8 week old bath time/bedtime chaos

[dan220282]

Hello everyone. New user, long time lurker, looking for help please

First time dad, we need some help/advice and Im sure you've been asked this millions of times. We have an 8 week old little boy, who, during the day is good as gold, now, on our HV advice we started creating a "wind down" room, so darker room, no noise etc..and we take him here after his bath. This is normally between 6-7pm

Now he loves his baths sits there chilled as nothing splashing etc..we take him out into his nursery to get hime changed, as soon as we start putting his baby grow on him he starts to get restless, like he knows what is coming, we take him into our room where its dark with all intents and purposes to read him a story, give him some milk and let him drift off. Erm no.

Every.single.night for the past week, he just cries. And cries. And cries. and then as if by magic he'll stop crying after 25-30 minutes and go to sleep.

We are going out of our mind trying to work out what to do. Any help greatly appreciated.

I used to do daily baths with DC1 and DC2, I had the luxury of time back then. DC3 and DC4 less so, too much faff in an already busy household. Little ones bedtime often clashes with taking/collecting from various sporting or extra curricular things for the bigger ones, so no longer have the luxury of time.

DC4 is always washed (she's currently 2 and a half), but baths can be as little as once a week.

I can see the benefit of daily baths as part of wind-down, but evidently not absolutely necessary.

From being downstairs and anouncing "it's bedtime", my 2 year old can be in the cot asleep in as little as 10 minutes. Usually we allow 15-20 mins for her teeth, bedtime story and kisses though.

Not one I made up.... A mate's baby was mesmerised by it.... bath, bottle, bit of bouncing and techno and was out like a light!

I remember reading a post about using an exercise ball for settling. Parents ended up sleep training - the sleep association became unsustainable.

scienceofmom.com/2012/02/06/the-cry-it-out-controversy-and-my-familys-sleep-story/

It is very obvious but ideally the baby should be taught to self-settle doing something on his/her own or with minimal parental intervention. I am lucky that my DD picked a reasonably simple manouver but... to connect sleep cycles, she needs space and she needs to be able to roll on her side. As a result, she only naps for 40-45 min (max) in the pram or in the car seat. Gone are the days when I was able to go out for long lunches/walks with my DD sleeping peacefully in the pram. If I go out, I know my DD will be awake in 45 minutes no matter what so I have to plan around it. If I am out during her lunch time nap (which usually lasts 2.5 hours in the cot with me waking her up), she gets really miserable. It is manageable and I am not complaining but still... how did my nephew manage that thumb sucking?:)

My DD is PFB so we do daily baths followed by a massage. Her skin is fine - we use vegetable oil to moisturise it (HV advice:)) and she has never had a nappy rash/dry skin until she started teething. I agree it is a bit of faff but both DD and I kind of like it:).

Yes to the poster who said self-soothing and teaching a child no-one will come if they cry is NOT the same thing. All kids learn to self settle at some point (even if they're 2!). The other one is a deliberate (and cruel in my opinion) intervention

Hi everyone. Just an update So we're now 17 weeks old and everything is amazing. He uas a routine. He still screams after his bath😂 it couldn't be better. Thankyou for all the advice.

New question. His poop has gone green. And we know why. He isnt eating solids. Isnt poorly. Is acting normally nice and happy. Anything to worry about?

At 8 weeks mine was dozing downstairs and would go to sleep for the night when I went to bed at about 11. Really no need to have a routine at this young age. Enjoy bath time and don't worry about the rest of it x

Oh just seen the update. Green poo is usually a sign of teething, illness or dairy intolerance.

Hi thanks crazycatlady. Love your username. He is still on formula. Had a cold about 2 weeks ago. And we "think" is in the early stages of teething. So i dunno tbh

Wouldn't worry about it I'm sure it'll pass ☺️ Give it a few days