Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

Awake with newborn, anyone else? :)

979 replies

Jellybean2017 · 14/08/2017 01:35

My little boy is nine days old. He sleeps pretty well during the day but at night just wants to be held and breastfed. He doesn't settle in his moses basket at night (but he will quite often do so during the day)

Anyone else up doing the same?! I'm not keen on the idea of co-sleeping but would be grateful for any advice. Baby sleeps in a gro-snug and we have a dream sheep but I'm guessing this frequent feeding and love of cuddles in the night is probably just par for the course at this early stage? 😊 I am napping during the day so I'm probably averaging about 6 hrs sleep in a 24 hr period.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Thread gallery
5
Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 29/08/2017 02:10

Not sure Panda but would love to know too! We are having a repeat of last night except I have had no sleep at all yet, going to feel like a zombie tomorrow 🙈

OP posts:
LadyNymeriaGhost · 29/08/2017 03:34

Might it be silent reflux, Panda? My DD just wanted to suck for comfort.

Lallypopstick · 29/08/2017 03:43

Panda I often hand over my baby to my partner then, or get up a walk around. I swear he doesn't settle as easily on me because I smell of milk!

Bedtime for us tonight was pre-10pm. He fell asleep after a feed at 9ish, and when it seemed he was staying asleep, I took him upstairs and put him in the snuzpod then got some sleep. He woke up at 1:30 and has woken up again just now. I struggled to get back to sleep after the 1:30 feed which was very annoying.

Jelly I hope things have improved for you.

LadyNymeriaGhost · 29/08/2017 03:51

DS has another cold. I think it's going to be a bad rest of the night here. Here's hoping your nights just get better.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 29/08/2017 04:29

Still here and he is still acting like he wants to be fed. Don't think I'm getting any sleep tonight, my husband will be off to work before long 😔

OP posts:
LadyNymeriaGhost · 29/08/2017 06:55

Oh Jelly! I hope you get a nap today!

crazycatlady5 · 29/08/2017 06:57

Hi ladies just wanted to weigh in here and say fussing at the breast is normal and usually a sign of a growth spurt. It can be frustration at milk flow and other things bht it's totally normal, albeit tough to sit through! Keep on boobin' Smile

IfYouDontImagineNothingHappens · 29/08/2017 07:08

All the fussing is totally normal Breastfeeding behaviour. Your milk supply is still being established. I know you feel desperate, the first couple of weeks is so so hard but it's gets better! If you've got visitors coming for the next few days then tell them you are going to maximise sleep and don't feel you need to prioritise anyone but you and baby.

crazycatlady5 · 29/08/2017 07:21

Agree with PP! One day my mum and grandparents came over, I literally handed the baby over and went to bed. I had a blissful 4 hours while tiny one slept on my mum! Do whatever you can to rest. 7 months in, breastfeeding is SO easy now. I thought about giving up but I'm so glad I didn't x

Lallypopstick · 29/08/2017 10:27

I'm thrilled we got a pre-midnight bedtime for the first time. It's especially good because he woke up for the day at the same time as usual. Longest chunk for him was 4.5 hours, then we got 2 hours, 2.5 hours and an hour. Please let this be a pattern!

I really like this thread, it's great to have a mix of people who are going through it and who have survived it commenting.

I have a swaddle thing arriving today to try. Just to see if he'll settle for longer during the day in his sleepyhead without the startle reflex waking him up. Then either I can safely nap, or get dressed / shower.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 29/08/2017 12:35

Well done Lally, pleased you had a better night 😊 long may it continue! I'm also finding it really beneficial to have you all to talk to 😊

OP posts:
NinaMarieP · 29/08/2017 17:25

I'm finding a swaddle works (sometimes) Lally.

If I can get him really sleepy with a feed, carefully swaddle him, then maybe rock him or feed him a little more it's much easier to put him down as he doesn't thrash around then.

I also have white noise on for a bit before I put him down to help soothe him.

He has learned how to escape though!

LadyNymeriaGhost · 29/08/2017 19:26

Haha! Bless, he looks properly angry there! I'll try to remember to post a pic of DS's get up when I get him ready for bed.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 29/08/2017 19:57

He looks angry but so cute!! 😊

OP posts:
NinaMarieP · 29/08/2017 20:51

That's only him mildly irritated 😂 you should see him when he is properly raging!

Lallypopstick · 29/08/2017 21:57

He's lovely Nina

We've swaddled the little one just now. He fell asleep and we put him in his cot without the swaddle, and then the startle reflex goes nuts and he wakes himself up. It's the most frustrating thing to see! The swaddle we've got is a Swaddle UP which lets them have their (covered) arms up by their face so they can suck. Will see how he does in that but I think he'll want at least one feed before he goes back down.

Why are babies designed not to sleep when they need it so much?!

LadyNymeriaGhost · 29/08/2017 22:18

So they don't get eaten by tigers and shit.

LadyNymeriaGhost · 29/08/2017 22:22

There you go, the full works.

NinaMarieP · 29/08/2017 22:44

Very cute, Lady, though the swaddle is a bit of an odd looking thing!

I just tried to get some sleep while baby slept on his daddy but he woke himself up pumping, twice, and wouldn't settle after the second time so I'm feeding him again. I hope then I'll be able to get him down in his basket for his first 3 hour stretch of the night 🤞

LadyNymeriaGhost · 30/08/2017 03:45

It's odd, but it works! Slightly unsettled night here, what with the blocked nose and all.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 30/08/2017 03:50

Baby has been "feeding" for almost two hours straight. There must be something wrong with my technique I think, surely this is not normal...

OP posts:
gingergenius · 30/08/2017 03:59

My now 15 y/o didn't sleep properly until j was gone 4. My other two were easier. Ignore the 'rules' and do what you need to do to get by. You won't ruin them, I promise.

9 days old is brand new. They don't know which way is up, so co-sleep and sleep feed for now if you can. Newborn-Dom is crazy and I remember all of mine like it was yesterday.

You've got this.

Lallypopstick · 30/08/2017 06:02

Another cute baby Lady - glad the swaddle works for you.

Jelly how long does your little one feed for during the day? If it's not as long as in the night, it can't be technique. Are you getting plenty of wet nappies? Might be worth calling the health visitor to ask them what they think.

Swaddling may have had some impact for us. Asleep by 10, went in cot without swaddle then woke up quickly with hyper arms and legs. Fed again, swaddled and asleep by 11. 2.30 wake up. 10 minute feed, fell asleep but woke up after 30 minutes of leg kicking - so still startle reflex but not as powerful I think. Anyway, got him back up for another feed. Asleep and settled in snuzpod by 3.30 and he's just woke up now and is feeding.

NinaMarieP · 30/08/2017 06:19

I swaddled too early last night, that or he had wind again and started screaming. It took us three tries to get him down in his Moses basket, but he went down without the swaddle in the end.

I fell asleep on the sofa while my partner did the final settling, and got woken up when he threw the swaddle in my face to wake me up. It was so I could go through to the bedroom for some proper sleep but still!

And that's just me up now. So we've gone about 7 hours between feeds and I got 5 hours in bed with only waking up a few times.

7 hours is probably too long though? He's only 3.5 weeks!

Swipe left for the next trending thread