Newborn doesn't sleep!?

Question

My son's not quite 3 weeks old, and he just does not want to sleep, ever! Everyone tells me that I need to sleep when he sleeps, but I'm so exhausted because he doesn't sleep so I don't either!

Everything I've found has been about babies who only nap when someone's holding them, or similar things...but my baby hardly sleeps at all! I've tried holding him, carrying him in a sling/baby bjorn, rocking, swinging, nursing, pacifiers, even the car...nothing puts him to sleep if he's not already letting me know he's tired, and even then it's tough to get him to sleep.

When he does sleep it's "cat naps" 20 minutes at a time, 3 -4 times a day, and then by night time he might sleep for an hour and a half (if I'm lucky), he'll do this 3 or 4 times (waking for feedings of course) before he decides he's awake for the day.

He doesn't act over-tired, he's SO alert during the day, he doesn't cry more than other babies, but I know sleep is important for my growing boy...WHAT SHOULD I DO?

yes ive tried a vibrating bouncy seat too-i'm so tired i forgot to write that

i know that his waking up during the night is normal-its the fact that i know most newborns sleep 14+ hours a day and my little guy is sleeping 7-9 that worries me.

I was supposed to wait on the pacifier until breastfeeding was well established but I gave in and gave it to him a few days ago because hes a constant "comfort nurser" wanting to suck all the time just for the sake of sucking-i needed my nipples & my fingers back-but if he fell asleep with one in his mouth he'd wake up if i took it away.

Still even at "quiet times" with the pacifier he might let me catch a ten minute nap once or twice a day-its just not enough to make a difference.

Also my partner works two full-time jobs he already gets less sleep than me I cant ask him to do any more.

Im not a fan of the "cry it out" way but Ive let him go for 10 minutes or so just to see if he needed to get it out of his system-no good

i've got the johnson's bedtime stuff you mentioned too (gotta love baby shower gifts), but seeing as so far he hates baths with a passion it doesn't help much. I've even mixed some of that in with a tub of water and just left it sitting on the table next to us while I rocked him...I didn't notice any difference at all.

My son's sleeping half the amount of time he should be, I'm not worried about me but him and his needs...sleep is connected to physical and brain development. Please keep the suggestions coming!

Answer 1

This sounds like it's time for tough love already. My son did this to us. We changed his diaper, we rocked him, we played music (what we thought sounded relaxing and gentle), we talked and coo'd to him, I fed him, put him in the swing, in the bouncer, on the knee to knock out any gas that might be in his tummy. I fed him again. He was burped, rocked, coddled again, etc. We finally just put him on his tummy in his bed and said, this is it. And that's all it took. He fell asleep. We realized we were overdoing everything to this poor baby. We realized he just wanted to hear himself cry, then he fell asleep. He is now 26 and had successfully "lived through the night" despite us.

(added)
I just remembered we did this with my son and later with daughter: I was told that babies are attracted to the human face--that they recognize and enjoy looking at the features. I drew a huge face on four pieces of paper taped together-- a simple cartoon like face with a sort of upturned mouth--smiling(no teeth showing) and huge eyes and a nose (nostrils - dots) and taped it to the ceiling above the crib. After he(she) was burped enough, we let him lie on his back and left the room. We'd hang around for a while outside. Sometimes he'd "talk" to the face, at least that's what we think--we actually did not peek in for fear he would see us and start crying again. After he'd fall asleep, we'd put him(her) on tummy. However, your baby might not fall into a regular sleep pattern that matches yours for several months. And it sounds like your baby is getting all the love and attention you can possibly give. If the face does not help your baby fall into sleep, it might amuse you at least making it.

Answer 2

Ok #1 needing to eat ever 90 minutes is normal, even at night.

#2 this will, likely, slow down around 6 weeks. Most babies radically change around 6 weeks.

#3 try to put him to sleep every hour. Do whatever you do to get him to sleep, a variety of things is good. Sometimes rock, sometimes put him down, sometimes walk, etc. Just try for 10 minutes.

Also getting sunlight during the afternoon can improve infant sleep.


Also try to find a quiet time when your dauger will at least be quiet in her swing, or wherever and sleep with one eye open. *lol*

The other thing you need is to find a way to sleep. Your partener should take the baby at least for 3 hours a day off so you can sleep. Yes you will likely have to nurse in the middle of that, but hey, at least it's something.

And read this:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T050100.asp

Answer 3

My daughter does this. She's 9 weeks old, and th stretches at night have finally gottne longer! Also, I normally feed her in my sleep....just pull up my shirt, pop a boob in her mouth, and keep snoozing. Co-sleeping is a wonderful thing,and quite honestly, the only way I EVER made it this long without going nuts.

She still won't sleep during the day for me, except for catnaps, but....today was my first day back at work, and my grandma said that my daughter slept pretty much the whole time...lucky grandma!

It will get a bit better, I promise. Hnag in there, and enjoy what precious time you do have to sleep.

Answer 4

simply by fact whilst a toddler is wakeful the mummy is tending to the toddler maximum folk of the time. whilst the toddler sleeps, which will become an risk for the mummy to recuperate half and young ones chores carried out, a tub according to risk, prepare dinner some food or purely consume a snack, pay some charges etc. Your physique does not close of immediately the 2nd your toddler falls asleep. And my toddler by no potential slept. She took 15-30 min naps thrice an afternoon and woke each and every 2 hours interior the nighttime. Now, at almost 8 months, she naps 30 min to an hour on the main a pair of times an afternoon and wakes each and every 3-4 hours interior the nighttime. each and every toddler is diverse. My pal has a toddler who sleeps plenty the mummy is unquestionably bored. Me on the different hand, I by no potential supply up.

Answer 5

Wow!! That's really rough! Have you tried giving him some of the Mylicon gas medicine? It helped my little guy. They also have teething tablets that are homeopathic. They are really good for relaxing them. They aren't harmful in anyway. Thats all I can think of if nurturing him and holding him doesn't help. Maybe some calming music would help.

Answer 6

My oldest son was like this. I didn't have enough milk to nurse. So, he took a bottle. He was allergic to the formula.
He ended up having a very strange enzyme deficency and a new diet worked. The first day he took a three hour nap I kept checking to make sure he was alive.

Work with your doctor.

Answer 7

have you tried a warm bath with the Johnson's nighttime calming bath lotion . the water with the lotion might relax him enough to remember to fall asleep. also light music playing or just like when baby's have to cry stuff out what happen when you just lay him in bed does he cry, play, or just lay there cause it just might be a matter of setting a schedule.

Answer 8

Lack of sleep in children can cause serious
health problems.If parents follow some simple
techniques for making their children sleep,
it can be avoided. I found useful information
at http://nosleep.in/sleepchildren.html

Answer 9

Have you tried a vibrating chair?