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Sleep

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Original poster

Baby constantly kicking and punching at night

18 replies

FuchsiaG · 04/12/2018 08:50

My son is 10 weeks old and we've struggled from birth to get him to sleep anywhere except on me. For the first 8 weeks he slept on my chest whilst I was propped up as it was the only way either of us got to sleep. Obviously this wasn't safe and as he gets bigger I knew this couldn't continue.

We have a next to me crib with the side down but he screams when placed in this. He's also a very, very light sleeper so any kind of transferring once he falls asleep wakes him up instantly (and he takes sooo long to settle to sleep!) The past 2 weeks I've put him in his sleepyhead mattress on my bed and we've had some nights where he's slept well in it, however, most nights when in this he thrashes around kicking his legs and punching his arms. He also moves his head from side to side. Whilst he does this he's grunting away and being really noisy and eventually starts to cry.

He's swaddled so can't get his arms out but his legs are constantly kicking up and he's wriggling around trying to move his arms.

Does anyone know why he does this? We're barely getting any sleep. I've just fed him and he's fallen asleep on my lap and he isnt doing this. He never does it if he's asleep on me. He does have silent reflux which, thankfully, seems under control with medication now.

Any ideas? I don't want to give up and put him on my chest to sleep again but I'm so tired!
Thanks

OP posts:

Birk · 04/12/2018 09:54

I was going to say is it silent reflux? In all fairness, my babies were thrashers and noisy up until about 10/12 weeks, peaked at 8 weeks and got better after that. Not much help but I do think it just sounds like he may be a little uncomfortable laying flat, have you considered raising one end of the crib so he is slightly slanted? Also maybe try baby massage as that really helps with stomach issues/ colic etc

Mads123 · 04/12/2018 10:07

Mine thrashes about when not sleeping on me... he's 6 weeks old. I've started putting a blanket underneath him before he falls asleep and when he's asleep lifting the blanket up to transfer to the next to me .. it works most of the time. As long as he's in a deep sleep he won't grunt or thrash. I don't think mine has reflux as will sleep lying flat over my lap. I don't know how I'm going to get him to fall asleep in the cot though.

olivertwistwantsmore · 04/12/2018 10:09

Sounds like he's not comfortable, if he sleeps peacefully more upright on you. Can you raise the head of his cot? Go back to GP for more medication?

Original poster

FuchsiaG · 04/12/2018 13:16

@Birk I've put a wedge under the head bit of his mattress but I'm not sure it's making any difference. Strangely enough he doesn't seem to do it if he's just having a nap during the day (on the rare occurence I can get him to have a nap!) I do try baby massage and he seems to enjoy the leg massages but gets agitated when I do the stomach ones.

@mads123 mine will also sleep flat across my lap too.

@olivertwistwantsmore he's on ranitidine and omeprazole and is so much better than he was so I don't know that the doctor can do anymore. If it continues I'll take him back. It's strange that he only does it at night time.

OP posts:

olivertwistwantsmore · 04/12/2018 13:31

Ah, OK. Maybe he doesn't like being swaddled?

Birk · 04/12/2018 13:52

Babies are strange!!
My babies used to grunt and be so noisy at night but never daytime which I never understood just know that it’s ok and it will pass!

Original poster

FuchsiaG · 04/12/2018 16:24

@olivertwistwantsmore maybe, but if I don't swaddle him he hits himself in the face and definitely wakes up lol!

@Birk yes they certainly are! I hope it passes soon!

OP posts:

Original poster

FuchsiaG · 04/12/2018 21:37

@mads123 how long do you wait before you lift him?

OP posts:

Mads123 · 04/12/2018 23:45

FuchsiaG whenever I'm brave enough . Just whenever he seems in a deep enough sleep. Hope it works for you!

Imicola · 05/12/2018 09:41

Mine does the same - grunting and legs pedaling like mad, when she has gas to pass. Could it be that? Tell tale sign for us is the facial expressions and red face that go with it! We switched to anti colic bottles which have helped a bit, although that's not much help if you are breastfeeding. Also tried infacol, but uncertain if that was effective.

Original poster

FuchsiaG · 06/12/2018 11:10

@imicola possibly, but I pick him up to wind him and it continues. Sometimes I think he's actually asleep even when doing this as when I pick him up it startles him sometimes and then he cries.

Last night I didn't swaddle him but he was still thrashing his head from side to side and grunting most of the night. He's just had a nap laid flat on his back and been perfectly still and silent, it's just overnight that he's like this .

OP posts:

Mummychloe9 · 06/12/2018 11:28

Can you swaddle but let his hands free? Mine likes that.

LoveMyPeanut · 07/12/2018 20:39

Not sure how you're swaddling him but could you try swaddling with his hands by his face? There are YouTube videos showing how to do this and apparently, it's the 'usual' way to do it in France. He could have his hands near his face (some babies like this) but without enough wiggle room to bash himself.

FairfaxAikman · 07/12/2018 20:59

Could you maybe try Swaddle Up sleeping bags? Ds hated a traditional Swaddle but having his hands raised but contained made a difference.

butitsstillnighttime · 07/12/2018 21:18

I empathise! It should pass soon though, with luck. Mine also did this until around 12 weeks, also treated for silent reflux, then he started to quiten down of his own accord. He sounded like a cross between a parakeet and a warthog, and was constantly flapping his legs and shaking his head. My sister spent a night beside him to give me a break, and likened it to trying to sleep on an overnight Ryanair flight

birdybirdbird · 08/12/2018 17:57

My 11 week old does this too. Again, sleeps almost perfectly still during the day or if asleep on me. Also generally sleeps well for the first part of the night which is a 4+ hour stint. He’s worst when he’s put back down in the early hours of the morning. It’s interesting that others have mentioned silent reflux - he shows none of the other signs of this. I just put it down to him being not yet being in a deep sleep??

Chester1980 · 09/12/2018 18:25

Follow. My 3 week old is doing the same. It’s was only at night, but it happened most of today too. I’ve tried massages and winding and nothing works. I tried infacol and he pretty much spat it out!! He hated it!!

To start he seemed to sleep through, but now it’s waking him up. He looks so uncomfortable. He’s ok when he’s asleep on his back in my arms though.

kunalrajvanshi · 14/12/2024 23:17

Hi FuchsiaG, hope your little one is growing up well! I got directed to this today and we are having exactly the same issues as described in the post.
My little man is 3 weeks old. He sleeps perfectly on his back during the day. But at night, it’s so difficult to put him down. He is constantly thrashing around, punching air, kicking his legs and moving his head while grunting. We swaddle him with his hands out but it doesn’t work. The only sleep we can get at night is when he sleeps on us.
I was wondering if you were able to figure out a solution or did time heal it? Keen to know how it went. Thanks

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