7 week old, nighttime sleeping (or not!)

[MrsTimRiggins]

Our baby is seven weeks old and has been in his cot since four weeks (previously in a Moses basket but completely outgrown, he’s chunky!).
Since he was roughly three weeks old, and certainly since we moved him over to his cot, we have been doing bedtime at about 8ish, with the aim to put him down at about 8:30 having generally fed to sleep and had a cuddle. He would then wake at approx 12 and then again at 3 and 6 before being ready to get up at 8:30 ish. He’d feed (ebf) then be burped as he’s quite gassy at times then go down again quite easily. This was really manageable…
He’s sort of lost the plot and by association, so have we!
The last few nights he has refused to sleep in his cot at all, and gets so upset at night, which isn’t like him. During the day, he is still napping fine and I’m being led by him on that, but at night he screams if he’s not being fed or rocked etc and even if he’s deeply asleep before we put him down, he’s awake and crying again within half an hour. He sleeps on us okay after a while but it’s not feeling very sustainable.
I’m not able to cosleep, so that’s not an option. He doesn’t seem to be in pain when he’s crying, just restless really.
Is this normal? I’m a first time mum so feeling my feet with it all and it may be a stupid question given that he is still only seven weeks. Have I been expecting too much of him because of how good he was before? Is there any hints or tips anyone can give to try and get him back sleeping well in his cot?
I’m exhausted 😂

FTM here too so not sure how much I can help since every baby is different. Do you pop a hot water bottle in crib before transfer? We found this helps loads so our DD doesn't feel the transition to it when asleep. Also is it at a slight incline, again our Dd is gassy and this has helped she sometimes wakes 30-1hr after being put down due to excess gas. Realise you said he wasn't in pain but it could be helpful incase it is gas. As many might say they aren't robots and so throw us curve balls all the time so it's likely normal. Sometimes they cry out because they are scared or sad...it's their only method on communication and they just want a cuddle. I know that doesn't help with the sleep situation but your babe is so young they need that closeness. I'd continue to stick with the night time routine as best possible it might be a phase. Sorry I don't know if any of that babble is any good or helpful!! We are all winging it though and you got this.

Don’t worry OP it’s very very normal
As you say he’s only a few weeks old - he definitely doesn’t have a plot to lose yet

Don’t try for any routine for while yet just go with the flow (as tiring as it is!)
You’ll make it harder and more frustrating for yourself to have any expectations of a routine at this stage.

Give it another couple of months - then start trying to make sure he’s napping well and regularly during the day - I think that’s a good first step to good sleep habits.

I think they tend to lull you into a false sense of security in the first couple of weeks because they sleep SO much,m. Where you’re at now sounds about right to be honest!

But it will get easier.. hangin there!

No advice but sending sympathy, we’re in the same position with our 8 week old, except we also have a 4 year old so I feel like I shouldn’t be this clueless. From what I’ve read they have so many growth spurts at this age so their sleep has no actual pattern yet and it should get better by 3 months.

We’re also EBF although his wake ups have got so frequent now that I’m so tempted to combination feed. As you say, he just seems so restless at night and so noisy too! I’ve never been so tired in my life.

Thanks for the posts guys, the sympathy and the advice! He is still very young, and I think I probably was expecting a bit too much from him. He’s a big old boy and he’s growing pretty fast, and the world is still a bit new and scary, so he’s bound to be a bit unsettled!
Thanks again, and Merry Christmas all