass - I found reading about the fourth trimester very helpful/reassuring: sarahockwell-smith.com/2012/11/04/the-fourth-trimester-aka-why-your-newborn-baby-is-only-happy-in-your-arms/

I’m in a very similar boat, baby is nearly nine weeks old, but was four weeks early so only about five weeks corrected. Sleeps brilliantly in the sling during the day, just won’t sleep in the (Arms Reach) crib at night, wakes almost immediately. She’s small and was prem so Co sleeping isn’t really advised, also won’t take a dummy! I’m getting next to no sleep. It’s hell, but just trying to remember (she’s my second) that it will get better...
Sorry, no advice, but some solidarity at least!

I would definitely give a dummy a try. Nothing to lose.

Try the dummy.
Some babies need one, some don't.

Please do not do what slowcookervegan said but I suspect they are being sarcastic.
It's really hard but it passes in the meantime sleep when you can- get others to take baby out in pram maybe.