Is this normal for 5wo baby?

[cat811]

Have posted this in parenting, but the end of it relates to feeding, so posting here for extra wisdom if that's ok!

I'm not sure whether to be concerned there is something wrong, or just resign myself to having a 'difficult' baby...
Dd is 5 weeks old, and generally cries very soon after she goes into car seat or pushchair. She also will very rarely sleep lying down during day (feeds to sleep anyway, but will usually wake up almost immediately when you lie her down) - although she will be laid down after final feed of night - not sure what the difference is there (though she does have a cushion under sheet so her head is propped up)

I do have a sling, and have been trying to use that, but it makes it v hard to play with ds (2) when she's asleep - ie doing things on floor-or any kind of bending to lift things up/do any tidying etc while she's asleep.
She also seems to feed constantly (normal I know for bf) - but this means we can't even go out for a walk, because in the very rare times when she will be laid in pushchair, or even go out in sling - she suddenly wakes up screaming, and only feeding will stop her (so not sure if she is actually hungry, or if it's just comforting her and is a habit)

So my question is - do I just accept this and say this is what she's like for now - even though it's making life hard with ds, as we seem to be housebound (he's very lively and doesn't enjoy this much!) - or could there be another reason she seems to be unhappy? I've been assuming she's getting enough food (nappies, alert, weight gain), but could it be hunger? If so, she's feeding most of time so I can't really get more into her!
Or could there be somethign else making her unhappy with lying down? Reflux or something?

Help me please! Thank you! x

Sounds normal to me!

Sounds about normal, or at least sounds like what I went through, I used to prop up DD pram ever so slightly so it wasn't completely flat, but she'll grow out of it.

I put a moses basket matress in our pram and baby actually sleeps better in the oram than the basket! Could you put one in and prop it like in the cot?

Will she take a dummy? Might help with the constant feeding, I didn't like the idea but they really work for me and 8wo dd.
She also doesn't like to nap lying flat, but sleeps fine in her cot at night. Do you have one of those vibrating bouncy chairs? That's where mine generally sleeps during the day.

SNAP! You have described DD2 and all the dilemmas I have about accommodating her needs and looking after DD1 exactly! (AND you're another cat - how spooky...)

My 4 week-old is exactly like this. I've been assuming it's normal newborn bf behaviour plus wanting to be close to me because that's a sort of survival instinct, but these last couple of days I've wondered about silent reflux. Saw GP about it today and she just said to wait and see how things are at 6 week check.

So no words of wisdom, but I share your pain!

The fact she doesn't like to be laying flat points to reflux for me, particularly that she will go to sleep after last feed having cushion propping her head up.

You say she is feeding constantly but crying after being put down - are you sure that she's not just sucking constantly rather than feeding? Try to watch her chin to see if there are pauses (not full stops) between the sucks to see if she's drinking. You can do breast compressions (squeezing breast firmly but not hugely) while she's sucking if she isn't drinking, this could be the problem.

Hope to help :)

You've exactly described my DS in the early weeks. Had to feel "held" constantly, hated lying down in pram, or car seat at first.

I agree with above post, although he screamed for boob all the time, we later found out it was often sucking for comfort. IMO it is hard to tell the difference when they are feeding a lot in the early weeks.

DS wouldn't take a dummy and still won't.

All I can say is it does get a lot easier. I remember thinking I would never be able to take DS to the supermarket, he used to scream the whole way round. He's 6 months now and loves it, watching the world go by in one of those trolley chairs!

Perhaps the one pointer I can give is we tried to keep DS propped up whenever possible, he just seemed to like being able to see what's going on.

Also, as they grow their stomachs do too, so they are fuller and content for longer.

My DS was like this - I remember thinking silent reflux. Wasn't until he was 12 weeks when he went on nursing strike and had a choking incident that we realised it was.

Try swaddling for naps. Or laying her on her left, with her left arm out in front to stop her rolling forward. If it is reflux, this position is more comfy. You can have her in the room while you play so can keep an eye?

Also keep track of symptoms so at the check up you can give details and see what they think?

I think it's silent reflux too, just like my DD2.

My DS1 was 6 when she was born and his life was curtailed for months. Find other ways to pay him attention.

Go back to the doctor and see the health visitor. They see so many people they can be a bit blase and forget that for you this is fresh and you need help! May be infant gaviscon? Watch out for constipation though.

My DS was like this in the early weeks - loathed his pram and the car seat with a vengeance! He's 14 weeks now and loves both and has done for several weeks now. I do prop him up slightly in the pram with a small wedge cushion I had when I was pregnant.

I have a five week old too and she's just the same! She will only fall asleep and stay asleep when we feed lying down in bed. I've started warming her basket with a hot water bottle so when I put her down she doesn't wake up!

I have to put her on her side to sleep. She hates lying on her back. I don't know if it's because she's in pain or not. Only feeding stops the crying!

Just waiting and hoping this is just temporary just now!