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Sleep

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Original poster

any advice on help for getting a 5 week old to sleep

11 replies

ukshelly · 12/02/2010 22:42

hi, i have a very cute but wide awake 5 week old baby, we've had alot of problems with breast feeding and now have to occasional top ups with Hibbs formula as he'll feed on me on and off for hrs at a time. his sleep is very poor too - i've seen that ababy should not be awake for more than 2 hrs yet my little Dinky can be awake for over 5 hrs with constant on and off feeding then winding. the only time he seems to really settle is whem we're out walking so he's in his pram or sling but as soon as we arraive home he wakes, he'll settle on my chest too but as soon as he's put down to sleep he wakes and the whole feeding/hunger routine starts again, i'm now pretty exhausted. he now seems to be latching on properly but i've had mastitus twice so been on antibiotics, have tried expressing but it seems likes theres little to come out at times tho hv says i should have enough to fill him - if he has a bottle he can sometimes drink 4-5oz yet other times will settle after 30mins of breast. finding it all a little hard at the moment and feeling a little useless and worried if i'm doing the best for him with the problems of breast feeding so any tips would really be welcomed please. x

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Trudi2009 · 12/02/2010 23:11

I've played this to my twins since they were about 4 weeks after I've changed and fed them and they go out like a light.

www.amazon.co.uk/Help-Your-Sleep-Through-Night/dp/B001HXZEKU/ref=sr_shvl_album_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1266015 940&sr=301-5

I didn't even download the full album, just the first 2 tracks as they are 10 minutes each. It's the best £1.60 I've spent. I was so exhausted I could barely think straight so this felt like a miracle.

Try it, I hope it works for you as well as it did for me. Let me know.

mrspoppins · 12/02/2010 23:16

I would say that the best thing is to talk to your HV on Monday.

Bf is hard, I know and there are so many ways to do it...on demand, to time..etc...

I must admit, I do think on demand is often tricky as you never really know if you have a hungry baby or just one that wants to suckle for comfort.

Timed feeds I have always advocated just so baby gets hungry and has a proper feed to allow a breast to be drained fully and so try to prevent mastitis.

I got into a terrible cycle of constant bf my first 17 years ago, after 7 weeks I'd had enough and I swapped to bottle. Notice I didn't say Gave Up!! That to me always implies that one was better than another and I truly do not believe that is the case. Life dramatically turned around then as I knew when she was full so didn't pacify her with my breast but instead recognised that it was tiredness and put her to sleep.

It gets better!

countrylover · 13/02/2010 09:33

have you tried swaddling? it has worked a treat with both of my DS's.

i always left a minimum of two/three hours between feeds at newborn stage but made sure each feed was at least half an hour long. otherwise there's a tendancy to get into a vicious cycle of the baby 'snacking' every ten minutes and never really getting a full feed.

however i am a routine queen so it depends on which way of parenting you feel more comfortable with.

good luck, it does get easier i promise and remember whatever you're doing you are a fab mummy.

Original poster

ukshelly · 13/02/2010 14:23

hi, yes tried swaddling and he's not keen - likes his arms free. i'm a routine queen too or should i was,he feeds for ages alwaysat least half a hr and has a top up with bottle on odd occasion if still hungry. i've no been able to leave time in between feeds as he'll continously cry unless he's being cuddled or feeding - tho if he's full i know he's just on me for comfort. i'm not keen on dummies but tried one which he really didnt like. thanks for you reply - feel like i cant win no matter how hard i try.

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Original poster

ukshelly · 13/02/2010 14:26

hi trudi
will try the music as he does love music - i play soothing music to him most the time x

OP posts:

EffieB · 13/02/2010 21:40

White noise worked a treat for us too, when nothing had worked for what felt like years and a screaming baby suddenly conked out to......... the hoover.

Igglybuff · 13/02/2010 21:44

ukshelly for a 5 week old, the awake time should be less than 2 hours - 60/90mins is better for a baby less than 2 months old. It sounds very little but I tried it with my DS and it helped a lot. The longer he was awake, the more overtired he got so harder to sleep and it became a vicious cycle. He didnt last for 2 hours awake until he hit about 3 months!

There is a growth spurt at 5/6 weeks too.

Maybe he prefers being slightly upright when asleep - have you tried propping up the moses basket/cot?

Igglybuff · 13/02/2010 21:44

There is a growth spurt at 5/6 weeks too.

Maybe he prefers being slightly upright when asleep - have you tried propping up the moses basket/cot?

BertieBotts · 13/02/2010 21:53

Sorry, there is a lot of misunderstanding on this thread about breastfeeding.

Feeding for ages is normal at this stage and it is important for your supply - topping up with formula at this stage could impact your supply, I am not saying don't do it or that it is a bad thing, I am saying just aware of this and maybe try to phase it out if fully FF is not an outcome you would be happy with. (And there is nothing wrong with that if you are happy with it - and gradually is a good way to go)

When DS was tiny I used to lie in bed and feed him and that way I got some rest. Or I would be on the computer while feeding which stopped me from being bored. The constant feeding will get better in a few weeks time, for most people it is around 6-8 weeks. You say you have a sling as well - what type of sling is it? Some kinds are possible to feed in, which might allow you to be up and about while he is feeding.

You are doing really well and I am impressed that you have got this far with mastitis etc - well done

leggymambo · 13/02/2010 21:54

Don't feel useless,it sounds like you are doing really well and trying all the right things. My DD was a bit like this ( I also couldn't express much and she HATED the dummy despite my best efforts) but gradually at around 6 weeks things just became a little easier (almost imperceptible at the time but i can see it with the wonders of hindsight!). If you feel like you have your latch sorted and breast feeding is getting better then that is a good first step.

We did take DD to see a cranial osteopath out of desperation, with hindsight(again!) and a clearer head (less baby hormones running around) i don't necessarily think this made any difference but it made me feel a lot better at the time so could be worth a try.

I found it useful to right down the timings of her feeds, i didn't really do much with this info except desperately search for non exhistent patterns and i guess it just felt good to do something logical and easy!

As everyone else has said, it does get better and you are doing really well

leggymambo · 13/02/2010 21:57

doh! that should be 'write' down timings not 'right' - the shame.

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