Overtired baby

[solosunflower]

Hello, me again!

Looking for some advice please with regards to my overtired baby! I cannot for the life of me settle him for sleep when in the house. He will sleep in the car seat and baby carrier when out and about walking, but once home he will cry constantly. The only time he goes to sleep at home is when he's dropped off from exhaustion. I know now when he's crying from tiredness, but can't do anything to comfort him or stop reaching that point. I feel useless. He does not like slings, either. Any advice please??

How old is he?

Does he stop crying when you comfort him in your arms OP?

Dummy? DS settles quickly if he has something to suck. He’s 5monrhs.

5 weeks old.
Sometimes he settles in my arms, but often he is beyond the point of comfort.

Do you swaddle him? Swaddling made a huge difference to mine. Sometimes a "drop" rather than a sway helps, so stepping up and down on the bottom stair or deep knee bends to settle them

I will try the drop, thank you.
Nooo he hates being swaddled. Pretty much anything that makes him feel restrained is a no-go. Been up since 6am. Only time he’s slept was when we went in car, so about 2hrs at a push.

Tried dummy. Cries and drops out.

Hunger?

Not hungry. We seem to have mastered that one!

Have u tried white noise ?

Your baby is only just out of the 4th trimester and may still need a lot of physical comfort from you. Repeat the cycle of feed, wind, cuddle and see if you can get him to cat nap on you.

Very dark room, zero stimulation apart from gentle rocking in arms worked for me with over tired babies.

Are you going with scheduled feeds and naps or are you following his cues?

5 weeks is so tiny still. Will he drift off after a feed and sleep in your arms?

Sympathy from me too. I had a "high needs baby", it was tough!

Have you tried a sling? We used to have to pace the hall/stairs for hours on end to get baby to sleep between 4-10(ish) weeks! Then once asleep you kind of master the semi-recline with baby still in sling. As always for these things, it will pass!

Ah sorry - didn't read the bit about slings. May be worth trying a few different options though. Maybe see if you have a sling library locally where you can try other ones out. My baby liked the more rigid ergobaby over the stretchy wrap type.

He likes the baby carrier, but once I take him out he does start crying and the cycle begins again.

I am feeding on demand.

I definitely think he's being overstimulated, particularly at night when he becomes fixated on lights/shadows etc.

Hold him and bounce on a yoga ball

It worked for us.... but he's now a year old and its still what we have to do 🤪

@solosunflower any update on this?

My baby Is 4 months old and has never been a good sleeper. the only way she will sleep if I drive with her or go for a walk, then when she does sleep it's for 20 minutes so i basically spend my whole day trying to get her to sleep. I hear so many people just lay their baby down and they doze off. She has never done this, she will lie for 20 minutes then she will be hysterical because she's overtired and it could go on for 5 hours 😩 same with you I've tried dummy, white noise and everything, she tends to get even more mad

We found the swaddle up suits very good - not as restrictive as proper swaddling but helped settle

Another vote for dark room, white noise on, only speak in whispers/not at all..maybe try a different brand/size dummy?