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Sleep

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Original poster

'gina baby' won't go to sleep after 10pm feed

14 replies

LG · 06/01/2004 20:12

I am trying to introduce my dd who is 5 weeks old to the Gina routine having had good success with it with my ds. However, she is very unsettled after the 10-11pm feed and does not want to go back to sleep in her cot. We usually end up taking her into bed with us which quietens her immediately. However, I am worried about the dangers of co-sleeping. She eats a fair amount at this feed about 4-5 ounces. Has anyone had the same problem or has any suggestions about settling her?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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celandine · 06/01/2004 20:16

We never used to properly wake our 'Gina baby' for his 10pm feed as per her books , but instead picked him up gently and just fed him in the dark. He'd sometimes open his eyes but he kept his doziness and nodded off easily after so we placed him gently back in his cot.

suzywong · 06/01/2004 20:17

LG
What dangers of co-sleeping?

Original poster

LG · 06/01/2004 20:20

suzywong - apparently the baby can get overheated or there is a danger of squashing the baby. Some of the GPs at my doctors surgery are very anti-co-sleeping for these reasons. Also for myself its not something I want to continue in the long term.

OP posts:

pollingfold · 06/01/2004 20:28

How long do you keep your son awake for. We used to try and keep our son awake for the full hour, although all I wanted was for it to take 3 mins and back to bed for everyone.

Have you thought about introducing a cuddly, whether it be a rag or soft toy that smells of you, which may help calm him?

suzywong · 06/01/2004 20:30

I can understand not wanting to do it long term, it can be hard to get them in to their own beds
but the dangers are only if either of you smoke, are drnk or on drugs. Overheating is avoided by not over layering them and giving them their own blanket and squashing is extraordinarily rare.
I co-slrpt with ds1 for 14 months and am puttimg ds2 in cot as soon as he can roll over.
Please do not think of it as fraught with danger (there have been many informarive threads on these pages on the subject.
Sorry I can't offer any advice re gina but I want to reassure you that co sleeping can be a really helpful way to settle you baby in thr short term and not something to be afraid of

don't mean to sound patronising and genuiney hope this helps

Ghosty · 06/01/2004 20:33

LG ... do you swaddle your baby? I found that that helped my DS when he was little because he felt snuggled ...

shrub · 06/01/2004 20:38

maybe dd is a little young for just one feed in night? also enjoy the co-sleeping, have you bought a cot already as there is a 'brio bedside cot' (it has 3 sides with open side towards your bed and adjustable level to match with your own bed which could be a 3rd way... babyhood is so fleeting, there will come a time when they want their own space

prufrock · 06/01/2004 21:04

Does it make a difference who feeds her? - We used to find that dd would settle far easier after ab bottle of ebm from her dad than after a bf from me. Would second the suggestion of only waking enough to get 4-5oz down her, and try doing the feed in her room rather than moving her out.

Kika · 06/01/2004 22:59

LG,
What I find, is that my DS only settles down after teh 10pm feed if we do a 'late evening routine' Then, he settles down and is OK til 6- in the morning.
The routine is that I put on the same peaceful classical music every night, switch off the lights, and feed him in the dark (OK, with only a tiny lamp on so after feeding find my way out.)
Good luck!

Original poster

LG · 07/01/2004 11:48

thank you all for the suggestions. my dh fed her with ebm in a bottle last night and swaddled her and she went back down at 11ish to wake at 3.30am, but then wouldn't go back into her cot. however i may have got the swaddle wrong. its a bit difficult to do in darkness!

OP posts:

mears · 07/01/2004 11:51

LG - I am not a fan of Gina but from what I have read on mumsnet, 5 weeks is too early to expect a baby to settle into the routine isn't it?

Original poster

LG · 07/01/2004 11:57

mears its not so much the routine, its getting her to sleep in her cot rather than with me.

OP posts:

mears · 07/01/2004 11:58

I'm still no use for advice - all four of mine slept with me at 5 weeks. Lovely

FairyMum · 07/01/2004 12:03

My children didn't settle before after midnight at that age. It's very young. IMO far too young to expect all babies to settle into a routine. It will come with time, but the first 3 months can be tough.
Co-sleeping is not dangerous as long as you follow some simple guidelines. In fact, some people believe it's less dangerous than baby sleeping in own cot! Co-sleeping doesn't necessarily mean that you will forever have your baby in your bed. That is also a myth!

Good luck! Just remember that things take time sometimes

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