Entertaining / keeping awake 8 wk olds?!

[Sparra22]

Hi

My 8 wk olds are in a feeding routine (every 4 hours) but not a day time sleeping one. Naps in moses basket mainly during the day if we're in and then in their cot after the 7pm feed whent they sleep well until 11pm.

Now they're a bit bigger I want to try keeping them up a bit more during the day to extend the amount they sleep at night - any advice?

I try and do an hour or so of singing to nursery rhymes in the morning. They still not really interested in toys much, DS will sit in a sing chair for 15 minutes at the most, same with both under the play gym, they're only happy for 10 / 15 mins at the most. I've tried rattling, brightly coloured toys, books etc - anything I'm missing?

They either both start crying at once and then I'm alternating comforting them, or fall asleep on the mat or in the chair!

Oh I've also tried a baby einstein dvd (not interested, probably too young for it) and one of those inflatable rings for them to sit in.

It's so difficult as with one obviously you could walk round the house with them or do more one to one jiggling, singing etc to stop them crying / being bored or keep them awake.

It sounds like you're doing everything right. I don't think it is any easier with just one (there is only so long you can sing or play with toys infront of them!). The health visitor I saw the other day (normally I take everything they say with a pinch of salt (grin) said not to expect them to sleep longer in the night until they weigh about 13 lbs. Apparently them they will have enough fat reserves to let them go for longer. My twins have been awake for longer in the day for the last dew days, but still been awake as frequently at night!

Hi WeddingGirl

I think you're right, for the first couple of weeks I tried doing Gina F (they were far too young / small in retrospect) and I kept waking them up but when I just left them to their own patterns more and let them sleep more in the day their night sleep improved. I suppose it's a fine line between them not getting over tired in the day and not getting so much sleep they're not tired at night.

My DD is just over 7lb at 8 weeks so I've got a while to go in that case!!

I'm having a better day today, DD is under the playmat and DS in the bouncer both awake (with dummies in but awake and happy all the same!) :)

Glad things are better today, sleep makes a big difference! I had a bad night last night with DT1, she was wide awake from 1am -6am!! So now am trying frantically to keep them awake before bed time (and using dummies!) so will hopefully have a better night!

My daughter loved those high contrast books (bold patterns, simple shapes, black/ white, black/yellow etc) at six weeks old. The first one I tried her with was called "Hearts and Stars" and I got it from our local library. Her eyes used to nearly pop out of her head! It definitely got her attention- I was amazed!

Good idea, I'll try taking them to the library, there's one about 1o minutes walk away so that would be a nice little trip out for us too! X

It doesn't work, keeping them up during the day so they'll sleep more at night. You'll just end up with ratty babies who are difficult to settle and they'll still wake up anyway at night. Give them time, they'll do it in their own time

Just wanted to throw my two penneth in. I've got 2yr old twins and a 4mth old as well. When I had my twins, the Gina Fords of this world said to keep them awake longer and all I ended up with was two irritable overtired babies. With my 4mth I can see such a difference and he's happier to be awake longer. Were yours prem? I think with prem babies they sleep more for a while anyway. I found the opposite to be true - babies who sleep better in the day, sleep better at night. My twins still have a 2hr nap in the afternoon and still go to bed at 7pm.
Good luck x