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1 month old with 4 to 5 hour wake window before bedtime

5 replies

MamaRS · 10/07/2024 09:21

Hello,
I'm a first time mum and any advice and help would be so helpful!
My baby wakes up at 7.30 in the morning,
She naps for 1.5 to 2 hours. She struggles to keep to a wake window during the day but does make it to atleast an hour before her next nap. She feeds for about 20 mins before every nap (completely breast fed)
She is always on the sling on me when she has her naps during the day.
After her last nap that ends either at 5.30 or 6.30pm she will not sleep until 11.30pm. I can see she is overtired by the end, she is yawning and has a glassy stare and is very fussy and crying when feeding. During these 4 to 5 hours she cries a lot, feeds on and off and can feed up to 40 mins.
It's really exhausting and I was wondering what I can do to help her have a sleep.
I tried to reduce her day time nap hours but it doesn't make a difference.
I ensure she has a good feed every time.
During the night she will only wake up at 3am to feed and 6.45. She feeds and is quick back to sleep.
I thought it might be due to the light as it doesn't get dark here till about 11.
I also thought it might be due to slow let down of milk during the evening.
I am going to try black out blinds this week and was just wondering what else I could do.
She finally falls asleep when has another feed and its pitch dark at 11.30pm.
Thank you so much.
Firstly is this normal
Secondly what can I do to reduce this wake window to atleast 2 hours

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
InTheRainOnATrain · 10/07/2024 09:26

It’s really common. It’s know as the Witching Hour, although Witching Hours would be a more apt description. I noticed it was worse when they hadn’t slept as much during the day so were no doubt really overtired by the early evening. It passes. Not sure when mine stopped doing it because the early days are such a blur but I can be confident DD1 had stopped by 10 weeks old as we went on holiday then and she wasn’t doing it, thank goodness. And night sleep sounds pretty good so at least you have that.

MintTwirl · 10/07/2024 09:40

It’s just what very new babies are like and at some point they grow out of it. She probably doesn’t really know the difference between day and night as yet!

Don’t fret about naps and wake windows, go with your baby instead, honestly I really feel like this stuff causes far more stress for new parents worrying about what some self appointed experts says their child should be doing. I’m sure someone is making a lot of money out of desperate parents though.

Elisheva · 10/07/2024 09:45

It’s normal. Get yourself some snacks and a good box set and just settle down together for the evening.
You’ll just come to terms with it and she’ll change it up again.

Seeline · 10/07/2024 09:51

A baby's routine changes almost daily at that age!
They are still so very tiny, just let them feed and sleep as they want.
Cluster feeding all evening is very common, and you've probably got a few weeks left yet. Snuggle down on the sofa with lots of drinks and snacks and enjoy the time together.

MamaRS · 10/07/2024 15:12

Thank you all so so much for your messages, it has given me so much reassurance and put me at ease. I will keep at it and just try enjoy the time taking everyday as it comes. Thank you so much

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