overtired/ wont settle 4 wk old

[thislittlesisterlola]

i am probably overthinking- have posted a less specific thread in parenting. 4 wk old very difficult to settle doesnt really settle during the day cat naps in the afternoon but am and evening can stay awake hours- fed at 6 still awake at half 9- feeding every 3 1/2 4 hours 3oz. He does tend to settle better at night. I dont want to over stimulate him during the day see if that helps but i do want to be able to have the tv on not sit in a darkened room all day long- help! He tries to go off on me but gets very fussy and even more so if the dummy falls out. I worry about him being awake this long any ideas? Am not feeling confident in my new mummy skills currently. Tia

Try getting one of these, the heart beat sounds might help. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000L3ISWI/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-strip e&pfrdt=201&pfrdi=B0006M1B0K&pfrdm=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pfrdr=1XM3Q55Q7EREND553RH4

My DD 5 weeks old can go for 6-7 hours without sleeping fussing and crying etc..

Sometimes she needs a bit of background noise to help her sleep, DH swears the tv helps her sleep in the evening.

During the day all you can do is hope a brisk walk will help or a spin to the shops in the car.

Heartbeat sounds/white noise etc can help too.

You just have to try everything, all babies are different.
Ive discovered this with dc3, she is testing my lack of sleep limits. dc1&2 slept great as babies

Do you have a sling? DD spent her first 7 or 8 weeks more or less in it constantly. I was a familiar sight round here in February, stamping the streets in the rain with a tiny baby in a big hat strapped to my front! I have a ring sling that holds a newborn upright against your heart with their head under your chin- secure for us and v.comfy for baby. When she's under the weather she still likes to go in the newborn position- not so great now she's nearly six months old!
I found that DD needed outdoor time EVERY day, and really noticed the difference if we stayed in all day. Babies need help to set their bio rhythms, so when you get up in the morning, take him outside- just for long enough to have a cup of tea or something. This reinforces MORNING! Then do the same but go for a nice walk (whatever the weather, neither of you will melt) at about five in the afternoon. This fresh air will help him to sleep at night. It also gets you out of the house and stops you feeling quite so cut off.
I hope this helps you as much as it did me, good luck- it will get better sooooo quickly, promise! x

Agree with MrsDmamee, you just have to try everything. Mine always slept when I was on the go, whether they were in a sling, car or pushchair.

Perhaps if you are worried you could pop out to the shops and see if that helps.

My SIL swore by swaddling with her DC1, have you tried that?

The other time mine were guaranteed to sleep was if there were lots of other Mums around, and they would all say "ooooh aren't they good". Have you tried getting out much with LO yet? Playgroups are usually a good way of getting out and meeting a few people.

When you say that LO is fed at 6 and still awake at 9 is the baby crying all this time?

I had similar issues with my dd (now 9 weeks). She didn't sleep.... Ever. I totally sympathise - the sleep deprivation is horrific! But things do get better - she now sleeps really well at night (bath, bottle and bed at 7ish, feed at 10:30ish, then sleeps through fairly consistently to between 5 and 6 - today didn't wake up until 9:30!). Daytimes are another matter as she is extremely bright and alert and fights sleep with every fibre of her little being but it is much easier to deal with after being able to have a good nights sleep. Anyway... There were a couple of things that worked for me - some better than others :).

Swaddling was one - the miracle blanket from Mothercare was money well spent.

White noise worked awesome! Toys R Us sells a little gadget (has white noise and womb noise) that gives a 5 minute burst of noise when it senses movement or the baby makes a loud noise. I also downloaded some tracks off the internet which were quite good (I found them quite relaxing too :O) - waves, rain, vacuum cleaner (not so good for me but she seemed to love it :))

The one that could be very contentious but was a life saver for both me and baby was putting her to sleep on her tummy. I guess she just wasn't really comfortable on her back. I know it is strongly advised not to do this but for me it was worth it just to see the transformation in my little girl once she finally had some decent sleep. It really was heart breaking to see her tired, puffy red eyes and to know that she would be back awake (and crying) in half an hour.

Also just taking her out really helped. She would fall asleep in the pram or baby carrier and have a little doze. These things all send her boggle eyed now as she loves going out!

Lastly, as Ineedsomesleep wrote... Try going somewhere where there are lots of mums and babies - that will send him to sleep so they can all express their disbelief at your struggles.

Or maybe you just need a bit more time - he is very little and you said he does settle better at night...

thislittlesisterlola how are thngs now? Is it getting any better?