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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

3 week old sleeping problems

6 replies

sibcy · 16/08/2010 09:21

I have a 3 week old son who feeds every 3-4 hours and settles to sleep easily during the day but I am just sooo tired cos he will only settle in his chair and not in his cot both day and night, but night times are worse as soon as he has his 9pm feed he becomes a nightmare to settle, he crys and arches his back and throws himself about if held or put down and by the time I do settle him it is only an hour before he wakes for his next feed.
I have tried swaddling and he screams as he likes to have his arms free, white noise, dummy and even a clock.
I do let him cry for a few minutes and don't pick him up straight away but nothing seems to work.I have 2 other sons who are 6 and 7 and they are on school hoilday so I can't even sleep during the day.
advice needed please...

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Chelly71 · 16/08/2010 09:33

My DS slept in his chair for about 3 months as he wouldn't settle in the cot at all. I think he felt comforted in the chair and it did him no harm... sometimes, whatever works! good luck

foxy123 · 16/08/2010 09:37

my daughter started doing this from 3 weeks - 3 months. I now put it down to colic. Do you wind your baby properly after each feed? I didn't because we were taught BF babies don't need it, but I will definitely make sure I do next time!

Hazeyjane · 16/08/2010 09:41

No advice, but sympathy! Ds is 6 weeks old, sleeps in day, but very unsettled at night. Dh and I take it in turns to walk around with him in a sling, rock him in a pushchair, etc. Last night he slept lying on my lap on his tummy, whilst I watched tv.

No sleep during the day here either, as dds are 3 and 4. I'm drinking the strongest coffee possible in order to stay awake now!

Bobby99 · 16/08/2010 09:42

Sounds like he might have trouble with wind. Have you tried using Infacol? It made a big difference with our DD - use it before every feed, it can take a few days to really work.

We also propped her crib up at one end so that she was sleeping at a slight angle (head higher than feet, obviously!) and that helped too. Or you could put a folded up towel under the head end of the mattress to have the same effect. Might be worth a try.

Is he big enough to go in a sleeping bag rather than be swaddled? We swaddled our DD but she always worked herself free as she liked having her arms free. She slept better when we moved to sleeping bags instead.

Hope it gets better soon, it's exhausting isn't it.

skippingturtle · 16/08/2010 16:34

Have you considered silent reflux? (Like normal reflux but without vomit.) That might explain why he can't bear to lie flat. My DD has it and does lots of back arching and flailing. She sleeps on a 45 degree angle, bless her.

Original poster

sibcy · 17/08/2010 16:15

Thank you all for your advice, I sometimes use infacol but I use colief in every bottle as we do have trouble getting his wind up (can take an hour) and am now using Dr Brown bottles as well, I am going to try putting his cot at an angle tonight and I have got a sleeping bag for him and will try that as well, thank you all again I will keep you posted

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