To ask what on earth you do to stay awake during night feeds that doesn't wake DP

[Justasconfusedwithnumber2]

Suggestions welcome, I have a 2 week old that doesn't really like feeding laying down aargh. So what can I do to stay awake? TV is a no no as it will wake DP. How do you use your time?

Mumsnet, Twitter, general internet messing about on phone.

I had a kindle with a backlight, and listened to podcasts with earphones.

Obviously mumsnet.

I'm one of those late night prolific posters on AIBU

I scroll through Mumsnet too
Take the baby into another room if you want to watch TV, then bring them up to bed whe they're asleep.

I used to go downstairs and put tv on

Have him sleep on the sofa when he has to get up for work so you have the bed to yourself and he doesn't disturb you in the morning. The cluster feeding part doesn't last long.

Haha I tried using phone when DH was falling asleep last night and I could feel the stare...and that was with the night light on.

How do you prop yourself up? Just with a mountain of pillows? It's so ruddy uncomfortable! I need training for little one to sleep laid down!

I co-slept with all my kids

Yeah I guess as I have to take him into the nursery to change his bum I could camp in there. But my bed is soooo warm and comfy. We're Co sleeping atm (don't tell the HV)

I got amazon prime & watched Grays anatomy. I needed something to look forward to in the night!

Could your DH move into the spare/sofa? You need to stay awake to be safe and if he can't sleep through 🤷‍♀️

Co sleeping is fine as long as you do it safely. Move DH out is my best advice. If you need to be awake with the baby and he doesn't want to be woken 🤷 adios amigo

Practice lying down (plus safe co-sleeping of course, we’ve always had a safe bed guard and massive bed or co-sleeping cot) and it’ll be worth it cos you can snooze!

Spare room for him definitely. Your comfort and the welfare of your baby trumps his need for uninterrupted sleep.

Change baby at the foot of your bed or bedroom floor. All that faff of changing on his nursery table will just wake your baby up.

HV won't mind if you're co-sleeping these days. Please read guidance around safe co sleeping on Lullaby trust website though. I have lots of cushions arranged around me, but I don't co-sleep. I have a Snuzpod bedside crib. DH is also sleeping elsewhere so we don't disturb him.

For entertainment I mostly look at my phone. Have the kindle app to read books. Listen to podcasts. My favourite is watching ER re runs on the 4 app on the iPad, but I find it wakes me up too much so I can't sleep when baby goes back to sleep. Good for a night of cluster feeding though.

I had a nest on the sofa with pillows and warm throw, I got more sleep there than in bed as DS would only sleep in his pram for the first month.

I had a feeding chair in the bedroom, kept me upright but comfy (big boobs meant lying down never worked for me). That's where I started on Mumsnet, because the local parent boards were deserted overnight our time. Also did a huge amount of Duo Lingo, which felt like a better use of time, but was hard to out down, so I'd often have to be stern with myself to stop because the baby was definitely asleep.

@QueenArseClangers atm baby sleeps next to me in bed with DH, we have a Co sleeper cot but he hasn't favoured it yet. I will encourage him when he's abit bigger. I love laying down to feed a mnd snooze, it worked perfectly with DS1 in the same set up, until he was 6mo. This little one doesnt seem to be able to latch, he is smaller and my boobs are bigger this time so I think my nipple isn't as accessible... Who knew the logistics could be so complicated!!

Sorry but your "partner" sounds pathetic! Staring at you for daring to try to stay awake to ensure the safety of your baby whilst feeding. I'm breastfeeding and co sleeping and if my partner has a problem he knows he has to share a bed with one of the other children or he's welcome to the sofa. Did yours not realise babies need feeding at night?

I have a few pillows and a v pillow

I play games or read mumsnet on my phone. I can't watch TV as it wakes me up too much

Yes DH does understand but he is entitled to be tired too and grumpy sometimes. He gets up to change DC and sees to my eldest so he's not a total arse. I appreciate he's up at 5am for work. It's give and take

I have to take him into the nursery to change his bum

Why are you doing that? You don't need to.
Keep a plastic changing mat, nappy and wipes by your bed and change him on your bed.

We used to have the TV on, it got to the point I knew the BBC news teams shift rota

Whatever I wanted within reason... my DH would never have glared if I was the one up with the baby. Ridiculous.

Hi I havent got a newborn anymore but I would recommend a V shaped pillow you can get them online,they are brilliant.

DH slept in another room Sunday night-Thursday night during his work week so he didn’t get disturbed and got good rest. Back with me Friday and Saturday. Otherwise you WILL disturb him. But then that is babies if he wants to stay in the room...

I just saw it as I would rather one of us feel normal and alert and it was stressing me out that it was disturbing him; so I kicked him out into the nursery x