Why does my 6 week old son wake up in the night and stays awake for 3 hours??

Question

I give him his bottle, rock him ,hum to him, I don't have any lights on, but I can't get him to sleep again. Usually I give up and take him downstairs and put him in his swing and get some housework done!!!!!

Answer 1

Mine used to do this, whenever I would ask someone why, they would just tell me his nights and days are mixed up which didn't help at all.
I never did hear a good answer so all I can tell you is keep doing what you are doing and sleep when he does. Eventually he will start sleeping more regular. If you are not too tired during the day keep him up as much as you can so he gets tired at night. Maybe even try putting him down for the night a little later. Good luck sweetie.

Answer 2

well...try not picking him up and just giving him a bottle by propping it up on a pillow or something. If you pick him up, he'll think it's time to get up and play. Some babies are like that, though, they just wake up in the night. He should wake up a few times a night for a bottle for about an hour each time or just wake up once for 3 hours. Change his diaper if needed. Babies will wake up often until they are about 8 months, they will start waking up less and less. At about 10 or 11 months, they should start sleeping through the night. Do you give him daily naps? How many and how long? Don't let him take a nap within 2 hours of bedtime, or he won't sleep well. He should take 2 -3 naps daily being each about 2 hours long. Remember, they are growing so they need a lot of sleep. More questions? [e-mail] . Bye.

Answer 3

because hes still doesn't have his sleep cycle down. Try keeping as much light as possible around him during the day and don't hush the house when he is napping durring the day. At night nothing exciting at all just a drink and a gentle rock. No humming or talking or lights or swing or anything else. He will eventually get the hint. Make sure you are putting him to sleep in a crib when he is awake he needs to learn to put himself to sleep.

Answer 4

With a six week old, there is no schedule. You sleep when he sleeps. Sometimes you get lucky and have a baby that sleeps well during the night but usually not until their metabolism slows down. I have a 3 year old that still won't sleep through the night unless I run him ragged and skip nap during the day. Have patience and enjoy holding him close and bonding when nothing else is going on at night.

Answer 5

Welcome to parenthood. Take a nap during the day when he is sleeping and he will eventually start sleeping during the night but it might take 6 months or so. Almost all parents are sleep deprived. Try keeping him awake more during the day although this is really hard to do with a 6 month old.

Answer 6

Because he is six weeks old and he has no concept of time your doing good take advantage and get little things done but if this is getting to be too much for you try a small amount of rice cereal in his bottle not think in a bowl he may not be ready for that yet but just enough to lay a little more an his belly at night it worked for my son and when I took him to the doctor for his checkup and told him what I had done his statement was" We set guidelines to help with raising the baby but all babies are different its up to the mothers instinct " its kind of like how to lay a baby in bed When i was young and babysitting you laid a baby on its back when my boy was born you laid them on their belly's now you are suppose to lay them on their side? I think it gets changed so much its hard to keep up USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT ASK FAMILY AND FRIENDS ADVICE BUT IN THE END REMEMBER WHAT WORKED FOR ONE MAY NOT WORK FOR YOURS JUST KEEP TRYING HE WILL EVENTUALLY SLEEP AND SO WILL YOU

Answer 7

he could be teething, an earache, or just a fussy child, there a million reasons and there is no way to tell you exactly what to suggest. hard to believe but children as young as 6 weeks can be teething despite what dr. and books may tell you. could maybe need a different formala, maybe his stomach is upset, maybe having breathing problems, he could be too hot or too cold, my suggestion try everything till there is nothing left to try "Pray, Pray, Pray" over that baby and for yourself to have the patience to do what you need. First step I suggest dismiss all medical reasons by getting a compete check up, if your not happy with one dr. answers or results get a second, third opinion. don't give up, and remember being a parent is never easier, but just don't give up. maybe try a nice soft nightlight and a rocking chair, try swadling the baby in a blanket wraping him up, or a baby bouncer so he can move. it could be growing pains, try a nice soothing baby massage with baby oil. hope that helps, just try everything

Answer 8

He is sleeping to much during the day.
If you continue this, it will become a pattern and he will rule your life!
Make sure he is fed and dry(changed diaper).
Put him down and he will eventually go to sleep!
If he sleeps less during the day, he will be tired!
Good Luck
If all else fails , contact the Nanny!

Answer 9

infants have irregular sleep hours sometimes...prepare a schedule...get the average time he's usually awake at night...prepare some warm milk or some lullaby songs so you can be ready for the sudden alarm from your baby...

infants love attention, give all the love you have for him...do your best as a mother... :)

Answer 10

no one really knows. but here's my theories...
when u were pregnant, the fetus usually sleeps while u r up and about because the movement rocked him to sleep. then while u were sleeping, the fetus was awake. the baby continued this cycle after birth. (i know some pregnant women who confirms that their fetus is awake when they r trying to sleep and "asleep/not moving much" when they r awake.)
the other possiblity is that it is just his natural circadian rhythm. he's just more nocturnal. i'm slightly noctural myself.