my newborn is 2 weeks old and up all night...i understand this is probbaly normal and it may take some time....people say i have to keep her up more during the day but i really dont know what i can do to entertain a 2 week old....if shes tired shes gonna sleep no matter what i am doing....this is my first child and i am wondering when i can start getting her on a schedule and some good ways of doing so...thanks
2007-01-08 12:38:23 · 12 answers · asked by pebbles 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Let your baby sleep when she is tired. I wouldnt try a schedual till shes like 4-8 weeks, she should start getting the hang of it by then. My son is 10 weeks and he sleeps like 7 hours straight at night. We had the same problem when he was younger but after time he learned that night time is for sleeping and day time is for playing. At night I dont talk to my baby at all. I get up get a bottle change him the put him back to sleep. Its hard yes, but again he knows the differance!
2007-01-08 12:46:41 · answer #1 · answered by BOOTS! 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You can not schedule a newborn, sorry to say. Do not try and keep her up during the day. A newborn does not know the difference between night and day and will have to sleep when she is tired. Usually at about 6 weeks they start to distinguish night and day. You can do things to help this along, by making sure at night when she needs to feed that you keep everything low key. Lights very dim, no talking, playing etc. Please do not try to put her on a schedule she is way too young for that. I know it's hard, I have a three month old and went through the same thing. Mine still will only sleep 3 hours at the most at a time. Try to be patient and just get sleep when she is sleeping, if you can. It will get better though, trust me.
I just want to add, that you should not let her sleep more than four hours at a time, during the day. At this age she should be feeding every four hours at the most, some babies much less time in between feedings.
However if she sleeps more than that at night then I wouldn't wake her for a feeding, just let her sleep. I seriously doubt that she will sleep that long at this age though.
Good luck
2007-01-08 12:46:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
My son is 3 months old. When we first brought him home all he would do is cry all night long. It would take me 2 hours just to get him to go back to bed in the middle of the night.. several times. Part of this was because of his reflux and another part was just him having nights and days mixed up. My Pediatrician said to try and keep him awake during the day but do not wake him if he falls asleep. Open windows, play music, turn on the TV, and talk a lot. When it comes to night time, give him/her a bath/spongebath if too little still, and then feed him/her in the dark.. No lights except for maybe a nightlight. No noise, no talking. Just rock him/her. A lot of people say not to rock your baby to sleep because they need to learn how to fall asleep on their own. However, at this age, IMO I feel it would have done me no good to try and make him go to sleep on his own. I rocked him and then put him down. Now, at 3 months he may wake up once during the night if it's a bad night and sometimes he puts himself to sleep. Hope this helps :)
2007-01-08 13:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by MommytoJBrycin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never put my child on a schedule until he was around 8 months. Up until they are a few months old, no matter what anyone says you can't possibly put a baby on a schedule unless you do something stupid like put cereal in their bottle. Which is a leading cause in SIDS. I know it seems like you will never sleep again but give it some time, your baby is just getting used to being in this world and that takes a bit! Good Luck and Congrats!
2007-01-08 12:46:06 · answer #4 · answered by jule9104 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It is hard! Because if you try and keep her up she will be very cranky. My son started cereal at 3 months old that's when I started to put him on a schedule. But my husband works late so he plays and gets all excited with him when he gets home, so my schedule went out the window! So try to make her a schedule as soon as possible or you will be paying for it later. And don't let anyone sabotage it!
2007-01-08 13:02:42 · answer #5 · answered by supermom_nikki21 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son wasn't really ready for a routine/schedule until he was sleeping through the night, which was about 3 months old. At your child's young age, she needs to eat and sleep and be changed. That's about it. Newborns will sleep when they are tired, regardless of their surroundings. However, I decided when my son was about 1 month old, that I would get MYSELF on a routine, that way when he was ready, I was ready. We did bathtime, and bedtime at the same time every night. Of course some things have changed with his age (he's 19 months now), but we still have about the same routine every night, and he's a happier kid b/c of it! Good luck to you...... and your little one.
2007-01-08 13:41:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Pebbles,
Ok, you are a smart mother and very thoughtful about your new baby. Good for you! Just remember to listen to everyone, then be sure and think for yourself. Make up your own mind and watch for mothers who have babies that are visabley happy little Ones and mothers who are well rested along with baby. I had 4 and fostered 12 newborns that were awaiting adoption (that were in my home till 4 mo. of age). My 100 year old pediatrician taught me that babies bodies have a rythym just like the rise of the moon and the pull of the tide. So all of my infants were happily sleeping thru the nite no later than the 4th or 5th nite from the hospital. They were the easy to care for and happy and very healthy infants (no ear infections, bronchial problems, and even more than that, no colic.) It can be done with little effort. Babies can be on a gentle schedule that lets their body rest at nite and thrive nicely in the day. You are welcome to email me thru my avatar. Keep working with your wonderful little one. You are doing great! God Bless.
2007-01-08 12:59:21 · answer #7 · answered by DT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I disagree with most of the other posts...I think you CAN schedule an infant. I personally didn't do the "Babywise" system but I know three girlfriends who did and they did the schedule thing as soon as they got home from the hospital and they swear by it. It's not about forcing the baby to starve if she gets hungary "off schedule," it's more about routine. I personally didn't want to do the Babywise system(even though I read it and was advised to do it), b/c I think babies should be coddled and catered to until around 6-7 months...THEN start establishing clear schedules. You may just want to get the book and read it to see if it fits your and your baby's personality. If not, just know that by 2-3 months, they get a lot more predictable. Also, she was probably awake at night when you were pregnant and she's still on that schedule. Good luck!
2007-01-08 12:54:45 · answer #8 · answered by emrobs 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
If you are patient she will develop her own routine sometime between 6-12 weeks.
At this very young age you really need to be just following her cues and letting her eat when she is hungry and sleep when she is tired. They have SOoooo many growth spurts so early on that it's really best to just let the baby lead.
2007-01-08 12:42:20 · answer #9 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i just read in a magazine at the dr office today that you shouldn't even bother with scheduling until th ebaby is 2 months old otherwise its pointless and frustrating not only for you but the baby. and by 2 months there rythm has started to develop
2007-01-08 12:47:52 · answer #10 · answered by emery_sage 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