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Original poster

Newborns can only stay awake for two hours...

70 replies

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 13:47

I’ve read this in several baby books now. My newborn (almost 3 weeks) is living proof that it’s not true! He’s been awake since 8 this morning, has barely slept since then and has been crying on and off all morning. I’ve fed several times (formula), burped and changed his nappy - now thinking of feeding him some more formula to see if that makes any difference, even though he’s technically not due for another hour or so. I’m just a bit worried that it means he could be unwell? What do you think?

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darrenlacey · 13/05/2020 14:50

How long have you been trying to put the baby down in a cot to sleep in the day???

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 14:52

Thanks. I did do a 10 min burp/cuddle and he was very drowsy at that point, so I put him in his cot. I didn’t realise that babies can’t fall asleep by themselves and need to acquire it as a skill! Should I have kept cuddling him for longer?

After going in his cot he made some straining noises for five mins and the odd cry but then went quiet. He made a few more contented baby sounds and now seems to be asleep! I’m just wondering how long it’ll last...

I do have an Ergo baby sling that’s still in its box - are they easy to figure out how to use? I should probably have a look at the instructions now while I have a chance.

The other thing is I’m worried it could be colic or reflux making him uncomfortable - how can I tell if it is?

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 13/05/2020 14:54

I don’t think anything says they can’t stay awake longer - that’s just how long they stay awake comfortably. Like yours they can obviously stay awake for quite some time but will be very overtired and cranky.

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Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 14:55

I think you might be a bit optimistic with the putting in carry cot to sleep.

Oh, really? He’s been fine falling asleep in the carrycot for several hours at a time literally until today. When I say carrycot it’s a flat cot attached to his pram.

OP posts:

darrenlacey · 13/05/2020 14:57

Wow, mine never would have slept in a carrycot at that age!

Pinkblueberry · 13/05/2020 14:57

At that age my DS wouldn’t just go to sleep lying down in the day. I would cuddle him and then put him down when fast asleep or just cuddle for the whole sleep. Or he’d sleep in the pram.

GrumpyHoonMain · 13/05/2020 14:57

It does depend on the baby. DS never slept more more than 11 hours across a whole day until 3-4 months and now he sleeps 13-14 hours at most. HV said it’s normal if he sleeps at least 5-6 hours in one chunk and is gaining weight.

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 14:58

Wow, mine never would have slept in a carrycot at that age!

Am I doing something wrong by putting him in one for daytime naps? Most babies sleep in cots at night so surely there’s no reason why they can’t during the day as well?

OP posts:

Frlrlrubert · 13/05/2020 14:59

If I'd put DD down when I thought she was tired she'd have probably stayed awake forever! She mostly slept on the breast of a in a sling.

I mean, all babies are different and you seem to have a pretty good sleeper, but yeah, it might be that the being able to put them down and walk away doesn't last.

Getting the sling out in case this is the beginning of the end seems like a good idea.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 15:01

Oh, really? He’s been fine falling asleep in the carrycot for several hours at a time literally until today. When I say carrycot it’s a flat cot attached to his pram

Wow, that is lucky and sorry you're having problems today

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 15:01

I would cuddle him and then put him down when fast asleep

Well he was very drowsy when lying on me - then I put him in the carrycot. Should I wait until he’s sound asleep on me perhaps?

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 13/05/2020 15:02

Am I doing something wrong by putting him in one for daytime naps? Most babies sleep in cots at night so surely there’s no reason why they can’t during the day as well?

Of course it’s not wrong. It would be ideal really, but realistically most babies aren’t happy with that and it doesn’t tend to work out. Babies like cuddles... so get snuggling and enjoy a box set if you’ve only got the one, and make the most of it!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 15:03

Am I doing something wrong by putting him in one for daytime naps? Most babies sleep in cots at night so surely there’s no reason why they can’t during the day as well.

Only just seen this. The advice is that they should sleep in the same room as you for the first six months to reduce the risk of SIDS. Which is five if the cot is on the same room as you

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 15:04

but yeah, it might be that the being able to put them down and walk away doesn't last.

