Any ideas for night time settling?

[karenferris]

Our DD2 is 10 days old and is feeding and sleeping really well during the day. She is happy to sleep in her moses basket, car, etc etc but from about 10pm through to 4/5am she won't settle unless she stays asleep in our arms. Due to her jaundice we are feeding her breastmilk and formula and she tends to have more formula in the night because I can't keep up with her demand. We were thinking that she might be having problems digesting the formula at night but can't really think why it would be different to the daytime. Any advice gratefully received.

karen - this need for your arms is normal in a new baby. Just feed her in response to her feeding cues, reduce the formula is you feel able to, and you will make what she needs....babies of 10 days old are very aware they are no longer 'inside' you and they want the familiarity of your smell, your touch, your warmth, and reain unsettled when it is not there.

This is not a settling 'problem' at all, believe me

It will resolve itself.

Yes, this sounds 'normal' to me. My DD was asleep in my arms at night until she started being more alert during day time - then she rarely slept during the day, but slept beautifully at night!

BTW - Why does she need topping up with formula? Could you not just bf at night too?

Thanks for the reassurance. We are topping up on the advice of our midwife to help to get rid of the jaundice and on the whole it seems to be working well.

have you thought about swaddling her? Have read this helps alot with tiny newborns.
Good luck.
My first baby is due in January so am avidly reading and inwardly digesting all tips i can now in hope that something sinks in!

Must say I am mystified by the topping up, too - jaundice is not normally a true clinical indication for giving formula, though I know it is sometime (mostly erroneously) recommended. If the breastfeeding is going normally (that is, baby is transferring milk effectively and often) formula is not necessary and as it can interfere with the establishment of bf, it's not something to be done lightly.

Maybe ask your midwife if you can just give bf only, from now, karen??

I would keep her near me and bf whenever she woke or I woke. Would increase your milk and get more fluids into her. If she is jaundiced I wouldn't let her go more than 3hours tops without feeding her during the day until the jaundice is gone. Imo giving her formula is not really helpful to increasing your milk production which in turn will give you less bm to clear her jaundice with.

I would also add that I was under the impression that sleepiness was a symptom of jaundice, so maybe not a good idea to be encouraging her to 'settle' for long periods.

It's true sleepiness is a symptom of jaundice and fortunately she's not sleeping any more than 3 hours at a time. We're really more confused about the difference between how she is in the day compared to the night when at this early stage I didn't think she would know the difference.

I think some babies do get night time and day time mixed up or maybe its just that they're used to having people around during the day when all of a sudden its quiet and dark.

Would definitely recommend keeping her close and bf her whenever she wakes at night - bf would also help comfort her too.