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Original poster

Four Wk old - Please sleep longer!

19 replies

Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 13:48

My dd is a month old today. She doesn't seem to sleep much at the moment. She seems to fight sleep and want to feed. Could this be connected to a growth spurt? She's napping but only for 20 odd minutes at a time. Night time is a little better but we are getting ground down because it's difficult to nap in the day.

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Singlemumsy · 04/10/2014 14:46

Hello... Is she a hungry baby and current milk not filling her up enough?

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 15:25

Hi. Yes, it's hard to fill her, wants to feed all the time.

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ElphabaTheGreen · 04/10/2014 15:39

Are you BF? If so, feeding all the time is perfectly normal on and off in the first few weeks. Get Netflix or box-sets, let her feed and sleep on you so she associates sleep with security. If desperate, Google 'safe co-sleeping' and try and nap that way.

Singlemumsy · 04/10/2014 17:57

If feeding by bottle maybe change milk. I did that with my baby. And gave her a night milk. She liked to know I was around and it made her content so I put music on,not loud, in her bedroom.

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 19:00

Thanks all. She's bf (with some bottle now & again). Today she has slept about an hour and a half all day. She has been like this for a couple of days. We worry that something other than hunger might be keeping her awake (eventhou she is not distressed).

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Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 19:03

She's seems to be feeding a lot and being sick alot. But that seems normal as I read that a baby can throw up 40% of what is taken in.

OP posts:
Singlemumsy · 04/10/2014 19:19

Being sick she's emptying her belly again hence the hunger, not that u don't know that, maybe try changing the formula. If it gets to a point where you're still confused and worrying maybe get her checked out just to put your mind at rest and can focus on the milk milk and routine :)

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 19:22

I just wonder if it is a growth spurt with the amount of feeding and lack of sleeping?

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hollie84 · 04/10/2014 19:24

How often are you trying to get her to sleep? Are you trying to get her to sleep alone? 20 minute naps sound like over tiredness to me. My babies could only stay awake for maybe half an hour at a time at that age.

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 19:53

We wondering if she was over tired. But how do we get her past that? She's been awake nearly all day.
We've tried cradling her and putting her down, we've even taken a drive. Soon as we stopped she woke up.

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hollie84 · 04/10/2014 20:01

Will she sleep in your arms? On the breast? In a sling? I had a baby swing and DS2 had all his naps in that with it swinging on the highest setting until about 3 months. I also found a dummy helped.

ElphabaTheGreen · 04/10/2014 20:03

That's what newborns do, unfortunately. I don't think they stop having growth spurts and developmental leaps for weeks - no two days are the same and it's tough! The feeding will feel like it's all day sometimes, then you'll think she's finally spacing feeds, only for her to increase again. Do you have a sling? Keeping her close to you should help her feel secure enough to sleep for longer periods and she'll also find the warmth and movement soothing. The mistake I made with my first was to go, 'Oh good, he's finally asleep!' then put him in a cot or a pram then be all surprised when he woke up minutes later.

Also, have you tried white noise? Use it to get her asleep and keep it running while she's asleep. I've been using swaddling with DS2 and find it quite effective as well.

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 20:11

We are trying a dummy now. Which is working for ten minutes but she starts arm waving and waking up.
We tried a sling but no real success. We could try white noise as I think there are apps about.

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Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 20:12

She hates swaddling as she likes to have her arms free.

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hollie84 · 04/10/2014 20:14

If you are trying to put her down, make sure you hold her until she is totally asleep first - probably at least 20 minutes.

ElphabaTheGreen · 04/10/2014 20:31

Some babies don't like to be swaddled but can be convinced if you start loosely then gradually make it tighter. She may be waking herself up with the arm waving which swaddling will prevent. It will also make her feel like she's still being held if you put her down and may keep her asleep longer. Slings may also take a little getting used to for some babies. My first hated the style of carriers I tried with him, but the wrap sling I got for DS2 is an absolute godsend. He protests at it sometimes, but if I start walking, especially outside, and blast my white noise app in his ear, he's usually gone in minutes. It goes a long way towards preventing overtiredness. Perhaps Google 'sling library' in your area and you can try a variety, usually for free or for a small hire fee?

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 20:32

Thanks.

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ElphabaTheGreen · 04/10/2014 20:32

YY to holding for 20 minutes. Also wrap her in a blanket first so she takes your warmth and smell with her when she goes down.

Original poster
Gagesb1 · 04/10/2014 20:44

We could be in for a long night. How she is still awake I don't know. We'll try it all out.

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