HELP! DD 6 weeks old not sleeping

[nina3]

I am realy worried that my dd is not sleeping enough and that it will affect her development. She only naps or half an hour to a max of 2 hours during the day and then sometimes only sleeps for 2 hours at night up to a maximum of 6 hours on a really good night. I know babies are supposed to get about 16 hours sleep per day and she never gets anywhere near this. When she gets her maximum amount of sleep she does seem happy and well rested amazingly but when she's not sleeping well she seems to be overtired and we have no idea how to get her to sleep when she's like that. She is co-sleeping with us (has been since birth as she refused to be put in a cot from night 1) and the only way she gets to sleep is either falling asleep after breast feeding on me or sometimes dh manages to rock her to sleep in his arms but she screams and screams for ages and often wakes as soon as he tries to put her down. She is also a very light sleeper, waking at the slightest noise.

Have you tried swaddling? This was our miracle answer at that age. Also, is she eating a lot while being awake because there is usually a growth spurt at this age. We had to swaddle my son because he had a very strong startle reflex (when their arms flail and wake them up). He slept "like a baby" after we wrapped him all up!

get a hammock and put it next to your bed. you become very good at giving it a bounce while still semi asleep.

Sounds really hard for you and your dh as well! My dd2 is a bad sleeper at night, and only sleeping through the night occasionally now at 6 months. But I find that she takes really long naps when outside in the fresh air. I have an old pram permanently in the same spot in the garden and put her out there wearing a snow suit and a duvet when showing signs of tiredness - she knows that this means napping and nods off instantly without any walking or rocking.

You really should give it a try - I am sure it will work for you as well! Maybe I should add that I am from Denmark and that all Danish babies from newborn to 2/3 years are napping this way - so not something I have made up

Thanks everyone for all the the good tips! We had previously tried swaddling unsuccessfully (she wriggled free in minutes - think our technique was a bit rubbish) but tried again last night and it worked a treat She slept from 10.30-3am straight and then 4am-5.45 which is really good for her but may have just been that she was so exhausted... Fingers crossed for tonight! Do you swaddle in the day time too for naps? Our dd definately has the strong startle reflex you described Nessamommy.

I have also just looked into hammocks and they look great moocowme but the only one I seem to be able to find is the Natures Nest which is quite pricey (£150) do you (or anyone else) know of any cheaper alternatives?

Not sure napping outside will work for us NewDKmum as she doesn't even settle in her pram when being walked outside and I end up having to pick her up and carry her in one arm and push the pram home in the other!!

Anyone else got any pearls of wisdom?

Just wanted to say that the Nature's Nest are fab. They are expensive but are fully washable and their re-sale price on Ebay or similar is really good (£100 +) so although the initial outlay is a lot, you do get most of your money back

Have you tried a sling in the day ?

if you can put a hook in a ceiling joist you can buy just the hammock part of the Amby, which is cheaper

Thanks TSmum and MrsB it sounds like it's worth the investment - just have to persuade DH that we need yet another piece of kit but if it is as good as the reviews say then I'm sure we won't regret it. And as you say, we can always sell it on eBay if dd doesn't take to it

Yes, I got a really good sling a few weeks ago that totally changed my life, but she only falls asleep in it when walking outside. When I use it inside it calms her but she doesn't sleep for long if at all. I love her dearly but it would just be soooo nice to be able to put her down somewhere so that I can have a shower or give my back a break while I get on with stuff!!

Yes...I swaddled in the day too. I had to swaddle my son very tight, as he tended to start wriggling out too.

nina3, have you tried taking her to a chiropractor or cranial osteopath? DS2 was very much like this when first born, we were surviving on about 3-4 hours sleep a night and he would scream and scream before falling ino a very light sleep and would usually wake as soon as I moved or tried to move him. Anyway we took him to a chiropractor who specialises in babies and children and it was found that his neck was jammed on one side following from a ventouse delivery. 3 treatments later and he was settling just before 7 and sleeping all the way til 6ish the next morning, only waking for feeds and settling straight back to sleep. We still see the chiropractor as he can become unsettled again after illness or injections. HTH

That's very interesting firststeps. I have actually just booked an appointment with a cranial osteopath as dd has taken a dislike to one of my breasts but only in the evening and someone said an osteopath might help with that. It's really odd, she feeds fine on both during the day but in the evenings keeps detatching and crying and looks absolutely terrified. It's quite distressing She fixes her eyes on the sofa as if there is something really scary there and then as soon as I put her on the other breast she feeds fine again... very bizarre!! It happened 2 nights in a row and then was fine last night. Anyway, all very confusing but lets hope the osteopath can fix both problems!!

another vote for the baby hammock here.

worth every penny