8 week old, settling after night feeds

[mower]

My 8 week old dd is brilliant during the day for sleeping. Just put her in her cot and she generally goes off, sometimes need to use a dummy, but she is getting better and better at sleeping during the day.

Night times used to be ok, hard to settle her but once she was asleep going anything up to 5 hours for first sleep of the night, which then I could cope with the settling her after this feed, which is holding her and patting her for about half hour.

Things have got worse though, she is now only going 3 hours between feeds and taking around an hour and half to settle after each feed.

How can she do it during the day with no probs, but during the night hours need to be fast asleep to go down in her cot.

Should I do what I have done during the day and leave her to settle herself (not left her to cry for long periods, more just talking to herself btw) but got two toddlers so had to leave her whilst getting their dinners ect and by the time I get up to her she is asleep.

So should I start putting her in her cot awake after night feeds in hoping she learns to settle herself better like during the day.

Realise she needs to feed every 3 hours at mo in night which I don't have a problem with, its just the hour and half settling between.

Am so exhaused am starting to feel ill and am by myself with the 3 children mon to fri as dh works away.

Hi,

No ideas I'm afraid but a big hug (()), sounds very tough.

xx

Far too young for "sleep training!" She is probably having a growth spurt and will no doubt continue to have many closely spaced.

try to swaddle her

also, is she bringing her wind up ok?

Sympathy! DS2 (now 11 weeks) also takes forever to settle between feeds. I don't mind being woken up frequently, I just want him to go back to sleep afterwards. It's exhausting and frustrating, isn't it.

The only things that sometimes work here (but not always)are putting him to sleep in his carseat (not ideal, but I figure it's only for part of the night and only temporary) and sometimes feeding him lying down (if bfing) and then co-sleeping. The co-sleeping thing doesn't work brilliantly for me because I can't work out how to get him well away from the duvet without freezing me, but sometimes I can creep away once he's settled (keeping my body away from him but breathing on his head, which he seems to need to feel I'm there), especially if DP is sleeping on the sofa-bed, as he often is! If your DP is away in the week, presumably that means you've got a bit of room to do safe co-sleeping.

I also bought vastly expensive Amby hammock in fit of desperation - I think it helps because sometimes he'll settle himself because when he wriggles it sets it swaying. But mostly it doesn't and I'm just stuck sitting up for hours in the middle of the night getting colder and tireder and more miserable. Will think of you tonight doing the same and feel less lonely at least!

Can only offer co-sleeping advice as my DD was a nightmare and never settled after night feeds, I could be up for three hours between feeds, just about time for the next feed! I was also nervous but what I did was wrap the duvet under me, so I was lying on it, and wore a long sleeved top with the front removed to expose the boobs, keeping the duvet just under them,which helped. Now she's bigger, it's easier, and I have a buffer along the edge of the bed so she can't roll out. I sleep so much better now, and this last week she's been sleeping from 8 pm till 3.30/4 where as before it was 12.30/2.00, so things can improve - she starts off in her crib - now I've boasted about it she'll wake up at 11!You have my deepest sympathy! But feeding lying down is the only way I cope.

tenacityflux - so does your boob just freeze?! I'm still leaking a lot, so can't wear a top cos it would get drenched (cannot bear to sleep in a bra) - I lie on cloths/breastpads which I can change easily in the night, seems a lot more faff to have to change a top. sorry for hijack! Trying to work out how to do co-sleeping without me freezing or him suffocating.

No, because you only uncover them when your baby's feeding and they keep you pretty warm, the top doesn't cover your boobs so shouldn't get wet.Perhaps nursing pj's, I got some from Le Redout (not sure about the spelling) they're soft and comfy and you feed and keep warm, perhaps that would help? Now I've just got used to it and I sleep naked and wrap the duvet round me and keep my DS uncovered and she keeps me so warm I don't feel the cold.