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Sleep

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Original poster

2 week old newborn

18 replies

bumbly · 03/08/2007 12:10

sleeps 2-3 hours ok in day no problem..with noise, being moved etc..like an angel

comes late afternoon and esp from 9pm-6am

he simply won't settle down...dummy, food, nappy change, removing layers, changing fbetween crib/moses basket..... all tried

he will only settle resting on my chest -

any advice DESPERATELY NEEDED as don't want to fall asleep with him on my chest ...dangerous...it is ok to cuddle him for a few hours..but am getting pretty knackered..and will soon need some sleep

;)

he also seems to feed in a very ravenous way and then gets windier in this time slot and then therefore the unsettled cycle gets worse...

comes day;light he is an angel

maybe he doesn't like the drak - but have a soft night light on too...

really drawing at strings here

anyone experienced the same?

are we doomed to no sleep forever?

worried new mum

bumbly

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

preggersagain · 03/08/2007 12:11

is he windy and screaming- if so it could be colic related? other than that i've forgotten the baby days i'm afraid- it will get better though!

TheQueenOfQuotes · 03/08/2007 12:13

are you breastfeeding or FF'ing??

Either way - newborn babies do tend to get "day and night" mixed up to start with - and feed more at night.

If you're breastfeeding you could trying co-sleeping

Original poster

bumbly · 03/08/2007 12:16

ok FFing

and not a screaming baby - just unsettled and won't go to sleep

bit windy in eve as he gets himself all worked up

has vomited once or twice in eve as a result but apart from that seems to simply want to not be put to lie on his back!

how odd

OP posts:

lemonaid · 03/08/2007 12:25

Take him out in the sunlight for a walk every day (obviously shielded enough not to burn) -- research shows that babies taken outside for (I think) at least 20 minutes between 12 and 4 every day adjust faster to the day/night difference than those who aren't.

In general he should have worked out day and night by around 6 weeks.

meandmy · 03/08/2007 12:27

you could try something for before he gets to this time! my dd got unsettled then she got colic from 3weeks to four months i only remember the colicky screams. hoping for you its not colic.i used to cuddle her with a pram sheet on my chest so when i put her bake in her basket the cold sheet did not wake her up as she was stil on the warm sheet. i tried o sleeping for a short tie but found i didnt sleep well then.
some nights i resorted to taking her pram upstairs and pushing her to sleep also i tried starting bedtime routine earlier so she went down earlier woke earlier but at least i had chance to sleep!
good luck

Original poster

bumbly · 03/08/2007 12:28

doing that as well

but am baffled as why for a few days he was ok in hospital with 3-4 hours sleep slots in night and now simply won't sleep at night

and therefore gets tired and more tired

and so do mum and dad!!!

[{sad]

OP posts:

Original poster

bumbly · 03/08/2007 12:29

does colic not affect babies in day time..surely it would be present throughout the day?

OP posts:

Tutter · 03/08/2007 12:30

hi - also have a 2 week old ds

nighttimes have been a bit of a challenge here too but in general i have found that swaddling helps him to settle. i save it for nighttime, so that he doesn't get too much deep solid sleep in the day

would you like me to try to find a link to swaddling techniques?

Original poster

bumbly · 03/08/2007 12:32

ah swaddling - he seemed to really really like it in hospital ..but then recently managed to be unsettled with that as well in early eves

swaddling was def nice for him and then yesterday HV said we should !!!!NOT!!!! swaddle for fear of overheating now it is summer

confused me somewhat

swaddling is so done all over the world

so at a loss really!!!

OP posts:

lemonaid · 03/08/2007 12:33

They do tend to do that -- lull you into a false sense of security for the first few days with one set of sleeping patterns, and then it's as if they wake up one day and think "Right... time to try something different..."

Find a Harvey Karp book (or still better DVD). I found the DVD when DS was 8 weeks old and soooooooo wished I'd seen it before.

LIZS · 03/08/2007 12:34

bumbly try not to waste energy rationalising your baby's behaviour. Just as you get used to one thing his pattern will change again and it is so important to relax a bit and go with it. He sounds very normal for a newborn but will gradually adjust to the world otuside of your tummy . A sling/carrier may help at his more crotchety periods and you need to take as much advantgae as possible of his day time nap(s) to rest yourself. hth

lemonaid · 03/08/2007 12:35

You can still swaddle, but if it's hot just have him in a nappy and swaddle with a light sheet. I don't think it's all that hot at night just at the moment, though.

oops · 03/08/2007 12:38

Message withdrawn

gogetter · 03/08/2007 12:39

Swaddle - even if LO fights it at first - it helps!

witchandchips · 03/08/2007 12:42

looks a bit like he has got day and night confused. If you have the energy could you try not to put him down during the day, let him sleep on you in a sling or in a pram. Agree with poster about daylight. Then try to put him down at night.

At this age think they are just beginning to want to look and do stuff when they are awake but problem is your ds is programmed to do it at night. need to change this

DivaSkyChick · 03/08/2007 13:28

Bumbly, you're not alone.

Our DS is the 11 days old and wakes between midnight and 2 am and then yells at us until 4 am. Every night. Same as yours, she's an angel during the day, can and does sleep thru anything. Can hardly even get her to feed (bf.)

It's so exhausting! She's not hurting, she doesn't cry per se - no tears or anything. She just yells and yells. I soothe her with something - a dummy, a finger to suck on, a cuddle, a breast, a change of venue, song, dance, swinging, shhhing, whatever I can think of. Everything works for a moment. Then her little brows knit together and mouth opens and the lions roars....

Eventually she falls asleep in my arms, usually as I lay in bed with her hanging off of my nipple next to me. What little sleep we get is affected by the fact that I'm terrified she'll get covered with my blankets, etc.

Don't know the answer other than just getting lots of sleep during the day so I can keep my head on straight at night. I'll be watching your thread for advice!

Amanda104 · 03/08/2007 13:53

Hi, I have a 10 week old and have gone through much the same - then a friend of mine lent me her book from Harvey Karp - the best ever advice, the 5 S's - swaddle, side, swing, suck and ssshhh - it really works.

stressteddy · 03/08/2007 13:56

Congrats! It's so tough at the beginning isn't it??
I once heard that when babes get day and night mixed up that batheing them morning and night for a few days can sort it out
Not sure if it works but there comes a point when you give anything a go isn't there??

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