help with 7 week old baby routine?

Question

Hi all,

wondering if anyone has any tips.. i have a 7 week old son.. ive established a wonderful night time routine.. bath, bottle, bed.. he falls asleep on his own in his moses basket at 7pm, sleeps through till 3.. feeds then straight back to sleep... so im pretty proud of myself for sticking to this... however, its during the day thats getting me down... he takes a feed.. sleeps for approx 20-30mins and then spends the rest of the time approx 3 hours crying till the next feed.. the only time he stops crying is when i take him outside, he falls asleep straight away and stays asleep for up to 3 hours, but obviously i have to stay indoors sometimes.. any tips on how to get a content baby during the day indoors ??... the constant crying is wearing me down

no, my first son had terrible colic, but this baby doesnt have any problems with colic, and brings up his wind with ease after feeds

Stop worrying and count your blessings. It's just a phase. The reason he's sleeping so well during the night is because he's awake during the day. Most moms would LOVE that. Just enjoy your time outside and be thankful.

** the reason he sleeps at night is because ive followed a strict routine from day one... telling me to be thankful when im at the end of my tether isnt really helpful.. you obviously forget or have no idea what its like to have a baby cry for hours at end

Answer 1

Have you tried one of those Cd's that play nature sounds? They work wonders. If that doesn't work turn on the vacuum cleaner. For some unknown reason this seems to help even babies with colic.

Answer 2

If it's taking her 2hrs to settle bed time is too early. You don't need a routine at that age. Babies fall into there own routine around 3 months, just follow her cues. As for the dummy, I found that my son did the same thing so I rocked him to sleep instead. The other thing you can do is watch her and pull it out as she is falling asleep but not all the way asleep. This way she knows that it's gone and doesn't expect to wake with it. Babies have a sleep cycle just like adults and have a wakeful period about 30min after falling asleep where they should just move a bit to get comfy and go back to sleep but when you use a paci they wake and want the paci back instead. I agree with the sling, my son lived in it until 3 months or so. It still keeps him happy when he is having a fussy day.

Answer 3

My second child did the EXACT same thing. The reason he cries and only stops when you go outside is he needs a chance of scenery. Would you want to be in the same 4 walls all day every day for 2 months? I realized he would start to chill out when we would go for a stroll in the stroller around the block or at the mall. I also have a toddler to deal with along with my little one so playdates came natural. He started to see that going outside was alot more fun than staying indoors. I also open up the blinds (when he must stay indoors) put on some soothing child friendly kid tunes, and play with him. Singing also helps and holding him while he cries. Mine only did this a few weeks. I stressed, I'll admit it and I feel because he would constantly cry that I couldn't bond with him, but once I realized he just wanted to see the bright skies, the trees move, feel the air on his face......we were both happy. Give him what he wants and seems happy with.

Answer 4

I would get him one of those vibrating chairs, my son had the fisher price one with the music and lights it kept him amused for hour ha loved it, your baby wants some stimulation rather laying down and looking at the same boring ceiling. Also try feeding him an extra ounce, Great job with the night time routine and lets just hope that all that day time crying is not the reason for the non sleepless nights for you!! Good luck!!

Answer 5

I agree with the person who suggested more frequent feedings during the day. My son at about every 1-2 hours his first 3 months, and I breast fed.

Just in the last month can he go longer than 3 hours.

Some babies just need that body connection with mom. It's terribly difficult on your psyche, and you really need your rest too!

I hope you can find a solution, I feel your frustration through your message! Good Luck!

OH! - I tried the whole routine thing too, finally just listened to my gut and the babies language, you know what he needs in your heart, go with it!

Answer 6

I had trouble with my first baby routine during day, how I got my youngest in routine is they say if baby wakes about 6-7am they should be due a nap between 8.30-9am for 1 hour I use to take my little girl for a walk in a pram till she got use to going asleep at that time then put her in her moses basket and she was fine, with my second I use to put her down to sleep and did the pick up put down method I got the 'contented baby and toddler book' and this was a god send. Good luck

Answer 7

Hi he obviously likes the motion of being out and about in the car or pram .I bet you were active during your pregnancy hence the liking of motion??? Have you thought of buying or borrowing a baby swing .This is not a swing in the conventional sense but a baby seat not unlike a car seat on a frame. Some are battery powered to gentley swing the baby. Others you have to wind up and they will swing happily for about ten minutes per wind up. They are a godsend if you have a demanding baby and when I had no. 3 i used it every day.He always went to sleep in his swing until he was about 3 to 4 months old!
Alternatively there are various baby seats and rockers with motors that make them vibrate or rock which might be worth a try. But I think the swing is best!
The seat on the one I had simply hooked on so doubled up as a chair when he started solids....so you will get your moneys worth too.

Answer 8

Stop worrying and count your blessings. It's just a phase. The reason he's sleeping so well during the night is because he's awake during the day. Most moms would LOVE that. Just enjoy your time outside and be thankful.

Answer 9

You have done very well in getting a routine for your seven week son, alot of parents dont get this so soon.
Just enjoy your time with him and if you have to go outside then do so. It sounds like he needs more attention and is bored. You can try other thing when he is crying to soothe him such as letting him play in the water (supervised of course), put on music, sing to him etc. You will find something that works for you both... I did! Good luck

Answer 10

OMG

"Strict routine"

Are you the manageress of some sort of penitentiary?

Firstly if I knew anyone who was letting her *7 WEEK OLD BABY CRY WITH HUNGER FOR 3 HOURS* I would call Social Services. That is disgusting!

Babies are not machines. they do not need to be "fed every 4 hours" they need to be fed when they are hungry. Please don't tell me you are one of these women whose only desire after giving birth was to "get their life back" and force that naughty little person to fit into their lifestyle?

If you are you should not have had kids.

Let me explain. That baby is most likely crying because he is HUNGRY OR THIRSTY. Content baby = baby that is clean, warm, fed and loved. you are withholding one of these things, most likely food. I say again, babies are not machines

You don't say if you are breast or bottle feeding (although from the way you describe your "strict routine" I assume its Bottle) but my son was feeding once an hour at 7 weeks old (Breastfed). I was happy to do this. He was my little boy and I would have given him the world. Plus newborn babies have small stomachs which need filling frequently. Milk is food and drink to them. Just as we adults will often have a glass of water or a snack in between "meals" so do babies sometimes need a little extra milk in between "formal feeds".

I really don't know what else to say to you, I'm fairly disgusted to hear you allow this poor little thing to cry and expect him to fit into your control-freak "routine", it sounds like you are training a dog rather than caring for a baby. I would suggest you get hold of one of those awful rubbishy books by Gina Ford and follow her "strict timetable/regime" to the letter.

Thank God I am a parent who allows nature and instinct to govern the way I care for my son. And he's the most contented child you could wish to meet.