Where ami going wrong with baby’s sleep?

[Tirednessandmilk]

6 weeks, and just doesn’t seem to sleep at all. Hardly naps during the day, every evening is a battle and constantly wakes in the night.

I’m really worried about how it will impact his development, I’m obviously exhausted, and I don’t know where I’m going wrong. Have tried darkened rooms, white noise, baths. Please help!

My 6 week old is exactly the same. We’ve sorted night time sleeping out- he has a swaddle sleeping bag and white noise. But in the day he will fight sleep so hard. I can only get him to nap on me, in a sling or in his pram. He will not sleep in his crib during the day, despite being fine with it at night. He gets over tired and then gets himself all upset which hinders sleep even more! It is frustrating but totally normal. But we did go through a phase where he was waking every hour or two in the night as well, thank god that only lasted about a week, thought I was gonna lose the plot.
I agree with trying not to let him stay awake more than 90 mins. And like you I was starting to get really upset and worried that it was going to impact his health/development. So even if other people’s tips don’t work for you, please know you are not alone and he is not the first baby to do this, it is very common.

Hi I’d echo a couple of the others in saying go by wake windows rather than waiting for him to show signs of tiredness. Mine’s just over three months now and he’s my first and his worst crying and grumpiness was and still is when he’s tired, however I didn’t really recognise it at first. The main thing I’d say is just persevere...even when you feel like you’ve sang twinkle twinkle for the 150th time and they’re still not going to sleep just keep going. It’s shit as you feel like you’re spending half the day doing it but for me he’s just a better baby if he has his naps. Also try different positions (I found myself rocking him to and fro in a Superman hold just listening to music). Some things that work one week will be no good the next so I just try and change it up. He also cries the worst right before he drops off. Usually my husband takes this as a sign that he’s not happy and stops but this is when you have to push through it and keep going...not sure if any of this seems helpful but hopefully cracking the day naps may help with the nights. I still have good and bad days with mine but feel the napping side is getting better based on what I’ve said

@Tirednessandmilk

merry he won’t sleep on me. Only in the sling if I’m moving around, I can’t move around for 14 hours a day!

Not for 14 hours no, but if you can at least get a few blocks of good daytime naps in there he may be a bit calmer. It's really rough, good luck

Well, had a good two days followed by a horrific day. I wish I knew where I was going wrong.

@Tirednessandmilk how come it was horrific? I don’t think you’re going wrong anywhere by the sounds of it...I’ve had two crap days where the nights were endless and cried about four times yesterday just finding it all unmanageable and then today had a better night and everything seems fine today. I hadn’t changed a thing in terms of how I’ve cared for my little one and that’s it..I need to remind myself that’s babies for you...unpredictable at times so I’m trying not to overanalsye what I could potentially be doing wrong! I wouldn’t let yourself think you’re going wrong anywhere...did you try any new ways of trying to get yours to nap?x

@Tirednessandmilk have you tried a dummy? My baby is 1 month and wouldn't settle at all at night but since we gave him a dummy at night he's much better

Bouncing on a yoga ball with a sling helps, as a short term solution

Are you keeping a food diary to see if there is anything you are eating that could be impacting him?

May be the day after you have eaten X y z rather than some day.