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Original poster

Formula fed newborn will not sleep

78 replies

Inapickle123 · 18/01/2014 18:36

So anxious.

Baby born yesterday and wouldn't take to BF. Went down FF route because he was so upset and he slept brilliantly in the hospital.

Now at home, he simply will not settle. He's taking enough milk but will not sleep for any longer than 20 minutes, waking up grunting, grizzling, high pitched screams-he seems so unhappy.

He's in a Moses basket and will sleep a little better when held but it's only an extra 10 min or so.

I know its early days but this can't be right-surely, given the amount he's taking (30ml-as advised by MW) he should be out for 3-4 hours. He just won't settle and I don't know what to do.

Checked nappy. Feed. Winded. Checked temperature. Swaddled for bap. We've swaddled (arms in and out), tucked blankets in, hot water bottle in basket before putting him down. He's got a onesie, sleep suit, sheet and cellular blanket on.

Mini cries, squealing, rapid breathing, grunting, occasional cries-we don't run directly to him unless he sounds super distressed but it's really hard because we're naturally anxious that we're doing something wrong and he's clearly uncomfy.

If anyone has any idea as to what is going on, please respond!

OP posts:

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Ragusa · 18/01/2014 23:16

How much does he weigh? I think hunger needs to be ruled out first - 30 mls every 3 to 4 hours sounds not nearly enough for a baby of, say, 6 lb, unless he was prem or has other health needs?

If giving him more food doesn't help then I would have no hesitation in going and getting him checked over. You would expect some settled periods, not necessarily when you want them (e.g., at night) but definitely some - if you are letting him have the close contact he needs with you. He really needs plenty of being held/ lying next to you/ on you at this stage.

It gets easier :( and everyone feels lost at first (they just don't share that info!).

Rachie1986 · 19/01/2014 03:23

Having got a 3 week old I just wanted to add that feeling anxious is completely normal and totally ok. It will get easier! Xx

TwinklyMummaLuvsHerBubba89 · 19/01/2014 10:55

hope you are OK OP, come back at some point when things have settled down and let us know how its going

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Original poster

Inapickle123 · 19/01/2014 11:28

Night 2 of absolutely no sleep.

He just won't eat and, when he does, he spits so much up that it's a pointless endeavour. It took 5 hours to get 40into him. Then he slept for 20 min and woke up grizzling, moaning, squealing and raising his legs. He must be absolutely shattered and, although he's not screaming, he's so unhappy.

Tried faster flowing teats, waking him up a little more (but he instantly falls asleep after 2-3 sucks as he's so tired), white noise to help him settle (this is how we got 20 minutes in the Moses basket). The only sleep he got was about 2 hours and that's because I was holding him on the couch. But I don't want to do that because I'm petrified of dropping him or dozing off on him.

OP posts:

Greythorne · 19/01/2014 12:13

I recommend you investigate safe co-sleeping.

Headlikeafuckingorange · 19/01/2014 12:25

Second co sleeping. Also have you got a stretchy sling? My dd was happy for hours in the Moby when she was tiny and it means you can still cuddle them but have hands free. My dp used to have her in the sling a lot too to give me a break from the constant feeding. Try swaddling in a light muslin blanket too.

If he's bringing up a lot of milk and bringing his kegs up it might be reflux.

Hang in there.

whereisthewitch · 19/01/2014 12:33

What formula are you using? Maybe it's not agreeing with him if he is spitting it up? I found SMA did this to my baby, I switched her to hipp organic and she was definitely less unsettled. Out if interest did you have forceps or ventouse? My DD was very unsettled for the first few weeks...crying as if in pain and I put it down to the bruise on her head from the ventouse.
It will get easier I promise. ...newborns are definitely alot of work.

pumpkinsweetie · 19/01/2014 12:44

I had my dc5 last week and she was very mucousy when born-apparently is normal and she was posseting up milk, sometimes a whole bottle. But more than a week in she isn't doing this so much.

Like your baby, my dd was only taking an 1oz every 2 or 3 hours for around 3-4 days, this is normal too. Newborns gut is very small, was told this by various mws whilst in hospital.
5days in, she was taking 2 oz and now she is 12days old she is taking 3oz.

In the early days all they want is to be held close, it's natural as baby has been warm and snug in your warm with the swooshing of your heartbeat all day. This new world is cold and no heartbeat for them to hear, hold your baby close whilst swaddled in a thin blanket, your heartbeat and smell will re-assure him & after sometime he should settle enough for you to lay him in his basket.

Don't worry to much about forcing extra ounces down him, right now his gut is the size of a walnut, if an oz is all he will take that is fine, just feed him more often, say every 2 hrs-3.
In a few days he will need more milk, you will know when to up his feeds as he will drain the bottle completely. This is when to put him up an oz.

Take it one day at a time, and enjoy your snuggles

IndigoTea · 19/01/2014 12:47

I would try a hydrolysed formula (you can buy from the large boots) and see if it makes a difference.

Fairylea · 19/01/2014 12:50

Firstly if he's spitting up a lot I would research reflux and silent reflux. Ds had it terribly aand we found simple things like a reclining bouncy chair (like the fisher price jungle one) worked better for encouraging him to nap rather than a moses basket. The vibration bit on it is also very soothing for them.

If it is reflux (and the majority of cases improve by 8-12 weeks) keeping them more upright for feeds and burping them very gently but well helps. You can put books under one end of the legs of the moses basket stand to tilt it slightly.

