Newborn (8wks) doing short naps

[mistressploppy]

DS1 did the 45min nap thing but he was older - about 4mo - when it started. DS2 started at 5wks!!!

I'm trying to settle him without rocking/boobing/lying on my chest and usually he manages, but with such short naps he's knackered by the end of the day and too overtired to go to bed at bedtime, so we end up on the sofa til 10pm while he cluster feeds half-heartedly until passing out. Nighttime sleep is slowly getting worse - we used to get the odd 5hr chunk, now the longest is 3hrs, followed by 2hrs followed by 1hr.

I'm concerned things will deteriorate further if I don't do something, but I don't know what it is!

I know he's very young still, but I'm so aware that if I bring in loads of sleep props now it might make things worse. Again.

Aargh. Please help me!

Things change for them at about 6 weeks and their sleep cycles become different so this is probably what's happening. Have you tried feeding when he wakes after 45 minutes? Alternatively, just put him down for lots of split naps so he doesn't get too overtired by the end of the day as this just introduces a secondary problem.

Thanks Daisy. I'll try the split naps; the trouble is I have a 2yo as well and it feels like the whole day is spent getting the baby to sleep