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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect my 6week old to sleep...

50 replies

youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 15:46

He's been awake since 6am.

I am knackered, but he is going strong.

Surely, he needs to sleep sometime soon

OP posts:
MamaG · 30/06/2008 15:48

Can you go for a long walk in teh pram? Usually guaranteed to get mine off - or a drive in the car then sneak him into the cot?

Poor you, its awful when you get so tired

suzywong · 30/06/2008 15:48

he is a law unto himself

make sure your dh takes him as soon as he gets in from work (presuming your are a western based nuclear familly) and you go and have a bath

RubySlippers · 30/06/2008 15:48

swaddle him or put him in a sling

he will sleep - swaddling used to work like a charm for my DS

thumbwitch · 30/06/2008 15:49

ha! don't you believe it - my DS was surviving on a total of 8 hrs sleep at that age with often no nap during the day unless we both fell asleep together after bf'ing.

he's much better now (nearly 7 mo) - 10 hours at night and lots of little snoozes during the day

Mercy · 30/06/2008 15:49

You poor thing - dd was like this, she used to have a couple of 20 minute naps, 40 mins on a good day and that was it.

EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 15:51

I remember that stage

agree with pram/sling/walk

Piccalilli2 · 30/06/2008 15:53

My dd2 (10 wks) is the same, you have my sympathies. She'll maybe nap for 20 mins if she goes off in the car or sling, that's it.

Gonkster · 30/06/2008 16:04

Oooo. I had EXACTLY this and after a difficult birth, I urgently needed my rest so succombed under duress to a light and easy and very flexible routine from 'The Baby Book - How to enjoy Year One'. Worked a treat. Also, I bought recently a book called
www.amazon.co.uk/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp/009190255X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=12148 37862&sr=8-1

to help with some day time napping issues that were coming about - DD now 7mths. Written by a paediatrician (so not subjective) and it's also worked a treat.

We had started off putting her in the pram, walking about holding her, putting her in the car etc etc but found we had become a slave to it all and in fact what we wanted was to be able to soothe her for a few minutes, put her in her cot, say 'sleepytime' and she would work it out for herself. From 8 wks, she napped at regular times for reasonable amounts of time, and from 13 wks slept through the night. The above two books helped us achieve that pretty quickly. Now has 3 hour long naps a day and sleeps 7pm to 6am. Be warned, we had to deal with a couple of nights of controlled crying , but it was only two nights in return for months of happy baby so I think it was worth it.

Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:15

Oh, thanks for your replies - honestly, just talking to someone really helps!!

walking: Have walked 6 miles already. Nothing. Not even a blink... He's been in a sling, which I thought would get him off, but just walked about 1/2 mile to the post box in his pram and he screamed - purple faced child....

DH: Is in Russia. I'm on my own till Friday. This could be a long week.

Am off to google that book...

And to think a week or so ago, I was worried he was sleeping too much!!

OP posts:
Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:16

Oh, forgot: Swaddling: Big no no. DS hates having his arms bandaged and screams like the living dead....

OP posts:
greenladybird · 30/06/2008 16:18

yes

Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:23

Oh, FFs, Now, I've just knocked a glass of water over....

PLEASE make him go to sleep soon.. I am shattered.

OP posts:
Mercy · 30/06/2008 16:24

Yes? Really?

Turniphead1 · 30/06/2008 16:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 16:26

He was sleeping OK and now not? And 6 weeks? Is he feeding more as well? Growth spurt. DS was horrendous at these times, grumpy as well as hungry and awake the whole bloody time. The good news is it does pass - anything from a few days to a week.

Mercy · 30/06/2008 16:27

Sorry, that was to greenladybird not OP!

Does he seem happy enough?

Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:27

Thanks Greenladybird... that's just so helpful and kind.

You must be such a lovely person.

OP posts:
greenladybird · 30/06/2008 16:29

sorry but it's what newborns do!!

EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 16:32

more info here

www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html

Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:33

Right... And you really thought I was looking for a fecking factual answer rather than some sympathy?????????????????????????????????????????????

I mean, I can flipping tell you he doesn't need to sleep because he's still awake, but that doesn't mean I'm OK with it.

But, thanks, anyway

OP posts:
MrsTittleMouse · 30/06/2008 16:35

We had that too. It was awful at the time, but it did get better. I can remember thinking that having a newborn would be difficult because I'd have to be up every 3 hours to change and feed DD! Dream on. If she's only needed feeding every 3 hours and slept in between I would have been cartwheeling down the road with joy.

EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 16:36

on the bright side, I lost all my baby weight and then some pounding the streets with DS in his pushcair for X hours a day. There are some benefits

I hope when your DH returns he is going to take over for a bit so you have a break.

Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:38

Dh returns on Friday. It's Monday and I'm feeling

He's fine, he looks fine, is acting fine, feeding fine, poo-ing fine just not tired. At all. But really cranky....

I have him here on my shoulder, which is where he seems happiest, but I am at a loss as to what to do next.

No, he hasn't been like this at all up until now.

OP posts:
Original poster
youcannotbeserious · 30/06/2008 16:39

Oh, and I'm already 4lbs below my pre-PG weight..... This little baby has me run ragged already!!!

OP posts:
EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 16:40

I think 'fussiness' (aka grumpy baby syndrome) is supposed to peak at 6 weeks, so you are bang in the middle there. Do you anyeone to take over the baby holding duties so you can rest or even have a cup of tea?