to expect my 6week old to sleep...

[youcannotbeserious]

He's been awake since 6am.

I am knackered, but he is going strong.

Surely, he needs to sleep sometime soon

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

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

swaddle him or put him in a sling

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

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

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.

I remember that stage

agree with pram/sling/walk

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.

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.

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!!

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

yes

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

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

Yes? Really?

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.

Sorry, that was to greenladybird not OP!

Does he seem happy enough?

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

You must be such a lovely person.

sorry but it's what newborns do!!

more info here

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?