My daughter is 5 weeks old and doing a weird sleeping thing. One day she'll sleep really good..wake up just to eat, have half hour play time, go back to sleep...next day she'll stay up ALL day..till I finally have enough at night and lie down with her. I've tried car rides (she hates them) I've tried the sucky, going for a walk..everything I can think of. She's been doing this for 3 weeks now, and is very tired. I know babies don't have a routine at this age, but this is a bit much. She also has a swing, and that doesnt help much. Anyone else go through something like this?
2007-02-10 08:48:36 · 6 answers · asked by santobugito 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
My 3rd did something similar. I can remember sitting up at 3am bawling my eyes out since it was the 4th night in a row that I had not slept more than 2 or 3 hours combined. Finally figured out the he was still hungry. (I know that sounds really bad) He wasn't ever really fussy. He would eat and then lay there and stare at the ceiling. He just wouldn't sleep. He was only eating 2-3 ounces at the time. The whole thing was an accident really. At 3 in the morning, I made his bottle too warm and had to add a couple more ounces to it to cool it off. He ended up downing 5 ounces and slept til morning. He did it again about a month later and we increased his feedings again. He just never got crabby enough to let me know that he was still hungry.
I know that if you are breastfeeding this would be a tough one to judge, but at least it is another idea for you to consider. Good luck to you, and I hope that you find something that works soon.
2007-02-10 15:16:59 · answer #1 · answered by brain~fried 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my have I been there!! Its so exhausting. OH SO exhausting! It will get better, but slowly. There are so many different styles of "parenting" and each has their own idea of how to get your baby to sleep.
I personally do not believe in letting them Cry It Out (CIO) because when they are crying, its their way of communicating to us that there is something not "right" in their little world.
I refered to the Baby Whisperer book, and I felt it was too strict, BUT their website is a great resource and has some informative message boards. www.babywhisperer.com
I had my 3rd child a year ago and she was a horrible sleeper until 10 months of age. I started a version of sleep training at 2 months, however, so she would go down pretty well, he just woke up a lot.
Try swaddling, using the swing, rocking at this age. When she is over 2 months you can get her used to her crib. Oh, and soon maybe invest in a sound machine. It saved our lives, I swear! She still sleeps with it on the Ocean setting and sleeps through the night.
Good Luck!
2007-02-10 08:55:01 · answer #2 · answered by banderson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 5 weeks, she's still trying to figure out what her schedule is... It's your job to help her figure it out, as much as possible. You can do this by helping her get on a regular feeding and sleeping schedule. Don't be a meany, but if she wants to eat a bit earlier than normal, hold off a bit... see if you can distract her a bit, until the time is closer to being "on schedule." If she just won't be distracted, then hold her off as long as you can, and feed her.
Part of it is just that she's so little... this is why people sympathize with parents of newborns.. it's this time of no sleep, no schedule, no routine... leaves you feeling really unsettled. You can try the above, to try to regulate her feeding schedule a bit... that will probably help regulate the sleeping schedule... although they cycle through sleeping more and less, depending on whether or not they're going through a growth spurt, healing from a cold, or teething...
2007-02-10 09:18:47 · answer #3 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be careful tat the car seat doesnt fall of the drier, i wouldnt try that though. When its time for her bedtime shut all the lights, leave a little nightlite on, and put her to bed, sometime with all the excitment during the day they may get stimulated and find it difficult to settle down, how about a nice warm bath before bed, cuddle and sleep. Good luck its so easy for every one to comment but its only you that knows your baby.
2007-02-10 09:00:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like you said they dont have a routine this young. Have you tried putting her in her carseat and sitting it on the dryer. The vibrations sometimes will put them to sleep. Good Luck!
2007-02-10 08:53:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anna G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my new born son was restless i used to give him a deep warm bath - with me - warm milk and dark room, soft music.....good luck hon, it gets easier, i promise
2007-02-10 10:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by leroy-brown 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