6 week baby sleep HELP

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DD seems to have day and night switched round. Had jaundice in the early days, was sleepy and we had to wake for feeds every 2-3 hours day and night. She was on a rhythm of doing 2-3 hour stretches at night but now has reverted to 1.5 hour stretches all night long and 2-3 hour “naps” during the day, been getting worse over the past week.

I do all of the recommended things: she sleeps in the lounge during day in bassinet (curtains open, normal noise, light, etc), taking her for walks in the pram to get sunlight. Nighttime she is also in the lounge with me (I’m on sofa so DH and DS(3) can sleep through the night) but lights out, no stimulation/talking, etc. She is quite sleepy during the day and goes right back to sleep after a quick feed and change, at nighttime she’s up for an hour between wakings (though perfectly content to sit in my arms whilst I rock her quietly until she dozes off).

Help please? I’m knackered and clueless as to what else to try!

It is hard! Even at 6 weeks you could try some stimulation during the day eg laying her under an activity gym with light and sound and hanging toys? Or pop her in a bouncer chair (one that lays relatively flat of course) and allow her to watch your son play etc.

She will get into routine eventually but it can take time and at 6 weeks I wouldn’t put any pressure on yourself to establish that routine - it will just happen as she grows and starts to stay awake longer during the day.

Walks in the pram so that she gets the fresh air is always a good idea and keep doing what you’re doing re keeping it dark no talking etc during the night. Could perhaps try a cot mobile though (again one with lights and gentle music).

Only other things I can think of are:

-Swaddle
-Dummy
-White noise
-Bath and play before bed

It could be that none of this works though and she simply needs to get a little bigger and things will naturally change. Don’t forget to take all the help going and ask DH to do shift work etc or weekends or you will burn out!

You got this! X

Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Unfortunately this is very normal! I have a two year old that still wakes every 2 hours and that is normal too.

For the first year at the very least, repeated night wakes are natural and normal and especially as a newborn this is to be expected. It is developmental - they sleep through when they’re able to.

This is a great read on the reality of baby sleep so you can manage your expectations:

sarahockwell-smith.com/2017/07/24/the-rollercoaster-of-real-baby-sleep/

Thank you both. It seems tone getting worse-last night she was up from7 pm-2 am. Not unsettled but nursing, dozing for 20 min, and then awake again for 30-60 min. Did 2x 2.5 hour stretches after that and slept all day, just up every 1.5-2 hours to nurse and back asleep. She seems to have day and night completely the wrong way round now?! Hoping after this six week growth spurt she’ll get it a bit more sorted?

It’s so hard, and I know that you’d probably love to be reassured that your baby will be sleeping for X hours by the time they’re X weeks old.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that and I quickly learnt that it was pointless hoping that things would necessarily improve and remain consistent as they got older- the article linked above by another poster is very good in this respect.

The best sleep my baby had was a brief period from around 8-12 weeks where they’d usually manage a couple of 3-4 hour stretches. For the 6 months after that, they woke every 45 minutes- two hours all night, every night. It was extremely difficult.

You might be lucky and end up with a great sleeper, but it’s a good idea not to have high expectations about them sleeping through etc at a young age.

Thank you @scott2609 . Yes, I reckon we just got lucky with our first, who slept 3 hour stretches round the clock from the beginning, never had the night-day confusion, and seemed to consolidate sleep early and independently! This one I am totally clueless!