8 weeks old and sleep has gone to sh*t :(

[PoppyPeaches]

Hi!
I have a beautiful 8 week old baby boy that I love more than anything, but the lack of sleep these past few days/weeks is starting to get me down. Up until around 6 weeks he was sleeping amazing, usually a 3/4 hr stretch, feed (which admittedly was very long), followed by another 1-2hr stretch before being up for the day. Since 6weeks though the cluster feeding has been intense, but I wa managing as he was initially still sleeping ok ish at night, however the past 10 days or so his sleeping has completely deteriorated and now he’s waking every 45-60 mins at night, and refusing to nap during the day unless on my chest or in the sling, and even then it’s still max 60 minutes.

I have tried co sleeping but as I have to use a nipple shield it becomes dislodged and he can’t latch himself, so we both end up waking up constantly still, so it’s helped a little but not much.

he is mainly breastfed, with a bottle before bed which previously filled him up nicely to give a longer stretch, and then I breastfed whenever he woke onwards. initially I thought he was gassy and uncomfortable, but we’ve been working on burping and I’m not convinced this is contributing now.

I have read lots about sleep cycles and the fact he’s not linking them on his own, however he’s breastfed to sleep, and if I try to put him down awake he becomes hysterical and then takes hours to calm so I don’t feel this is helpful. Every time he wakes I leave it 1-2 minutes before picking him up and try to soothe him by patting/rubbing his chest, but it has never worked and he just becomes hysterical if I leave it any longer.

does anyway have any advice? Is this a developmental change and things might get better on their own as he gets a little older? Or do I need to “do” something to help him? I feel that he must be exhausted as me, as he’s not getting anywhere near the recommended sleep per 24hrs, but when he is awake he is generally a happy little baby who smiles constantly. He’s also constantly hungry and wants to feed 24/7 if I let him, but he’s gaining weight rapidly so I think this is just him. I think it feels particularly tough as I don’t have any physical support, and my husband is at work all day, so after a particularly bad night it’s not that restful if he will only nap in the sling and all I want to do is lie down!!

thanks so much if you got this far!
from one very tired mama xxx

First of all congratulations! Second of all, it’s totally normal. Sleep is so up & down for quite a long time really, my oldest is nearly 2 and still not a great sleeper, my youngest is nearly 4 months old and sleeps 6-7 hour stretches now, he is breastfed and I just feed on demand. So much of sleep is luck I honestly think, I haven’t done anything differently this time round but his sleep just is better. It is hard but it does pass I promise, 8 weeks is still tiny and he is changing every day. I think they say 6 months is the best time to start any “sleep training” as before that is just far too young, 8 week really is too young, good luck and solidarity- it will pass xx

@Jellybunny56
thanks so much for your kind reply - sleep deprivation is the worst isn’t it 😞 he’s still the same, every night I hope it goes a little better, but no such luck yet. I have decided that on the third wake I bring him in bed with me, and then leave him there for the rest of the night, so at least I can be lying down and get some rest that way. He’s a big strong baby so I don’t feel I am going to roll onto him and feel that it’s probably safer than say upright trying to stay awake and potentially him rolling off me.
it’s reassuring to hear it should get better, I really feel in the trenches at the moment particularly as I can never nap in the day as he won’t nap in his crib.
thanks again xxx