okay, I need some help (sleeping)

javorka.samantha@gmail.com · July 2010

How long is your LO sleeping during a 24 hour period?

I have been keeping track for about a week and a half (looking for a routine or a pattern to help plan my day), and it looks like DS is sleeping on average 12 1/2 hours - which seems really low for a 6 week old. There were even some days where he's only sleeping 11 hours.

Anyone have any advice on how to increase this number? I've tried putting him down drowsy but awake - no go, he's wide awake after I put him down. I've tried putting him down after the first yawn I see - no go, he's wide awake after I put him down. The only way I can get him to go to sleep is if he's really tired enough to fall asleep on his own on me, in his bouncy chair or in the car.

I've tried to swaddle him completely as well - but he just screams because he wants his arms free. So we have the half swaddle going on. Singing and rocking don't seem to work either. I'm worried that his night time sleeping is being messed up because he's not sleeping enough during the day or is overtired. (He's sleeping a max of 3 1/2 hour stretches between feedings. We've had one 5 hour stretch, but that's it) It just seems like everyone's LOs are sleeping longer stretches by this time.

TIA!

ASmallWonder · July 2010

You'll always hear about what's "normal" but I don't believe there's any such thing - ever. Does he fuss like he's overtired? If not, he may just not need as much sleep as some babies. LO just started doing a good 5 hour stretch at night this week and he's 7 weeks so you just have to roll with it.

star173 · July 2010

he sounds pretty normal to me. drowsy but awake works with DS but never worked with DD. just let him sleep wherever and whenever he wants for now.

MFalor · July 2010

I'm just going to recommend checking out "The Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD from your local library. It helped me a lot.

cutelilme1210 · July 2010

My LO does not sleep much during the day either. She usually gets up between 10-11 and is basically up until 6 or 7. She will take a few 15-20 minute cap nats throughout the day but never anything long. She is just awake and happy. She isn't fussy or anything. However, she does sleep EXCELLENT at night. She sleeps 4-5 hour stretches and basically gets up at the same time every day.

I was worried that her being awake so much during the day would affect her at night. The only thing I have noticed is that she is going to bed later than before. I am afraid that she is going to get her days and nights confused because she wants to take long naps (3-4 hours) at 7 or so then get up for a few.

mrsfirefly · July 2010

MFalor:
I'm just going to recommend checking out "The Happiest Baby on the Block" DVD from your local library. It helped me a lot.

This. And I have to invest 30-60 min to get DD totally konked out before putting her down, but the pay-off is worth it. I start trying to put her to sleep 60-90 minutes after she's been awake or right after eating at night. We've only had a couple of 5 hour stretches and one 6 hour stretch at 8 weeks.

itsspykitty · July 2010

I could of written this post. Have you tried a sound machine? How long does he fuss for before conking out? Not recommending CIO but just give him 2-5 minutes and see if he just wants to be left alone. Sometimes we do more harm by overstimulating and frantically trying something to make them calm down.

I'm right there with you on the STTN. I would come on here and freak out when ppl said their baby same age was sleeping 4-5 hours. Just get that out of your mind and it will seem not as daunting. FWIW- DS sleeping in 3 hour increments at night and 1.5 increments during the day.

Check out Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child book. It talk about sleep being a neurological function and baby will sleep when they are mentally ready to sleep. Main premise is more babies/kids are overtired. It helps set my expectations that newborns are not on a schedule and we need to go with the flow as parents but- you've got to let them sleep when they want to.

GL (((hugs)))

femmegem · July 2010

DS1 ate every three hours round the clock and literally fell asleep on his own one time when he was an infant. I rocked him to sleep every night until he was around nine months old, and still some nights after that. He goes to sleep just fine on his own now. And ditto what one of the PPs said about some babies needing less sleep. DS1 never needed much.

melbry15 · July 2010

My DD would fight the swaddle too, but if we didn't swaddle, she would wake herself up after 30 minutes! We, by chance, ordered a woombie from babyhalfoff.com and it has been the best purchase we have made so far! She still gets to stretch and move her arms and legs, but she can't punch herself in the face with it! the first night she started using the woombie, she slept for 6 beautiful hours! You can find them at BRU or at thewoombie.com if you would like to give it a try.

javorka.samantha@gmail.com · July 2010

Thanks for the input everyone! I'm definitely going to check out those books/dvds!

DS is pretty fussy lately (more so than before) and he'll fuss a few minutes (no more than 5) before we go soothe him and try to get him to sleep. I usually just put him on my chest and let him fall asleep that way - it works pretty quickly, but then I have to get up and put him in his bassinet at night... so that usually wakes him up.

It's just strange because he yawns like crazy, but nothing works to get him to sleep or to keep him asleep.

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