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Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

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Original poster

5 week old won't settle after 2nd night feed, any tips?

34 replies

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 11:01

My 5 week old ds is sort of moving into some semblance of a routine... Going down between 9 and ten, waking for feed around 2 and then again around 5-6. After the second feed though he doesn't really settle again and go back to sleep. Once back in his Moses there's a lot of grunting, movement and general noise and fidgeting, some crying until he wants a feed again at about half 8/9, I know it's very early to expect a proper routine but was wondering if anyone had any tips for getting him to settle after 2nd night feed? Thanks.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/01/2012 11:07

What have you tried so far roz? Is his nappy too full? Have you tried swaddling?

Having said that though I think I would have given my right arm for a 5 week old that slept as long as yours, you are very, very lucky! . Ours both woke at about that time and DH used to get up and let me have a lie in as I'd been up doing the night feeds.

BrianButterfield · 01/01/2012 11:12

It might be worth biting the bullet and getting up with him at that time - you'll probably find after half an hour of being 'up' (nappy change etc) that he'll be ready to conk out again and you can go back to bed. Mooch around for a little bit, have a cuppa and some biscuits, watch a bit of morning TV...better than lying there awake wishing he will settle and feeling tense.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/01/2012 11:30

Agree with Brian, only I made DH get up! .

Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 11:38

He gets swaddled every night and yes have tried changing before feeds. The thing is as well, it's proving a bit difficult to get a good feed down him at night as he just keeps falling asleep! Feeding him at night can take up to an hour, does this sound about right? This is my first baby... I know what you mean about him being a good sleeper already, generally he is a really good baby but you always want that bit more don't you!

Yes could try getting up with him at that time shudder and your right he probably would be tired again pretty soon. Ta for advice ladies.

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Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 11:44

Oh one other thing that I don't know is relevant or not, even though he's really unsettled after second night feed he does actually have his eyes closed most of the time!

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 01/01/2012 11:47

roz feeding can take upto an hour at night, so don't worry, it does sound normal. Have you seen on breast compression? It might help him feed more quickly or some of the tips here might help.

Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 11:58

Thanks jilted will definitely have a good look at that.

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Yandos · 01/01/2012 20:13

Roz you may want to google 'grunting baby syndrome' as it sounds like it could be that - basically they 'wake up' at the same time each night thrashing around and doing their best impression of a farmyard animal, but are actually asleep - normally around 5-7am. Apparently it's due to their intestines /bowel not being fully formed - they just grow out of it after a while

Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 20:31

at grunting baby syndrome!! It really does sound like that!! Will look it up, ta yandos. We are attempting to put LO down tonight at 8.30 in his Moses in our room with baby monitor on and door open. Just to see! so far have been up 3 times...

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DoNotDisturb · 01/01/2012 20:38

Roz. If he's not crying I'd be tempted to leave him awake or not. If he cries maybe hug him in the dark. We had a rule that no one gets up before 7 and we did everything to keep our babies asleep till at least then as they went through each stage. We now have two kids (3 years and 8 months) who lie in . Also it's great if he's happy in his basket awake on his own as there's always the chance he'll fall back asleep.

Congrats on your baby and enjoy these gorgeous early weeks

DoNotDisturb · 01/01/2012 20:39

Sorry cross posted. Good luck tonight!

... Intrigued by grunting baby syndrome. Haven't heard of that before - very interesting!

Northernlurker · 01/01/2012 20:41

My first took around an hour to feed till around 3 months when it dropped suddenly to ten minutes and I thought something was wrong with her

He may be cold - or colder - than when you're feeding him and that might makehim unsettled. Personally I would have snuggled down with them in bed after the feed at this stage but I know that's frowned on now. Maybe try another blanket?

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/01/2012 20:42

Can you put him to bed an hour or two later so that everything moves on by one or two hours?

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/01/2012 20:44

Can you put him to bed an hour or two later so that everything moves on by one or two hours?

DoNotDisturb · 01/01/2012 20:53

I agree with northern. Maybe try snuggling up in bed after the second feed and then you all get a lie in. Also it's too early for him to be learning so called "bad habits". I think getting their little body clocks used to sleeping in till after 5am is worth it.

Ps can't help on the long feeding sorry. My two have always been 5 min feeders..

Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 21:01

Ok I'll try keeping him with me after second feed tonight and see how that goes...think he's asleep now yippee!

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Jojay · 01/01/2012 21:05

All mine were like that. I used to bring them into bed with me for the second feed and we'd snuggle up until morning - lovely

They all grew out of it by about 3 months.

Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 21:06

How should I keep him with me in bed safely?

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RitaMorgan · 01/01/2012 21:06

I always brought ds into bed with me at the 5/6am feed, and then fed him lying down for a feed-snooze session until we were ready to get up a couple of hours later. This worked until he was about a year old!

RitaMorgan · 01/01/2012 21:08

Make sure your mattress is firm, and there are no duvets or pillows that could cover him - always keep the baby just next to you as well, not between you and his dad. If you lie on your side facing each other in a feeding position and bring a leg up at a right angle underneath him, you kind of form a protective position around him and can't roll onto him.

Original poster

roz1982 · 01/01/2012 21:10

Ok ta Rita will give it a go.

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RitaMorgan · 01/01/2012 21:19

When ds was very little I used to tuck the end of the duvet under the mattress at the bottom of the bed so it only came up to my waist - that way I couldn't accidentally pull it over the baby in the night.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 02/01/2012 09:09

Thought you might like the guidelines and some information from Kellymom

DoNotDisturb · 02/01/2012 12:51

How'd it go?

Original poster

roz1982 · 02/01/2012 16:28

Ok well, bed time at8.30 was way too optimistic early...he was still up at 10 and had a feed but then went off to sleep fine. Woke at 2 for feed, went down with a bit of fuss but slept til six ish then had another feed, after which I kept him in bed with me...after a bit of trial and error with positioning (he cried at first!!) he definitely settled much better and got up with him at 8.30 for brekky feed!

What kept me awake was not ds, but dh snoring like a steam train next to us!!

Tonight, later bed time and hopefully same drill for rest of night!

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