5 week old son won’t fall asleep after feeds.

[Mamainneedofhelp]

Hello lovely mummies.

I am a mama in desperate need of help!
My DS is only 5 weeks old, he doesn’t ever get milk drunk or fall asleep on the bottle like most babies do at this stage. He never falls asleep in our arms either.

The problem is it can take 2-4 hours to get him to sleep after his feeds which when it’s been 4 hours he’s then due another feed.
As he doesn’t fall asleep on us we are having to put him in his basket awake!

We play Ewan the sheep place him in the basket and tap his back and leave the room. We have to repeat this process a few times until he settles and goes to sleep. Sometimes this can take a very long time!

We have to do this for every nap and bedtime as he just doesn’t fall asleep in our arms no matter how long we hold him.

It’s really draining as i am finding it so difficult to settle him to sleep in the basket and as it takes such a long time.

My question is do any mummies have advice?
How do I help or teach a 5 week old to self soothe? I feel like I don’t have a lot of choices as we can’t wait for him to fall asleep in our arms as my DD is 22 months old so I have to also look after her.

I think he has colic and we got told he has reflux however the GP won’t prescribe anything for it as my son is gaining weight.....

I have had a few people suggest Cranial massage however DH will not let me try it out as he doesn’t feel comfortable with the process.

I know my little boy he is way to young to cry it out and learn to fall asleep on his own this way but I’m not sure how else I can help him and soothe him to sleep I feel like eventually we will have to try the cry it out method as I am trying everything I can.

Thank you for any replies I will get back.

This mama has tried everything possible and doesn’t know what else to do.

I definitely will try the sling. Need to order one tomorrow!

Oh I just saw you had been breastfeeding - would you be comfortable to try re-introducing one breastfeed as the slower flow of milk might possibly help a little with the reflux?

When we have our 8 week check I will definitely be bringing it up again.

💐 OP (I am also awake with a 9wk (3 week adjusted) year old - would second the swing if things don’t improve, it was a miracle for my first. Hopefully a few weeks may improve things if it is his digestion keeping him awake.

Just to clarify - sorry v tired - we used the swing to settle and calm our first before putting her in the basket, not to sleep in! Just in case that wasnt clear!

Does he need the gripe water? That might not be helping with the reflux

When he’s in the swing or bouncy chair or when you are holding him is he content, but just not sleeping or is he crying?

I would have him in a sling.

With my second I couldn’t just sit on the sofa with her in my arms all day the way I could with my first so I had her in a sling almost all day long. Sometimes awake, sometimes asleep it didn’t matter. Being upright helps with any reflux and at that age they just want to be near you/ on your constantly anyway.

Cut down a 5 week olds feed?! WHATTTT.
No no no. You need a new GP.
Also never leave him to sleep on his own. Doesn't matter if he won't fall asleep on you bring the Moses basket to where ever you are or use a rocking chair.

Maybe swaddling? When my baby was young, She didn't nap so it was swaddling to the rescue!!! Still do it sometimes if she's really fighting sleep!