baby sleep help

[Jobi1]

My little one is 4 weeks old on Wednesday and is the original sleep terrorist. No matter what we seem to do he naps during the day and is impossible to wake up, and is awake for hours and hours at night and nothing will make him sleep til morning time. My husband goes back to work in a few days and I am at the end of my tether already. I'm not sure I will be able to cope with an awake baby all night on my own and be able to get through the day too. I'm not daft, I know babies wake up a lot, but he doesn't even sleep between night feeds.

Please has anyone got any bright ideas or words of advice or comfort? I always thought I would be good at this and yet I feel like the worst mum in the world.

Thanks for listening, and happy new year x

Hi Jobi,
I have a 12 week old and I can assure you it does get better.

Sounds like your LO has yet to learn the difference between night and day. I was lucky to get one who got it the right way round straight away, but had other problems instead! After about 6 weeks, they are more responsive and distractable and you'll find you can gradually do more things to settle him.

Until then, I reckon it's just a case of hanging on in there! I say sleep all day with him, and party all night.

It'll all be worth it when you see that first smile, I promise.

Also, I was dreading my DP going back to work, but in fact I found it easier when he did. He was a complete star but when it's just the 2 of you it's somehow easier to get the flow of the day right for you both.

Good luck.

poor you
At this stage all you can do is make it obvious it is day time. So no naps upstairs, go out in the pushchair as much as possible.
Then at night do all feeds in the bedrom with low lights and be very quiet etc
It won't feel like it at the moment but it will et better... I found at the 8 week mark things got slightly easier

all you can do is carry on trying to encourage LO to wake up during the day - lot of stimulation, feeds etc and at evening/night time utter boredom, darkness etc.

Sorry I have no experience, I was waking mine up during the day from a couple of days old - I used cold water dripped on their faces the works.

oh and get as much help in the day as you possibly can - just family/friends to take lo out in the pushchair or the car while you get some rest, accept all offers of help, forget the housework, do online shopping.

When he is awake at night is he crying? If he is just playing by himself don't feel that you need to stay awake too. (sorry if that sounds stupid but my friend will only sleep if her baby is actually asleep rather than lying quietly in a cot.)

If he is crying then he might need an extra feed. If you are bf then your milk supply can drop at night so you think that you have given them a big feed but you actually haven't. Get as much rest as you can and plenty to eat and drink. Sleep during the day when he is asleep too. It will pass in a few weeks, honestly.

Thanks everyone. He will mostly be quiet at night but won't settle or sleep in crib We have taken turns to sleep for a couple of nights, but it feels rubbish not cuddling up to hubby in bed. I'm dreading him sleeping in the other room cos he has work! I hope this phase passes soon.