Would I be a horrible mom if I gave my 5 week old Tylendol or Benadryl to get some sleep.?

Question

He only sleeps at the most for 2 hours. I have been told that this could already be habit for him and that he doesnt really need anything.

Answer 1

YES...do not DRUG your child if he is not ill. that could also be habit forming.

if he is getting the nutrition he needs during the day, he will start to sleep for longer periods of time. most babies do not start to sleep through the night until at least 3 months of age.

also, he should only be up for 1-2 hours between naps. if he's up longer than that, he'll get overtired and won't sleep well.

Answer 2

He does not need anything to make him sleep longer. Newborns wake frequently. It is not a matter of a habit, but a matter of a need. A baby's tummy is very tiny and he generally needs to eat every 1-3 hours, usually round the clock. Tylenol and Benadryl are NOT appropriate to give a newborn baby. No dose of Benadryl is recommended for a baby as young as yours and Tylenol should only be given with a doctor's guidance. The potential for overdose is a great risk. Your need for sleep is universal for all moms of newborns. While sleepless nights never really end when you are a parent, your son's frequent waking will ease up, but maybe not for several more weeks or even months. You are not a horrible mom because you want to get some much needed rest. The very best thing you can do is re-think your priorities. Sleep when your baby sleeps and forget too much about how clean the house is and fixing something for dinner. Another thing you can do is see if a close friend, trusted neighbor, or family member will come and care for your baby for an afternoon just so you can sleep. However, be aware that if you are a breast feeding mommy, about 2 hours of sleep at a time may be all you get for a few more weeks. All babies are different, but many babies begin to sleep longer periods at a time about 3 months old. It does seem like this stage will last forever and there is no end in sight to sleep-less nights, but I promise it will get better. I have been a mom for 28 years. My kids are now 28, 25, 22, and 10. My oldest daughter has a 4 month old son of her own. Please, do not give your baby any type of medication. First and foremost, it is dangerous to the baby. Secondly, these types of medication can actually cause excitability in children. My youngest daughter has extreme reactions to all types of bites/stings from bugs. Our doctor suggested Benadryl for the swelling and itching. As a young child, everytime we gave it to her, she went absolutely wild, talking a mile a minute, never stopping until she crashed into sleep.

Answer 3

That would be SO bad for the baby. It is actually very normal for a baby to only sleep a couple of hours at a time. Keep in mind that at this stage the baby has absolutely no control over when they are asleep and when they are awake. His body is in total control. Just because he is doing this at 5 weeks old doesn't mean anything. Give him a little while and he will get into a routine. My oldest son finally started sleeping more when he hit about 3 months or so, it became a little more regular and predictable. Don't put your baby in danger by medicating it. All you can really do is nap every single chance you get, even if it is only for an hour on the couch once he finally falls out. It is frustrating, it is exhausting, but I promise you it WILL get better! Be patient with him, he's only doing what comes naturally at this stage.

Answer 4

Don't medicate your child! Your child is still developing and, not only could you do permanent damage by giving him medication, there are no dosages for a child that small! This is all part of a baby being a baby. They don't all sleep well in the beginning. My daughter never slept for more than a couple of hours at a time when she was small either but you simply have to deal with it and sleep when he sleeps. I realize that it is tough but that is the way it is. This is NOT a habit. As he matures he will be able to sleep longer. My daughter was an especially difficult sleeper and was always hungry when she woke up. I found that giving her formula kept her fuller longer and she slept better. I wasn't able to produce enough of my own milk to fill her up so supplementing with formula at bedtime helped out a lot. By all means do NOT give you baby any medication. Best of luck.

Answer 5

I am wondering who told you this could already be a habit for him and that he doesn't really need anything. Any baby under three months needs *something* when they are crying - even if they don't know what that is. And under three months, most likely bet is they are hungry or need their diaper changed. I like some of the other suggestions too - try them, it may help (:

I would also be concerned about a baby becoming dependent on Tylenol, etc. to sleep instead of learning to put themselves to sleep - you could be setting yourself up for a *lot* of nap/bedtime fights in the future.

That said, if you are as exhausted as I was, you need some sleep. Please try to get it another way though - is there anyone who can give you a break, even for a few minutes? If not, can you nap while baby's napping? Good luck! (:

Answer 6

DO NOT give your baby either medicine. If he's not sleeping very long, use common sense & try to figure out why he's not. It scares me that you would even think of giving your newborn meds like that, especially without asking your pediatrician first. There are reasons why your baby isn't sleeping very long.


(1) Are you keeping his diapers changed as soon as you know he's awake?

(2) Are you burping him "well" after every ounce & a half of formula? Make sure he burps well, or he'll get a very gassy tummy & will be in pain & cry a lot.

(3) Is he dressed for the climate in which you live?

(4) Babies like to be wrapped snugly, not too tight, when they are newborns. It makes them feel secure. They have a special "swaddling blanket" that you can buy at Wal* Mart or places like that. Babies love that secure feeling.

I mean no disrespect, but I wonder just how much you know about being a mommy. Maybe you need the guidance of a female adult, to help you out, as babies are a lot of work. Don't be afraid to ask for help, & please call the doctor when you have a concern or question.

Answer 7

he is only 5 weeks old! He wakes up that often because there is something he NEEDS! A baby at that age normally needs to eat every 2-3 hours. His diaper may need changed, or maybe his days and nights are confused. Giving a child drugs to make them sleep is dangerous and yes, I would say that would make you a bad mom. You should have known that having a baby means less sleep for you! A baby that age isn't even supposed to have tylenol or anything unless a doctor tells you how much. That is horrible, you just need to deal with it or get someone to help you!

Answer 8

I understand what it's like to be sleep deprived but don't give your baby medicine to make it sleep. Hang in there-it will get better. My son still doesn't always sleep through the night and the thoughts that go through your mind when you are tired are not thoughts that you would normally have. Sleep with the baby right next to you in a playpen or something so that when he/she does wake up you can still be getting a little nap during feeding (if you are nursing). See if your husband or someone can trade off feedings with you otherwise. I don't believe that at 5 weeks he has any habits-just instincts like hunger or being wet. Try swaddling him and giving him some sort of relaxing type noise.

Answer 9

This is normal behavior for a five week old. This is not a bad habit he has picked up. They sleep for small periods of time at this age. You should never medicate without cause. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is not a reason to medicate. You especially should not give a child under one year Benadryl anyway (per my pediatrician), and it can sometimes have the opposite effect on them and get them all wound up. Tylenol does not induce sleep.

I know it's frustrating but hang in there, it will get better, I promise. Do your best to sleep when he sleeps, even during the day (chores can wait) and try to keep him awake a little more during the day.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

Don't feel bad. Sometimes you feel so sleep deprived that you get desperate and that's probably all you thought of.

Instead, do something to NATURALLY tire the baby out. Give him a nice warm bath with that Johnson&Johnson Lavendar & Chamomile Baby Bath and give him a nice little massage afterwards. Then give him a bottle, but throw in a few baby cereal flakes. That'll make him sleep a little longer.

For the long run, start a schedule. Don't let him take any naps after about 3 or 4 pm. Do everything in your power (make him laugh, play, sing, etc.) to keep him up until 7:30 or 8pm. Then, do the bath/massage and bottle thing. I guarantee after a couple days, he'll start to sleep the ENTIRE night.

Good luck!