5 week old doesn't like sleep and wants to feed all the time

[kathrynv]

Hi,
I have a 5 week old who does not like sleeping. During the day he will sleep in a sling for 2 or maybe 3 hours in the morning but then that's it - he'll go for 6 or 7 hours without sleeping again and when he is awake he wants to feed every hour but is snacking rather than having proper feeds. This is knackering for me (I'm bf him) and generally frustrating. He does sleep more at night which I know is a blessing but when he sleeps in his cot next to us he still wakes up pretty much every hour for a feed and can then take as much as 2 hours to be put back to sleep again.

He's putting on weight well, so I'm not worried he's not getting enough, but can anyone either reassure me this is 'normal' (I should throw the baby books away because they tell me my baby should be sleeping 16 hours a day) and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel (when??) or have any tips?

Oh yes, I think he had a growth spurt this time last week so maybe we're still recovering from that?....

I think that sounds pretty normal. To be honest, the first 8 weeks were just a vague, hazy blur of feeding and severe sleep deprivation, so I can't tell you exactly what my LO did, but that sounds about right.

Your breastmilk is designed especially for your little baby so it is very easy for him to digest, plus his tummy isn't much bigger than a walnut so he does need to feed often. It sounds as though he's doing brilliantly. Well done!

That sounds pretty normal.

Congratulations

My nephew was exactly like this for the first 3 months too, but it has all calmed down now..he sleeps more now than he ever did when he was a newborn.

Some babies are just like this, it will get easier.

Message withdrawn

ds1 and ds2 were EXACTLY like that, i thought i would go mad, but it does pass and they get better eventually, ds1 didnt ever sleep for more than 20mins during the day and he would only do that 2 or 3 times, ds2 was slightly better but not much. they were both very bright alert babies tho

Sounds very much like my DD.

Def throw the books away - I kept looking at it and thinking 'your supposed to be asleep' and she never was!

Can't really remember when exactly it settled - it is gradual. I think I decided I thought she was ready for 2 hourly feeding (because if she was distracted/out for a walk or something she was fine) so tried to stretch it out to 2 hours - then 3.

You will get there. My advice is don't worry what the book say or what everyone else is doing - your baby is unique!

Sounds like your doing a fab job anyway. You get used to the sleep thing.

Hang on in there. It's normal and doesn't last long. But horrible while it's happening. Well done.

Thank you - feel better knowing other people have had same experience X