Try another formula. The only one that suited ds was sma gold. It did turn his poo green for a bbit at first which is normal but he was so much better on this. The supposed comfort formulas made him constipated and much worse.

You can get medication from the gp on prescription if it is reflux.

Also some babies are just very restless. I don't think ds slept for 2 hours at a stretch for about 6 weeks. It was really really hard. But you will live through it even if you don't feel like you will. I promise :)

Make sure you get out for a walk everyday. Use the pram or a sling and you might find the fresh air helps the baby to settle and it will help to make you feel more human too.

It will pass :)

lilyaldrin · 19/01/2014 14:12

Two hours sleep with you sounds pretty normal for a newborn! I think you need to look at making things a bit safer by lying down on a bed with him rather than sitting up on a sofa though - sofas are a big SIDS risk.

Ragusa · 19/01/2014 16:47

Are you being seen by midwife tomorrow? How are his nappies?

CraftyBuddhist · 19/01/2014 16:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sandberry · 19/01/2014 17:51

Day 2 is notorious for many babies being grumpy and feeding a lot! after very sleepy Day 1 so hopefully he will settle

I would ask someone (midwife?) to check him for tongue tie or go along to the bf support groups and ask them (you don't have to be bf). Tongue tie can lead to babies struggling with bottlefeeding especially if he is dribbling a lot. If the midwife isn't due today, you can call them and ask them.

If he is vomiting a lot and constantly unsettled and feeding very little still then I'd take him back to the hospital to get him checked over, just to rule out anything else.

PollyIndia · 19/01/2014 20:40

My son would not be put down for first week or so and would only sleep on me. So I co slept to get sleep and then he started doing 3/4 hour stretches. After 6 weeks he happily went in his cot. It is such early days, just try to roll with what he needs. And congratulations on your son!

PollyIndia · 19/01/2014 20:41

He also had tongue tie - that sounds like good advice re checking that out. It is frequently missed

PinkPepper · 19/01/2014 20:56

If he's not taking milk please don't worry about trying to get him to sleep, I'd keep him up and keep trying milk, can you syringe it to him? Or spoon feed it him. If he's not taking anything I mean I've no idea how much 50mls in 4 hours is

PorkPieandPickle · 20/01/2014 05:05

Second what everyone else has said, just dont put him down, this is normal for a newborn. My DD is 5 weeks old now, but for the first week, we couldn't put her down to sleep. DH and I just till it in turns, he would hold her for 2/3 hours while I went to bed, then I would get up and take over, etc etc. we feed her on demand, but she did not take a lot at first. I don't know about FF but I know that a baby only needs a teaspoon of colostrum to fill them in the the first 48 hours, so that really isn't a lot.
Enjoy your baby, and relax :)

wigglesrock · 20/01/2014 07:16

I formula fed all 3 of my kids from birth - it made no difference to their sleep at any age.

Mine just wanted to be held & cuddled & fall asleep on us - all the usual baby things. They also cluster fed, woke up every 90 mins, were up all night & slept better during the day. With dd2 & dd3 we co-slept.

Speak to your midwife, we formula fed on demand.

Congratulations , your baby isn't crying because you're doing anything wrong. Take care of yourself. Do you know what to do when your milk comes in?

dannydyerismydad · 20/01/2014 08:30

I hope you're feeling a little better today OP. If you don't have a midwife appointment today, please call and arrange a visit.

You need care and reassurance, and you need to make sure your baby's behaviour is normal newborn behaviour (which I'm sure it is).

Have you and your DP tried the skin to skin? Strip baby down to his nappy and put him on your chest. You don't need to worry about him getting cold as he'll regulate with your body temperature. He will be reassured by your heartbeat (he heard it all the time in the womb), and if you start some nice deep breaths, his breathing will fall in with yours.

lola88 · 20/01/2014 11:12

Have you tried a diff formula? we tried SMA then Aptamil then finally realized he was lactose intolerant and moved to SMA LF. I FF on demand roughly 3oz every 3 hours to start moving up an oz every time he started draining the bottle.

I know a lot of people will say hold him all the time and I think they are right but just want to say I couldn't hold DS all the time I had a million stitches and couldn't sit comfortably holding him so he was in his basket or next to me on the couch a lot, all my fidgeting trying to find a position that wasn't painful woke him too much then I got to bored sitting all day when he was bigger... anyway what i'm trying to say is if you don't want to constantly hold him for whatever reason it's ok not every ones happy/comfortable sitting holding a baby all day he will be ok in his basket sometimes with cuddles in between.

claudeekishi · 20/01/2014 11:19

Hi OP, how are you doing today?

BertieBottsJustGotMarried · 20/01/2014 11:22

It sounds very much like it could be some kind of milk protein intolerance to me.

I am NOT a doctor, but I would be pushing for this because they can prescribe special hypoallergenic milk.

He's young enough that you could probably retry breastfeeding if that's something you might want to do? He might be able to cope better with that if it is an intolerance (not always, though)

Figster · 20/01/2014 12:26

Call your midwife and ask to see them get some real life help I know how overwhelming it is.

We had a very unsettled baby but it turned out bf wasn't working and he lost 12% by day 5 ended up back in hospital for 2 days having the MWs to advise really helped understand wind, tiredness, hunger cues and confidence grew after that

Figster · 20/01/2014 12:27

Also second the whole feed little and often and just hold close, maybe get a sling they really do just need held at such an early stage

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