I don't know where to go from here

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

Ds2 is almost 5 weeks. I think like my eldest he may have silent reflux, or it might just be very bad trapped wind. In any case he won't settle at night...he sleeps, but the moment he lies flat he flails about, grunts, groans etc. It's so loud and keeps me awake, and wakes him too if he's left and not picked up.

He wouldn't settle in the moses basket, so we tried a proper mattress in the travel cot which also didn't help. So we put him in his cot, though that won't fit in our room so I am sleeping on his nursery floor, which is hideous (no space for bed/mattress). He isn't settling there either, even though we've also tried inclining the cot to help with possible reflux.

I have no idea what to try next. He definitely settles better sleeping with me but I don't want to co-sleep. Has anyone had success with a bedside crib?

He's also not really taking much milk overnight, two bottles but he's not even having half before falling asleep (so about 2 x 2oz). He seems happy enough sleeping but the pain from reflux/wind is making it impossible for him or me to do that peacefully.

I've quite literally not slept past 1 am for weeks now and I'm going insane. Please can someone give me any words of wisdom?!

Are you sure he's in pain? Babies are really really noisy. The snorts and grunts that they produce are surprisingly loud for something so small! Is he crying or just grunting?

If you're thinking reflux pop to GP they may prescribe gaviscon or ranitidine

We had a bedside crib that we had on an incline to help with stuffed up breathing. Have you been able to tilt the angle that your baby is sleeping at to see if that has any effect?

I did really like our bedside crib, much better for us to be in our own bed, but to have the baby v close by. How does he sleep during the day?

New mum I think he's in pain for not 100%. When my eldest had reflux he cried all day but slept well at night strangely. Ds2 is pretty happy in the day but unsettled at night. He doesn't always cry when he's grunting/flailing though does sometimes...though that could correspond with hunger cues I guess?

Cupcake my eldest had terrible reactions with gaviscon and ranitidine so I was going to hold off for a few weeks before going down that route. I've changed his formula to hipp so hoping that may help initially?

Callamia we've inclined the cot but that hasn't seemed to help.

He sleeps ok in the day given half a chance by my eldest (he disturbs him). But he only sleeps on me at the moment or if we're out in his pram

Have you seen those Babacush cushions OP? Baby sleeps as if they were cuddling on you and are strapped in so safe. It was the only way my friend got any respite.

Have you tried a swaddle and a dummy?

Silent reflux / reflux and often colic are all just wind issues. Before medicating a tiny newborn, focus your efforts on more effective winding to see if that makes a difference. Wind after every feed and also wind after any period of crying, because baby will gulp in air when crying. Especially if lying flat when crying.

Google different winding techniques and try several.

Keep your default position when holding him an upright position - lying on your shoulder for example. And try daytime naps in a bouncy chair - this holds baby in a position with a raised head.

Check your feeding position. Ensure head is always higher than stomach and if bottle feeding that the teat remains full at all times.

Consider if the overnight unsettledness could be linked to hunger? Rest this by feeding more frequently through the day, so more feeds per day.

A well fed, well winded, swaddled, healthy newborn with a dummy to comfort suck should sleep easily.

Our DD was incredibly noisy for the first two months or so. Grunting, thrashing legs, lots of other random sounds. She didn't have any medical issues and eventually just settled into a more quiet sleep. I wouldn't necessarily assume there is a problem, OP.

Thank you everyone. To answer some questions...

He won't take a dummy - annoying! I'm persevering...

I haven't tried one of those cushions but will take a look, thank you so much.

He doesn't like being swaddled though my sister has sent me a link to an easy swaddle she uses for her baby, so I'll look at that.

I'm trying to be really thorough with winding but sometimes it just doesn't seem to come up. We usually get one big burp though. I'll keep on with this and do it throughout the day too.

Given that he's generally happy, I'm inclined to agree that it's maybe just a uncomfortable newborn stage rather than something medical. I hope so! Hopefully being extra careful with winding and a different formula may help things until he grows out of it.