8 week old routine - HELP!!!

[winstonina]

I am a new mum and I'm struggling with getting my 8 week old to do anything that is deemed to be 'the norm'. First up, he sleeps during the day a lot! I have to admit at this point that we had a2 week stay in hospital where he slept on me the whole time dispite the midwifes telling me to put him on his cot. I know some may say I have made a rod for my own back but it was best for both us at the time. Since we have been home we have tried him in his Moses basket where he will sleep for a maximum of 20 mins before getting very restless and waking himself up. At night he now sleeps in between me and my partner where he will sleep peacefully for 4/5 hours before waking up for a feed. ( he is breastfed) in the day he falls asleep on me then I put him on the sofa next to me. I guess I just want to know what routine other people are in and also how to get him to sleep other than on me. I'm also considering giving him formula so he isn't just getting milk from me.

Your baby isn't in a routine because he hasn't read any of the baby manuals! He's just a baby and what he is doing is entirely normal. That's what babies are programmed to do. They are supposed to wake frequently, unfortunately for us. It's rarer to get a baby that sleeps for long periods at that stage. The best piece of advice that I was given when I had my first child is to just get through the first six months. Don't worry about bad habits. You're not spoiling him, you're mothering him. And anyone who bangs on about rods for your back needs can take that rod and stick it. The one thing you do have to be careful of is letting him sleep on the sofa. And look up safe co-sleeping practice just to make sure that out are following the guidelines. But other than that just hang on in there and repeat 'this is just a phase, this is just a phase'.

To be getting 4/5 hours at night time at 8 weeks is great IMO even if he is in your bed. My daughter wouldn't sleep anywhere other than my bed til 10 weeks then it would be first 3 hours in moses basket then after feed in my bed, gradually to all night in her cot. She's 13 weeks now and she will stay awake up to 2 hours before having a 45 mins to an hour n half nap during day. She did that herself I never forced it. She used to cat nap like that though.
Don't be thinking you made a rod for your own back at all, you did what your baby needed and he clearly felt safe there! Will he still want to sleep in your bed or on you when he's 10? We don't get this time back embrace it and enjoy it! :)

Everything you're describing sounds absolutely normal for an 8 week old baby. They don't really have any routine, they just doze, feed, sleep, feed and they thrive on loads of physical contact. It's part of a tiny baby's survival instinct to be glued to his mum for protection at all times! So please don't worry about keeping your baby close, that's absolutely what he needs. And there's no need to switch to formula (unless you desperately want to). It is a weird time, these early days, it can feel a bit like a parallel universe but enjoy all those snuggly cuddles while you can. They can be really long days and nights and it's hard to believe but he'll be crawling then walking pretty soon, and these cocoon days will be gone!

Wow! It was my first time writing on any type of forum ( as you may have been able to tell as I posted twice!) I am very pleasantly surprised by the speedy and most helpful responses, thanks guys! It has been very reassuring. I guess I was just reading too any books and listening to too many 'experts' as to what I should be doing. I am well aware of the pros and cons of co
Sleeping but it is working for us at the moment so I'm going to stay with it. I just feel a little sorry for my poor hubby who not only doesn't get to feed our boy much (I think he would rather we used bottles) but he also can't get near me in bed as our boy is in the middle! But as has been said, it won't be forever!