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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

day time sleep??

10 replies

buckles · 07/03/2009 14:03

Hi, I am not sure if I am asking in the right place but perhaps someone can help me.
I am a first time mum- feeling overwhelmed by all the information that the books give you, and I have a 5 week old.

He is an angel at night sleeping from 7.30pm till 1am-ish and then till 5.30am ish. How much sleep do they need in the daytime at this age?

Some books suggest that they need no more than 4hrs.

My little fella becomes really agitated and after a few days of jiggling I have now worked out that he is just tired at that point and needs to sleep. Seems that he sleeps at least 6 hrs a day.

Also he is really good at settling himself in the night but needs to be rocked in the day- again any words of advice from more experienced mummies?
Thanks.

OP posts:

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ShowOfHands · 07/03/2009 14:05

You know what, I think in this situation you are best allowing your ds to sleep when he needs to and as much as he wants. He sleeps amazingly well at night and I wouldn't fiddle with it if it works.

Rocking to sleep is fine. Enjoy the cuddles.

bubblagirl · 07/03/2009 14:07

there is no set time until they are much older i let my ds sleep whenever he wanted to sounds like your very lucky my ds was awake every hour at this age

Habbibu · 07/03/2009 14:23

Do Not Worry about helping your baby to sleep in any way that suits you for months. You'll be sad when he no longer wants to be cuddled to sleep. And just smile benignly at any rod-for-own-back comments.

greensnail · 07/03/2009 14:25

My 10 week old DD sleeps 7.30pm to 3.30 am ish and then until 7am. She also sleeps at least 6 hours during the day and if she doesn't get this she's really grumpy and we're all miserable. I spent ages worrying that she was sleeping too much, but have discovered that by helping her to sleep at the first signs of tiredness, rather than worrying she hasn't been awake long enough, we end up with much better quality awake time.

I think so long as you are following your baby's cues you can't go far wrong, you know your baby a lot better than whoever wrote the books!

mumblecrumble · 07/03/2009 14:34

Agree with above.

Especiallywith cuddles. We fed and cuddled to sleep most days and some nights. This was our choice as it was just so blissful and seemed to encourag feeding too. Many said 'you'll make a rod for your own back'.... but this didn;t happen in our case. Our dd now sleeps happily in her own rrom, settles herself and sleeps through knowing we will always come to her.

Sleep can fluctuate too so go with his flow.

P.S. You will gradually feel less overwhelmed - I was the most worried, over-whelmed mum ever.

Original poster

buckles · 07/03/2009 14:54

thank you, the rod for your own back comments are hard! It seems that all the books are all about getting a routine at 5 mins old and forgetting they are newborn and need affection and cuddles.
Will try and relax and enjoy him more!

OP posts:

Habbibu · 07/03/2009 14:55

My mum's parenting advice? Stop Looking At The Books. And it was good!

mumblecrumble · 07/03/2009 16:52

I was just thinking today that if we have another child I will try my hardest [PFB permitting] to hold the baby as much as possible, especially while in hospital. Finished breast feding and occasional 'boob naps' a month or so ago ad miss this close precious closeness. I think this feeling must be natural, good thing to want to be close.

meandjoe · 07/03/2009 19:15

agree with everyone else. My ds was the same, became really aggitated after not getting enough day sleep.

Needed rocking to sleep in the day, fed to sleep at night but thank god like your baby he slept amazingly well at night.

He's 19 months now, settles himself for bedtime in his cot, sleeps 12 hours straight. never needed controlled crying or other sleep training, he just did it, same with nap time.

I miss rocking him to sleep and wish I hadn't spent the first year of his life worrying about it!

helibee · 09/03/2009 01:28

all babies are different and need differing amounts of sleep, when ds was that age we just let him sleep whenever he needed it during the day and he slept well at night. We used to cuddle him to sleep and then he slept on the sofa next to me cos thats what suited us but do whatever feels right to you, you'll soon learn when your wee one is tired.

Agree with mumblecrumble too, cuddling them is so precious and it they grow up so quickly and grow out of the being cuddled to sleep phase. We use the sling a lot too because ds always loved to be carried and he'd happily nod of in there whenever he needed.

My ds is now at 18 months sleeps for 13-14 hours at night and a good 2-3 hours in the day in his cot-my boy loves his sleep

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