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Parenting

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Baby sleep mystery

7 replies

Nearlythere80 · 25/01/2024 05:16

1st (and only) baby born at 38 weeks uneventful c-section (planned) now 5 weeks. Combination feeding (can't raise my milk supply for whatever reason, probably missed the boat to do so 1st couple of weeks when neither he nor I could quite get the hang of it), growing well, very bonnie and chillaxed baby in the day. At night he is proving tricky to get into his cot (bedside/next to me thing) - when we put him in it within moments he starts having troubles, lifting his legs, bicycle kicking and farting with crying/a lot of noise escalating to proper crying with arms grabbing out etc. Occasionally the farting seems spectacularly loud and helpful and he'll settle, also seems to be better if i hold his bum in the air a bit. It's a physiological or maybe behavioural mystery. On our bed he can be completely flat and not have the same dramas, or at least settles post fart, and on us he can be upside down/back to front/in a hurricane and all is well. I don't think it's reflux (no top end trouble) and if it were colic it's weirdly geographically influenced. He is fine in his bassinet downstairs or pram, but both do look more cwtchy than his austere but sleep safe cot. Am a bit sleep deprived and can't cognitively decide if sensible to try co-sleeping (we're not keen at all), or if there is something wrong with his cot (that could be safely corrected, eg more cwtchy or warmer mattress, tilted end of bed etc) or if there is some winding equivalent manoeuvre for baby farts. Have been trying infracol and can't see a difference. Have been to baby massage class and he either just sleeps or gives me a withering judgemental look and then cries (at my foolish waste of money no doubt). Bowel motions as expected for age/feeding. I suspect he's just 5 weeks old and is being 5 weeks old but just in case there is some baby code to crack here I thought I would ask

OP posts:
Lizzieregina · 25/01/2024 05:26

Maybe his cot feels to big and open for him? Could you bring the bassinet upstairs? Or have you tried swaddling him to keep his legs and arms a bit calmer?

Zoomerang · 25/01/2024 05:49

There’s no baby code (sorry!). My solution would be to cosleep. Even if he’s flat on both beds, yours is warmer, softer and smells of you. I know it’s not for everyone though!

babymassageexpert · 22/09/2024 05:15

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Tofu35 · 22/09/2024 05:26

The most helpful thing I heard when my wee one was that age was to remember that they've only been away from you for 5 weeks. The last 38 weeks they've been physically connected to you, and that takes a lot to get used to (both how much more space they have now, and they are now separate to you). But also at 5 weeks They have zero conception of night and day, they sleep/eat/poo whenever they want, regardless of time (not ideal for mum though!).

The farting thing is hilarious at that age, such a small digestive system but such a loud noise!

Id suggest seeing if you could move whatever he's happy sleeping in downstairs to your bedroom at night. If you did consider co-sleep, there's lots of guidance about how to do this safely.

Hope you're able to get some sleep during the day xx

Merrow · 22/09/2024 05:42

I had our moses basket in the next to me cot for a bit! I felt DS2 liked the enclosed space, but it was also desperation. I completely understand not wanting to cosleep, but I'd read the guidelines of how to do it safely just in case you make a decision in the middle of the night to do it. "Bicycle legs" is supposed to help with baby farting, but I think it's also just a phase.

Is your DP taking the baby so you get a chunk of sleep? It wasn't the most fun evening, but I used to head to bed at 8pm and DP would bring DS2 at midnight so I got that first stretch. I hadn't realised how good a sleeper DS1 was until his brother came along!

wishIwasonholiday10 · 22/09/2024 06:36

We also found the Moses basket was better than the Next to Me for the first 2 months. Have you tried swaddling? We liked the Love to Dream ones for newborns.

InTheRainOnATrain · 22/09/2024 06:58

Is your pram bassinet suitable for overnight sleeping? Some are and that would be a good solution. Failing that try a moses basket because they’re a similar size/similarly enclosed. Also have you tried a swaddle sack and dummy? Cosleeping is also fine too if you follow the safety guidelines.

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