Thanks - I didn’t realise this! I’m going to have a look at the Ergo...

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Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 15:05

Which is five if the cot is on the same room as you

Yes, we’re always in the same room. If I move rooms I just wheel the pram through with me!

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 13/05/2020 15:06

Should I wait until he’s sound asleep on me perhaps?

It’s worth a try - mine was happy with that, but some babies might wake up when put down. But if he’d just been a bit drowsy mine definitely wouldn’t have been happy to be put down. As I said, if you haven’t got anything pressing to do I would just stay put and chill

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 15:06

Of course it’s not wrong. It would be ideal really

Ok thanks - I’m just worried he’s not getting enough affection/closeness to me perhaps...

OP posts:

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 15:10

It’s been 45 minutes now since I put him in his carrycot and he’s now fast asleep...! Just hoping it lasts...

OP posts:

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 13/05/2020 15:28

Mine sleeps alone in his carrycot/cot and has done since day 1. Its not wrong

BoomyBooms · 13/05/2020 15:32

I am writing this one handed as I walk around patting and shushing my 12 week old to sleep!

Your baby needs to be helped to sleep and told when to sleep now and for some time yet. They don't just drift off themselves at such a young age, and that's when they get over tired and stay awake too long as previous poster said. At that point they also get grumpy and screamy!

Try walking/bouncing with patting and shushing and, if you like, white noise every hour or so. He will fall asleep on you and when he's in a deep enough sleep you can then try to put him down. He might wake up when you do that or might not - at such a young age my baby wouldn't let us put her down so we just held and carried and sat around with her a lot. Don't let him sleep longer than 2-3 hours at a time at this point because you run the risk of them sleeping all morning and not being tired enough to sleep in the afternoon - we had this and afternoons were awful until I figured out she was sleeping too much in the mornings. The line between ok and overtired is very fine.

This requires a bit of clock watching but I don't mind it personally, the benefits of timing awake times and timing naps have been huge for us so completely worth it. And I've been using the huckleberry app which has been very helpful, my little girl sleeps every 90 minutes now and does pretty well at night on 4.5 hours sleep per day.

Good luck!

Persipan · 13/05/2020 15:33

Yeah, it's not that they can't stay awake longer, it's that after that it becomes a trial for everyone involved!

There's nothing at all wrong in putting baby down to sleep - I'm frankly jealous! My five week old would absolutely not be having any of that. If baby is okay with it, you're grand.

BoomyBooms · 13/05/2020 15:36

Oh and we also have an ergo - you will need the newborn baby insert if you don't have one already.

And we are formula feeding her too! She doesn't feed as much as the box says she should but she's 50th percentile and perfectly healthy. We are told to feed on demand, but until she regained her birth weight we were told to wake her after 3 hours to feed her if she hadn't already woken.

overtly · 13/05/2020 15:37

If they get overtired they can then really struggle to get to sleep. As he sounds happy in his carrycot whenever you think he needs a nap, either cues or time since last nap I'd put him down in it

Original poster

newmum234 · 13/05/2020 15:37

Your baby needs to be helped to sleep and told when to sleep now and for some time yet. They don't just drift off themselves at such a young age

Can’t believe I didn’t even know this

I’m downloading the Huckleberry app and am also reading the Ergo sling instructions right now.

He’s now been asleep in his carrycot for 1hr 10 mins - hurrah!

OP posts:

Spam88 · 13/05/2020 15:40

Of course you're not doing anything wrong putting her down, I dream of such things 😂 but on days like today where that doesn't work, do whatever you need to to get her to sleep (rocking, patting etc, and keep hold of her while she sleeps if need be) otherwise she'll get overtired and sleep will be more difficult. Can't remember if you said how old she is, but I wouldn't expect a very young baby to be awake for anything like two hours, they basically just wake up, feed, and go back to sleep. My 5 month old can just about do two hours now.

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