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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

How to keep a 1 month old awake

35 replies

Taler · 10/12/2013 17:35

Hi all,

My daughter is 1 month old and we are on day 5 of Gina Ford's Contented Little Baby routine.

Any advice on how to keep a 1 month old awake as finding it difficult to keep her up at the times she's meant to be up.

Thanks,

Gemma

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

spacegirl81 · 10/12/2013 17:39

shes still a newborn at 1 month, I would be letting her sleep and eat when she wants. A routine is good but when she's a little older; maybe 3-4 months.

clabsyqueen · 10/12/2013 19:25

At 1 month you can't really keep then awake (not happily at least) and probably shouldn't try. As the first poster said - wait a while. There's not much love for Gina around these parts I'd say so I'd be surprised if you get many suggestions! Good luck!

Brookville · 10/12/2013 20:05

I started GF's routine at 8 weeks and even then found it tricky to get right in terms of the sleep-feed-awake time-sleep cycle. They just become able to stay awake for longer as the weeks go by. So please don't beat yourself up about getting it exactly right. I remember being so anxious with that book because the author implies constantly that it can be done and that she's cared for 100s of babies who fell into routine. Take it with a pinch of salt and do your best. It will get better with time. Let baby sleep for now...

stargirl1701 · 10/12/2013 20:08

You don't. Let your LO sleep if she needs to. It is optimal for neural structure development.

mummratheevertired · 10/12/2013 20:11

My baby is 11 weeks and has only just started to wake up more. She likes to sleep. Some babies sleep more than others.

Winterclause · 10/12/2013 20:26

You cant. Feed them when they need ( often 3-4 hr cluster feeds at that age) and never wake a sleeping baby!

SteamWisher · 10/12/2013 20:30

Gina ford isn't really for babies that young. From memory, she says it's an aim and you start at 6 weeks. Not expect to be in the routine.

Best things to follow are the consistent waking times in the morning and "bedtime" but for a 1 month old that would be switching to feeding somewhere dark and quiet after 6.30pm.

I found gina ford very useful from 4 months once both were out of the newborn phase. Before then you're just causing yourself stress.

Jiltedjohnsjulie · 10/12/2013 22:16

No idea on how to keep her awake at all sorry. It always amuses me that she says it can be done but doesn't tell you how!

If you do want a routine I can recommend Baby Calming by Caroline Deacon.

If you do want to follow GF I think its important to remember that her book isn't evidence based, it's just her opinion and she has never had a baby of her own. If you are bfing, it's also worth knowing that the book is on the kellymom books to avoid list

Flisspaps · 10/12/2013 22:34

I see the issue here.

Your DD hasn't read the book

Put the book away for now, let your DD do what she needs. Tiny babies are led by need and instinct, not clocks. If you really want to work towards a routine in a few weeks, then try again then.

meringuesnowflakes33 · 10/12/2013 22:40

GF seems to have this idea that if you massively sleep deprive a baby, they will be exhausted and sleep through the night.

My LO has needed many more naps than she recommends at every age - he is 11 mo now. As a newborn he could only stay awake for an hour at a time; at 8 mo he was still only up for two hours at a time; now at 11 mo he can finally stretch to four hours.

It is much more fun to be around your baby - and kinder to them - when they are well rested and happy.

Fairylea · 10/12/2013 22:40

Pointless trying really!

I swore by Gina Ford for dd and then I had ds ten years later and he wouldn't go into the routines at all and I came to realise I had just been lucky with dd, I think it would have worked out that that was her natural routine anyway regardless of the book.

With ds I just followed the general advice - like naps in the dark in his cot, blackout blinds , making sure he started the day at 7 am latest (which was partly due to needing to be up for dds school run anyway) and when he was very little I didn't let him sleep more than 2-3 hours before waking for a feed during the day.

Dd began sleeping through from about 6 weeks. Ds took longer, he was about 6 months.

ShoeWhore · 10/12/2013 22:45

Oh please don't!

The thing is, all babies are different and (much like their parents) need different amounts of sleep. Follow your baby's cues and the chances are that after a while, you will start to notice patterns and can build a routine around them that works for both of you.

McPheelingUpSanta · 10/12/2013 22:51

Follow babys lead, and throw that bloody book away!

I slide those books down the back of shelves when I see them, just to spare the next parent/baby the anguish

Awful women.

Jiltedjohnsjulie · 10/12/2013 22:53

at fliss. Don't think my DS read it either, but then neither did I. DMIL gave me a copy, I got to the bit where she talks about depression and thought, well I felt ok till I started reading this and put it in the bin!

Taler these first few weeks are more about getting to know your baby and if you are bfing, establishing your supply. There is some good info on kellymom and have you heard of the 4th trimester?

SantanaLopez · 10/12/2013 22:53

Never ever ever keep a 1 month old awake, let the poor thing sleep!

IneedAsockamnesty · 10/12/2013 22:56

You are joking, arnt you?

notsomuchroomattheinn · 10/12/2013 23:10

You can't keep a tiny baby happily awake, there are ways to try and wake them up. Making them cold, tickling their feet can do it but they don't like it and you will almost certainly end up with a distressed baby.
Being woken up when you want to be asleep is shit, hence the quest for the perfect routine so us parents can minimise it happening to us.
Enjoy having a lovely snuggly time with your gorgeous newborn. It passes so quickly, and you don't want to waste it stressing about a routine written by someone who has never met you or your baby.

wonderstuff · 10/12/2013 23:13

Throw the book away.

DevonFolk · 10/12/2013 23:18

Burn it (the book that is). Please please don't try to keep a newborn awake :(

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 11/12/2013 03:49

You started GF when your baby was 3 weeks old? That's barely out of the womb. Put the book down and let the poor child sleep.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 11/12/2013 03:49

Being woken up when you want to be asleep is shit, hence the quest for the perfect routine so us parents can minimise it happening to us. Bloody, bloody good point.

wellieboots · 11/12/2013 04:11

A one month old may only last an hour at a time awake. please don't try and keep your baby awake, it will only make you (and her) stressed

TheBakeryQueen · 11/12/2013 20:49

Sleep is really important as this is when growth happens.

It is cruel to try & keep such a young baby awake.

She will naturally fall into her own routine as she gets older. And you can tweak the routine, over time, sp that it suits you too.

Congratulations

msmiggins · 11/12/2013 20:57

Do mothers really let these silly books override common sense?

Babies sleep a lot- they need to sleep a lot- why would you want to wake them on some stupid advice of a woman who have never even had children herself?
Do your baby a favour- chuck the book. I wouldn't even give it to a charity shop in case some other new mother buys it.

somewheresomehow · 13/12/2013 16:33

oh lord your baby is a month old, sleep is what they do best at a month they eat, sleep, poo, and wee, please don't try forcing an agenda on the little thing its not the way to do it she will adjust her sleeping as she grows

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