My DS is 5.5 weeks old, he doesn't sleep more than 2 hours both during the day and at night. He wakes up to feed after 2 hours of sleep and back to sleep till after another 2 hours. I tried to increase his food at night, even give feed him formula only at night but nothing seems to work. Anyone please have an advice or experienced this and how you go about it. Thanks.
Re: 2 hours sleep, please help
He sleeps in his portable crib in my room at night and he naps in his bassinet during the day.
C 7.16.2008 | L 11.12.2010 | A 3.18.2013
I tried bedtime routine but DS doesn't have a specific time he goes to bed, his bedtime is not specific or maybe I don't know how to implement a bedtime routine.
First, I'd pick a specific time to call his bedtime, even though he's obviously not going to go to sleep then every night. But, at whatever time you choose, do a bath, change into pajamas, and keep the lights and noise low. It took us a couple weeks of this, but DS figured it out, and by 8 weeks is sleeping an 8 to 10 hour stretch. He wakes up, gets changed, eats, and goes back down for another 3 to 4. I may just have a baby that likes to sleep, but he didn't do that before we implemented the bedtime routine.
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I agree! That is what our pedi said- and it also helped her establish more of a routine. Her sleep is going to change when she has a FULL feeding then longer to stay awake and sleep, rather then snacking every hours or so.
I'm no expert, but what we did was pay attention to when he naturally starts to get tired at night - it ended up being around 11:00 pm. We then started a routine that would have him down by that time, even though it's late. At some point (maybe not 5 weeks), LO should start to associate the routine with sleep, and you can then move its start time earlier and earlier (say by 15 minute intervals every day or two). I hope you find something that works for you!
Do you swaddle? That can make a huge difference for some babies.
I'm not really sure if you are BFing (?). If you are, is he snacking or getting a full feeding? I would make sure he is one breast long enough to get fatty hindmilk, rather than switching breasts if he isn't "done" the first one.
We had good luck with the 5 S's from Happiest Baby on the Block to soothe him when he woke up and wasn't really hungry. If he's hungry, feed him, of course, but if he isn't, I'd try soothing him with those S's ideas.
He might just not be ready to sleep longer stretches yet.