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Is this normal? Newborn & sleep.

4 replies

jaquettalux · 09/04/2025 10:33

Hi, looking for some reassurance really. I suspect it is normal but hoping to hear some experiences of others as feeling very tired and wobbly this morning.

I have a beautiful 4 week old baby boy. For the last week, his sleep in the night has been really limited. Prior to this he slept around 2 hour intervals between midnight and 7. Now from midnight (when my husband brings him into me) I feed him and then he’s up until around 4:30. In this time, he’s on and off the boob and otherwise awake. He does seem tired but every time I lie him down, he seems to jerk himself awake and then require resettling. He also writhes around a lot at times but I can’t get any wind up when I burp him.

Some points to mention:

He is exclusively breastfed. Gaining loads of weight. I am planning to start expressing this weekend so my husband can give him a bottle before midnight, but not sure this will help as questioning whether he will transfer to his cot after this bottle or be awake requiring my comfort again.

We are currently doing safe co sleeping.

We have tried the next to me with love to dream swaddle.

He has a white noise machine. He sometimes takes a dummy.

He likes motion and will fall asleep on me in the rocking chair but is awake once transferred.

I have a really supportive husband who takes him from 10-midnight and then for 2 hours before work in the morning. He can’t have him any longer as he cries for a feed.

I suppose my question is whether it’s normal for newborns to be awake for hours in the night in a block like this? I’m finding it really hard but I think feeling it is normal will help me accept it for what it is. Please be gentle.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BunnyRuddington · 09/04/2025 13:45

Perfectly normal unfortunately. Can I ask what his feeds and sleep are like in the day?

justkeepswimingswiming · 09/04/2025 13:46

Perfectly normal

Immavet · 09/04/2025 13:50

Normal, yes. But please don't despair - it won't last forever (even though it probably feels like that right now).

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anonny55 · 09/04/2025 13:51

Normal unfortunately. My 6 week old has never slept longer than one hour in his next to me so far. And that was just a one off occasion! He wakes within 5 mins of being transferred into crib. Won’t sleep in pram or Moses either. Or with co sleeping. He just wants to be held 24/7 and I don’t feel safe sleeping with him on me. Me and DH do the following. 8-12 I go to bed and he has baby downstairs. 12-4 he goes to bed and I have baby in spare room. 4-6 baby comes into our room and we both take the share of trying to settle him etc. 6am he’s up and goes to work. Atleast we get some sort of quality sleep alone i guess :(. This shall pass. I know how hard it is, sending sleep dust x x

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