7 week old will not sleep please help 😭😭😭

[PonchoIsNotMyName]

Tonight has been the worst night yet, he's been wide awake and miserable since 7pm and DH has just taken him for a drive in the car as a last ditch resort. He settles to sleep during the day fine - pretty much only in the sling. At night it is a different story, it takes hours to settle him, even in the sling, even co sleeping. He's been swaddled, white noise, dummy, sleeping bags, dark room, on me, not on me, pram, bouncer, all the colic relief type meds - literally EVERYTHING you can think of and he will not settle, he just screams and you can see how exhausted he is but he will not sleep. I have tried shorter wake windows, longer wake windows, nothing. He is EBF but will not feed to sleep (neither would my eldest, I don't know how I have managed to produce two EBF babies who won't fall asleep on the boob!!!).

The only thing I haven't yet tried is a bottle of formula which I'm loathe to do in case it upsets his tummy.

Any words of wisdom? Thus far he settles OK DURING the night but getting him to sleep in the first place at night is awful.

Ive had three babies and when the third was like this went against all advice and gave a botttke at night time (I was breastfeeding) didn't interfere with breastfeeding at all and baby (and mother) was so much happier x

Even the car didn't work 😭

Does he vomit a lot? Sore tummy? Is he scrunching himself up?

No real advice but much sympathy. I found the best way to settle was on my arm belly down swinging. I did start stopping late afternoon naps as well. Nothing more stressful than an overtired baby that won’t sleep x

Nope. During the day he's fine and settled.

I don't think they need to sleep all day otherwise they won't necessarily sleep at night. Try to keep him awake a bit more. According to google they need 14-16 hours a day - so that is around 9 hours of "awake" time. If he sleeps lots during the day then he will want to be up & about.

I was strict on routines as I was keen to sleep all night. I also bottle fed for that reason. It's not for everyone tbh but mine both slept through from 6 weeks.

He doesnt want to be up, he's shattered.

If he is upright in the sling it could be silent reflux that's getting him on a night when laid flat.

You might also need to eliminate something from your diet as he may have an intolerance that he struggles to digest with. You'd need to speak to your doctor or infant feeding team to determine if this was the case and carefully manage it.

It might also just be that he likes to be in that position and close to a heartbeat.

Is he warm enough? I think we focus so much on not overheating them that babies are often too cold. V hard to fall asleep if you're freezing. Put socks and a cardigan on in him.

Bottle. There are sensitive stomach formula options out there. Don’t make life any harder than it needs to be. You all need to sleep.

I'm not even sure it'll work tbh, it's not like he even seems hungry. He doesn't want the boob.

Tried!

It sounds like colic. Forget about trying to get him to sleep at 7pm or whatever just have the evening with him with you, have a bath together, make sure you wind him, if breastfeeding keep feeding if it comforts him.

No because at night he won't even settle in the sling, that's my point.

Surely at this stage anything is worth a try. You must be going insane.

The move Wonderstuff has mentioned was good for ours. Hold the baby on your forearm and gently swing. I think it was a technique from an American pediatrician that my husband found on Google years ago. Can't remember what it was called but it worked a treat and really calmed them down when they were in their first 3 months.

Tiger in the tree hold? We've tried it. He hates it 🤣

yes, I definitely made this mistake with my first.

have you tried swaddling?

It's he gassy? Have you tried bicycle legs, round the worlds etc to fart the baby? They can't move much themselves and movement is key to relief.

He's finally conked out on my chest after 4 hours. I would gladly have him like that from the start if he settled, the point is he just doesn't settle at night whatever you do. So many people say oh just co sleep. I'd love to! But he won't settle. It's like he just has a total personality change when 8pm hits.

Yes. Several different types. He absolutely hates being swaddled unfortunately.

As a mum of 4 breastfed children and one who worked in maternity I say give him a bottle of formula after a bath just before sleep

I just googled that and no it's not anything to do with tigers. I found the one it is though. Google "The Hold" by pediatrician Dr Robert Hamilton. Give that a go.

Could you take him around the block in a pushchair?