Tell me this will pass: 7 week old waking hourly at night and barely naps in day

[BarrelOfMonkeys]

DD typically doesn't nap unless I 'make' her, rocking to sleep or in pram etc, and then she only stays down for 20-30 mins, 3 times a day if I am lucky. I know it's too young for a routine, but a 'good' night will be going down at 9/10, then waking at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Last night however, she fell asleep on me at 8ish for an hour, then I battled to get her down again, finally succeeding at 11, then she was up at 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8... and is now sleeping but expected to wake imminently. We had this a couple of nights this week and I am worried we're starting a new pattern!

Typically she wakes hungry (I think) - but she will only take 40-60mls before refusing any more. At the 9pm feed she'll usually tank up on 120ml which is when we get a bigger sleep but I am finding it impossible to get her to take more than 60ml when she wakes after that, even if I change her nappy to wake her up a bit. She's mixed fed and I haven't noticed that formula makes that much difference to her sleep 'chunks' vs EBM.

On the bright side last night wasn't too bad for wind so she was back to sleep fairly swiftly after the feeds, but I'm worried she's not getting enough sleep. I'm certainly not! Any tips, or is it just something to endure?

Okay, reading around this, could it be that her sleep cycle is an hour and instead of offering the bottle when she wakes, I should be shush-patting her back to sleep again...? Anyone?

Sometimes if they get overtired they wake more at night. So maybe working on her naps more by carrying her in a sling or spending more time out in the pushchair might help?

Alternatively it might be a growth spurt and it'll settle down in a few days

Aha, so it could be over-tiredness then? I'll have to try and 'make' her nap more and see what happens... thanks!

Barrel could you spend a week or so walking her for each nap (say 9-10am, 12-2pm and 4-5pm) so she gets used to a nap pattern and then try moving this to her cot. My DS wouldn't nap easily in his cot so I always walked the 9am and 4pm naps - it was good to get out of the house too and if you know she will fall asleep in the pram it takes the stress/pressure off you.

According to research good daytime naps help with nighttime sleep.

Thanks ChocOrange, I will give it a go! She is a nosy thing though, I took her for a walk for an hour and a half round a country garden yesterday and she slept for maybe 20 mins but was wide-eyed at everything for the rest... Maybe I just need to take her boring places.

Barrel I put my black pashmina over the pram so my DS can sleep otherwise I find everything stimulates him too - only do this when he's tired though otherwise he gets p*ed off!