Is my 3-week old daughter to young to fight sleep?

Question

fussy...cries...after some coaxing she'll fall back to sleep...usually only if i am holding her...i can't do anything at all...without her crying for me...and nothing is medically wrong

Answer 1

Remember that she is learning how to adapt to a routine right now and your job is to help her do that so that she can get her needs met. If you know that she is tired and she has been fed and changed, do what you can to get her settled down to sleep the first time and then if she wakes up shortly thereafter let her cry as long as you know she's safe. Crying is actually really good for her lungs and it won't traumatize her to cry for a little while. You will have to teach yourself to be strong and fight the urge to pick her up every time she cries. She'll get used to things and be much happier if there is a predictable routine for her to expect. If she knows crying means she gets picked up and cuddled she's more apt to do it all the time.

Answer 2

She is only 3 weeks old. Just 3 weeks ago she was inside you. For every second of every day she could see/hear/smell/feel/taste you. Now, if she can't sense you, she's not sure you still exhist. And she doesn't understand yet that you are two separate beings. Being held is a TRUE NEED at such a very young age.

You're only 3 weeks postpartum. There isn't a lot you should be doing. :-) Really, let the housework slide. You have a newborn. You should be concentrating on self care and baby care. Food to eat and clean clothes are really the only other things that are important right now. Get help from the Grandmas, people at church, your LLL group, neighbors, etc. Anyone who asks, "can I help you" show them a list of chores/errands you keep on the fridge.

Take your shower in the morning before hubby goes to work or in the evening when he gets home.

Keep meals simple. Have hubby bring home take out. (Or make him cook when he gets home.) Order a pizza. Let others who want to help bring over a covered dish. (The BEST gift you can give a new mom!) Throw some ingredients in a crockpot when you wake up and call it dinner.

Keep things that are easy to grab for lunch. Make a whole loaf of PB&J, put it back in the bag and keep it in the fridge. Keep fresh fruits and veggies you can just grab to munch on. Cereal bars, granola bars, protein shakes, etc.

Consider cosleeping with her, just follow safe cosleeping guidelines.

Get a sling to wear her in. This will allow you to get a little more done around the house and also make outings easier.

ETA:
You CAN NOT spoil a baby this young! She crys to communicate and not to manipulate.

ETA AGAIN:
lividsorrow - LOVE the amputated leg comparison. I will probably use that one!

Answer 3

Well, yes and no. She may be trying to stay awake - the world is so new and fascinating to her, after all - but she is certainly not old enough to have any malicious intent (ie, staying awake just to fret you when you want for her to sleep.)

Your baby sounds like she may prefer a lot of contact - most babies do. Try carrying her in a sling - she'll probably love the coziness and constant contact. Try swaddling her tightly in a blanket - I had one called The Amazing Miracle Blanket that's shaped especially for swaddling, and it was a lifesaver in the early weeks. And if your daughter will sleep somewhere other than her bassinet or crib - infant carrier, swing, etc. - there's absolutely nothing wrong with letting her.

Congratulations on your new baby!

Answer 4

My daughter was just the same. She was't happy unless she was ON me. I gave up after a while and let her sleep with me. Sometimes your sleep is more important that "training her" right away. Some babies need more contact (mine also liked being held during the day - I did my chores with her in a sling or front pack for the first couple months) I don't feel that letting the child at this age have her "way" is a bad thing. My daughter - now a teen - is one of the mst well-adjusted people I know. Good Luck!

Answer 5

OH heck no, she isn't too young to fight sleep. My daughter hardly EVER slept. At three weeks old she was up at 5am napped for 2 hours at 12pm and up again till 8pm then she slept till 1am up till 4am then back down till 6am. EVERY DAY!
The good thing is is that she was so alert that she watched everyone all the time, she learned to talk before she hit two months old and she is now 7 years old and reading at a 11 year old level.
She still wakes up in the middle of the night around 1am and stays up for a few hours. She will be quiet and read or play quietly until she falls back to sleep around 4 then she will wake up again at six.
They say she is just so smart that her brain can't rest.

Try putting your sweater in the bed with her and the sent of you should lull her to sleep. also, Cerrina liked the washer or dryer. The noise and vibration put her to sleep.
At three weeks old there is no reason to panic, she is probably still wondering why she is detached from you. being part of her for so long when you are not there, it's like waking up to an amputated legg. you freak out till it's back to normal.
She simply thinks you are another piece of her own body. Give her your blanket or sweater to trick her and make her think you're still there.

Answer 6

Of course she's not too young, she just wants to know that mommy is right there... if she falls asleep, there's a chance that mommy isn't right there holding her.

My daughter was mommy's girl too, she had the same problem. She had better things to do then sleep of course, there's a whole new and exciting world for her to discover!

Answer 7

Think of it this way: She was stuck in a nice warm, tight place for about nine months. Now there's sensory overload and feelings she hasn't experienced before (e.g. hunger, sleepiness, etc). She's just getting used to the world. Just be the good momma you are and help your baby fall back asleep. You may want to swaddle her. It's comforting because she is used to being in a tight spot.

Answer 8

Nope perfectly normal. Often your babies sleep schedule will be out of wack for a couple months just keep trying and make sure her sleeping environment is conducive to sleep. I would suggest "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems" by Richard Ferber M.D. It helped my family immensely.

Answer 9

my baby was like that and still is like that, for her naps she'll take long naps only if she's sleeping on me, if she isnt her naps are not that long, and she needs a bottle before bed to fall asleep, my daughter fought sleep right since she was born and shes 5months now and i have no problem with her at all

Answer 10

i use a "sleep eze" pillow keeps baby on side safely so no worry of Sid's try wrapping bub firmly with cotton wrap and rhythmic patting bub on back some times they just need the comfort plus pillow keeps them snug as well making the feel safe and secure i have used with my 3 kids oldest 11 youngest 7mths good luck i feel for you !