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6 week old baby - question about bedtime

5 replies

bodyravagedbychildbirth · 30/08/2012 20:34

I have a 6 week old ds2. When he was first born we kept him in the living room with us, sleeping, until we went to bed and then took him up with us. Then, a couple of weeks ago it became clear he just wanted to be somewhere dark and quiet to sleep, so I started coinciding his with DS1's bedtime (between 7 and 8). That seemed to work quite well, with lots of waking and feeding he'd sleep until 8ish in the morning. However, the last few days he's been more awake during the days, but he's tired much of the time, fighting sleep. I have him in the sling or in the buggy, whatever I can to get him off, but those days of long 3 hour naps seem to be over temporarily and he sleeps for an hour or so max before waking up, except when it gets to around 4.30/5 when he's desperately tired and would sleep at the drop of a hat. DS1 is starting school next week and we'll all have to be up by 7ish, so I've had it in my head that DS2 shouldn't nap after 5/5.30 so that he'll still go to bed at around 7 and have the chance of getting a good 12 hours (on and off with feeding etc). The last couple of days he's been so tired and upset about being tired that I've ended up putting him to bed at about 6.30. I feel mean seeing him so tired while I'm trying to keep him up until 'bedtime'. I'm just interested in opinions. Will trying to enforce this bit of routine pay off (I'm not doing a day routine, not am I worried about how often he wakes to feed)? I just think I'll be waking him up in the morning tired otherwise and rushing him out of the house...

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CharlieMumma · 30/08/2012 20:45

I wouldn't try and force a bedtime at 6 weeks just go with his cues. It could be a growth spurt or anything but if he's clearly wanting to go to bed I would put him down or he could end up over tired. My ds bedtime changed many times at the early stages and he's a great sleeper still at 18mths

Jojay · 30/08/2012 20:45

I'm not sure really but the only thing I would say is perhaps don't try an force it now. Once the school run kicks in, it'll happen naturally.

And tbh, having the baby sleeping in until 8am is no bad thing as it means you can get DS1 ready in peace - it doesn't matter that DS2 is still in his pj's!

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 30/08/2012 20:50

I would go with the flow for now, he's still very young. I'd let him sleep when he wants to sleep.

When you start your school run routine, baby will fit into it anyway, may take a week or so, but baby will fall into a routine naturally if twice a day he's in the buggy for an hour (for example)

Go with the flow.

BoysBoysBoysAndMe · 30/08/2012 20:53

In fact a year ago my ds2 would have been about 6 weeks (5th July born) and ds1 started reception last sep.

Ds2 didn't like going in the buggy twice a day at first, but he did get used to the routine very quickly and would sleep in the buggy on both the morning and afternoon school run.

bodyravagedbychildbirth · 30/08/2012 20:55

Hmmm, thanks, I think I agree. It's not nice seeing him so tired and upset.

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