My daughter is 4 weeks old and does not sleep at night at all. Anyone have a child like this?

Question

My daughter is 4 weeks and she stays awake from about 1am to 8am. She does not even close her eyes (except to blink of course) or act sleepy. And as soon as my eyes close, she screams. She wont let me put her down during that time either, but will during the day. She can amuse herself, but like I said, as soon as I close my eyes, she screams a lot! I know babies do not sleep through the night, but I did not know that some can stay awake for 7 hours straight. We have tried everything (the only thing that works is swaddling her and putting her on her boppy pillow, but since that is not safe, we do not do that anymore. Tried once). I have asked her pediatrician but she said that there is nothing we can do to make her sleep, of course. I had to quit my job because I cannot stay up for 7 hours at night to turn around and do full time work and full time school and home school a child with bipolar . This has been rough. Any suggestions??

Answer 1

Do what works for you. Steer clear of obvious unsafe things, the boppy doesnt sound too bad... make an alternative if u think u need 2. But experiment and find something. Her carseat, swing, bouncy chair, use your pillow case as a blanket for her so she can smell you. My baby sometimes sleeps longer if I have an item of mine in the crib with he so if she slightly awakens she senses me and will fall back asleep. I have a pillow that I've slept with for years (same pillow case, I wash it regularly of course) and she's taken to that... sometimes she falls asleep on it from nursing and I'll just keep her on it while I stick it in her bassinet or on the couch next to me or wherever I happen to go (so long as it is safe). Sometimes you have to step out of "text book" and into reality and be expiramental BUT "so long as it's safe".

My baby does the same but its a little inconsistant--- we'l have a night or 2 that she doesnt do this. It averages around 12pm-5am. She'll nap while nursing then do the same as your baby. If u breastfeed, swaddle b4 u switch 2 the next breast so you don't disturb her after feeding to do this. Rock her for a couple of minutes then just hold her for a couple of minutes and try putting her down. I have a thick baby blanket that a roll up in a tube shape and for a "U" in her crib/bassinet and lay her in the middle of that so she is snugged up with the bottom of the "U" at her feet. She's becoming more awake and you'll probably notice lots of changes. Right now she has nights and says mixed up. I'm at 6wks now and hoping to see a change. Sometimes you HAVE to get sleep, so if she falls asleep in your arms or on you LAY DOWN!!! It's not going to spoil her and if you don't do it 24/7 it's OK! Get some help... a friend/husband/bf/family member/nanny etc to stay over with you at night. And don't let her "cry it out" if others tell you to. She's too young for this and she doesn't know how to self soothe yet. She needs you so hang in there!

Answer 2

I think this problem is more common than you think. Not all babies sleep through the night and some don't do it until they are 6 months or older. Try to let her nap less during the day.. but not too much less because the less they sleep, the more they fight sleep at night and then become sleep deprived. We had a problem with our son not sleeping in the bassinet so we bought the snuggle nest and placed him in bed with us.. it worked wonders. I think he just wanted to feel my warmth and it put him fast asleep. You can also try to make some white noise CDs.. of blow dryer or vacuum cleaner sounds. Some babies fall fast asleep to these types of noises. It does get better.. just have to give it as much time as is needed. If your baby is breastfed it's even harder. Best wishes.

Answer 3

That's a very long time!! What we did early on to get my daughter to sleep more at night was to waker her up during the day after she'd been sleeping 2 hours. It was always hard to waker her, but when we did I would nurse her and keep her awake for at least 20 minutes. The first time we did this she slept 5 hours at night, instead of 5 hours in a row during the day. Newborns usually have one long stretch of sleeping, and for most it's during the day, since in the womb you were rocking them to sleep anytime you were walking around. Good luck.

Answer 4

Many babies get their days and nights mixed up. Try keeping her up as much as possible during the day so she will be more inclined to sleep during the night.

While I know many parents might frown on this, try putting her into a swing. I know many babies that have slept all night in their swing as it was the only way they would sleep.

Start a nighttime routine. At a set time every night, put her in her jammies, get a bottle (or nurse) read a book, put her in bed and turn out the lights. She may fuss (you can google the "cry it out method" or "modified cry it out method") but eventually, she'll learn that it's bed time and time to sleep. (You can either let her scream until she falls asleep -- the cry it out method -- or let her scream for a few minutes, soothe her, let her scream for a few more minutes, soothe her and eventually she'll go to sleep -- modified cry it out method) Again, I know many frown on this but it does work for many.

I know it's frustrating, just keep at it.

Answer 5

I just what to say I'm sorry that you have to got through this. I have two kids too and i know what you going throw this is what I'm going to tell you to do and please try it before you put your daughter to sleep give her a bottle with a little cereal in it i know that the pediatrician said you shouldn't mines told me the same thing and when my son and daughter were born and they didn't what to sleep I put some cereal in there bottle and they were out for 8hrs. I promise this will work.

Answer 6

I would suggest to try your best to keep her awake as much as possible during the days and give her more stimulation. Nursing or warm bottles might help too. Try giving her a warm bath at night with lavender and chamomile baby soap. Good Luck!!

Answer 7

My baby was like that at 3wks old until he started staying up during the day and slept at nite only waking up to eat. She's still little and she will change her schedule give her time. Meanwhile there is nothing u can do.

Answer 8

sounds like a normal 4 week old to me. They need to eat every 2-4 hours.

Answer 9

we got a fish tank and put her in the bouncey chair and she watched the fish they soothed while the chair rocked her to sleep....also try putting her in a umbrella stroller and pushing it back and forth while you rock in a rocker...it should put you both to sleep...
Try going for a drive in the car to get her to sleep...that works too sometimes...or carseat on the going dryer...the vibrations lull her to sleep....has she been checked for colic? or acid reflux? lying down agrivates that....good luck hope this helps.

Answer 10

i believe your daughter has her nights and days mixed up.