How to get my 5 week old to sleep?

Question

My son refuses to sleep! During the day, he will take a 5-10 minute catnap about every three hours, but that's it! Enough time to go to the bathroom and MAYBE microwave something for myself to eat. He stays awake until 2 am every night and wakes up at 4am until 5:30 and then at 7am for the day. I know he needs to sleep, but he just won't. I have tried the swing, rocking him, singing, turning the lights and such off, even letting him cry as a last resort. None of it works. Anybody have any persoanl remedies that might help me out?

he is breastfed. He does fall occasionally fall asleep when eating, but as so as I lay him down it's all over.

he doesn't cry much at all. in fact he seems perfectly content. other than i'm hungry,change me, love me cries he ONLYcries when I try to get to sleep

Answer 1

Vodka

Answer 2

My grandson did the same thing. Just would not nap during the day much the first 6 weeks. He is 3 months old now and doing much better. I think because he eats more is helping but also just time helps. I know how hard it is, I had twins, and there were days I felt like pulling my hair out. He is only 5 weeks so he will eat often, that's normal. It is important in a few more weeks, to try to get him on the same routine at night when he goes to bed. My daughter puts her son in his bed 8:30 - 9:00. He sleeps usually until 3:00 or 4:00, gets up for a feeding, then goes back to bed until around 6:30 or 7:00. He even takes a couple of one hour naps during the day. I have tried to help also, like going over so she can nap or just get out of the house. Is there anyone that can do that for you? What you're going through, all mothers have been there. Hang in there, I promise it will get better.

Answer 3

If all of the standard fed, changed, cuddled, burped needs are met and he still won't sleep, there are a few things you could try. My daughter always wakes up when I lay her down. you could try a boncer seat with a vibration and sounds. I have one that has womb sounds on it and really helped at that age. Sometimes, swadling will help. I still have to hold my daughters arms and legs still so she calms down to sleep. Newborns also don't really do well with total silence. Try a constant background noise, like a fan, running water, vaccuum, washer, or hairdryer. The tv or radio doesn't work as well because there are too many changes. i don't know what to suggest about the naps because at 6 months my daughter still doesn't sleep during the day for more than 20 minutes. But she sleeps the whole night.

If hes not sleeping but happy, I wouldn't worry too much. Besides not having any time for you, it'll be fine. He'll sleep eventually. If he's crying all the time, he could be collicky. Or, rarely, babies can be allergic to their mothers breastmilk. Talk to you doctor if he is constantly screaming or if it gets worse. Good luck!

Answer 4

Usually at 5 weeks they can't keep themselves awake on purpose and they sleep as much as they need to. You might just have a very alert baby. Does he cry a lot? Is he gaining weight? Does he seem generally content? If he is gaining weight and content, that might just be the way he is. Around 6 weeks I started using the methods prescribed by the "Baby Whisperer". You might want to get some books about routines out of the library. I liked books by Tracey Hogg but know other mom's who swear by "The Happiest Baby on the Block."

Hang in there! It does get better. I breastfed as well but was fortunate because my DD was actually a pretty good sleeper. She started sleeping longer stretches through the night around 9 weeks.

Answer 5

I've been in your position twice. Usually at that age they sleep alot but when thay don't I use my secret weapon. A swing, but obviously that hasn't worked for you. Is the bay breast feed? If so they are hungry every 2 hours if the baby is bottle feed avery 3-4 hrs. Therefore the baby is might be hungry when he cries. Try feeding him and changing him right before a nap and see if that prolongs the time a little. Also make sure he is in his favorite position when you lay him down for the nap, which hopefully is not in your arms. If that's the case he'll never sleep long without you.

Answer 6

Okay, you may or may not be able to answer this: how MUCH is he eating when you feed him?

Well-fed babies are sleepy babies, and if you feed them frequently throughout the day, they'll stay asleep longer come night. Breast milk is a natural sedative, so they'll sometimes fall asleep while nursing even when they're not full. Wake them, burp them, and let them continue to eat until they push it away.

Breast milk metabolizes in about two hours; formula takes a little longer (that's why babies who are formula-fed seem to sleep longer). If you're breastfeeding exclusively, you may need to feed more frequently during the day to make him content. After he gains enough weight, he'll sleep longer and will want to do all his eating during the day, anyway.

I hope that'll help you some - I know it's tough when you're sleep-deprived and hungry!

Answer 7

You got lucky that yours stays quiet! My son would be up from about 7-8 pm until 6 am SCREAMING all those hours. Nothing worked to get him to fall back asleep. I was a wreck, but it only lasted about 3 weeks straight.

Babies go through periods of growth spurts very often. Right now is probably one of those times. Eventually he will tire himself out and fall asleep, but probably not for as long as you'd like. He's still young. He won't be like this forever. I once asked my peditrician about my son's lack of sleeping, he told me, "Your son has recently been pulled from a wet, dark, quiet, warm enviroment where he got to sleep whenever he wanted. Now he's outside the womb and you want him on a schedule! What else do you want him to do, walk on water??". Just give your son some time to adjust, and make sure you get a break every day to revive yourself!! Sleep deprivation can play some NASTY tricks on the mind. Mine was so terrible i was convinced i had post-partum depression. I eventually made my husband take my son for 4 straight hours every day so that i could sleep once in a while. And make sure you're eating, too. I never allowed myself to put my son down to eat when i needed to when i definitely should have! If you can't take care of yourself, you can't take care of your baby.

Good luck.

Answer 8

OK, you need to be the parent and take this kid in hand. Put yourself and him on a schedule. Stick to it. Try to feed him at about the same times each day, not any closer together than 2 hours and preferable closer to three (you can stretch him out 15 minutes more per week as he grows). when you know he's tired andthink he needs a nap, put him where you want him to sleep and leave. Don't go back till YOU think the naptime should be over, even if he cries the whole time. You are the parent, you have to teach him, he won't do it on his own.

Answer 9

This is normal. When my baby was 5 weeks, it was hell! This what I tell all new mommies, Start a routine asap. Try the swinging, rocking, and singing and try to make it a routine. He'll get used to it eventually. I would rock my baby and put on music for him. We started doing that and he got used to it.

Answer 10

I would try switching his formula, he may have a upset belly. After I was forced to stop nursing my baby at 5 weeks he became to most cranky kid, until at 7 months we discovered a milk allergy.
Hope this helps.

Answer 11

may be you baby has a belly ache. ask your doctor about switching his formula. breast milk is always best. also you can try laying him on a slope or jack up his crib on one side. he needs to lay with his head slightly higher than his feet. if you feel tired and frustrated get a baby sitter so you can nap or take a bath or just get out and take a break. it will do you good.