8 weeks old - FTM - Help Me 🙈🤣

[RWK29]

FTM so apologies if this is obvious 🙈 DS is 8 weeks old and will only sleep in the daytime being held. But he sleeps a LOT 😳 how long is it normal for them to nap at this age? He naps after each feed which I think is relatively normal...but he’d happily nap until his next feed 😳 he’ll easily nap for 3 hours multiple times a day! Is he sleeping longer because he’s being held?! when he is awake he’s really alert and playful but I’m just unsure if that kind of sleep pattern is normal 🤷🏻‍♀️I was expecting the length of naps to reduce slightly as the weeks went on 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, this week he’s been super fussy. Throwing himself off the boob screaming and just generally being cranky. He does eventually go back on and eat (so I’m not too concerned about him not getting enough etc) but takes some persuading and the odd tantrum sometimes 😳😳 is this normal around this age? Hoping it’s just a growth spurt 🤔🤞🏼 He was a bigger baby and was born on 75th centile (at 8lb 11oz). Has piled on the weight every week so far bar the first week and has generally breastfed really well after the initial tough couple of weeks. He does suffer really badly with wind, could that be getting worse?

At 8 weeks they have a growth spurt so being fussy and sleeping loads is normal.
They usually sleep anything from 16-18 hours per 24 hour cycle and he is still super tiny!
He may have colic if he is struggling to bring his wind up, that may be the reason for him being super fussy, as his tummy hurts.
Perhaps try gripe water if you haven't already? Worked wonders with my DS as on the days he struggled with his wind (he had colic too) gripe water was a god send!

@lockdownpregnancy Yeah we were using Infacol for him but it made him worse 😓 then switched to gripe water when he was old enough at 4 weeks. It’s definitely helping but he still struggles some days!
Thanks for reassuring me about the sleeping!! Sometimes I think I forget just how young he still is because he’s a big boy 🙈 after he’s through this fussy period I’ll work on him letting us put him down for naps during the day 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Hi lovely, might be worth having a look at the Wonder Weeks app (I think that’s what it’s called). I personally didn’t use it but lots of my mum friends did and found it really helpful for when baby was sleeping lots/not eating as much etc. Could be he’s going through a ‘leap’. You’re doing brilliantly by the way xx

Sounds normal. If you want you could try feeding every 3 hours during the day to see if reduced the number of over night feeds. It may it may not.

@Thatwentbadly he actually doesn’t do too many overnight feeds. Tends to do a bit of a cluster feed at night until about 8.30/9, feeds again around 12 then 4 then whenever he wakes up - usually anywhere between 6-7.30 🤷🏻‍♀️

@LilyLolo81 Aww that’s so lovely, thank you!! It’s definitely a learning curve with your first isn’t it?! 🤣 he’s just the best wee guy though and I can’t even remember him not being here 🙈🤣 I hadn’t heard of that App! Looks really useful! I’ve just downloaded it to give it a go 😊 thanks!

@RWK29 I think it helps to know they’re going through a ‘leap’ when things are a bit tough sleep and feeding wise. Learning curve is one way of describing it I hadn’t the slightest clue what I was doing. My little one is 2 now and I’m kind of getting the hang of it now! And I promise you there is light at the end of the sleep deprivation tunnel!

@LilyLolo81 🤣 let’s face it, we’re all just winging it 🙈 It definitely helps to know that they’re going through a ‘leap’ though 😅 sometimes I just have to look at him the wrong way and he screams 🙈🤣 I’m so sleep deprived at this point that I actually think I’ve hit a new “normal” and I’m beginning to feel fine 🤣 I believe that’s just how parents function, right?! 🤣