Nights are getting worse :(

Juliebird8307 · October 2013

Yes, another lack of sleep complaint. My LO used to wake up at 2 and 6am. That wasn't bad, except when she would stay up at 2 for 2 hours. Then she started getting up between 1 and 2, and again at 5. Now she gets up the second time at 4, and will sleep for 1 hour max increments after that until like 8. I'm going insane. I thought their sleep was supposed to get better, not worse. I've tried everything that people have mentioned on here. I have no idea what else to do. I guess this is just a vent at this point. It seems like my DD thinks daytime is from 4am to 10am.

blondii428 · October 2013

Growth spurt that makes her want to want to eat more maybe? Mine has always been inconsistent so I feel your pain! Hang in there!

SweetPeaK26 · October 2013

Mine started with 4 hour stretches (due to jaundice I'm sure, but I really tried to wake her every 2, she just wouldn't). Now, 3w, it's every hour or two. I'm sure it's growth spurt related, but it's been a week now... Long growth spurt!!!

LnR70707 · October 2013

Hate to tell you this, but the early rising part may not go away for a loooong time. DS started sleeping longer stretches at 3 months, but mornings started at 5am for us until probably 9 months or so, when he moved to 6am. At one month even a single 4 hour stretch is great, 2-3 hrs is the norm.

Juliebird8307 · October 2013

Ugh, these aren't things I wanted to hear! I don't think it's the 3 week growth spurt. I think she's past that. She'll sleep for 3+ hours during her naps. That's what's frustrating. I just wish she would do that at night.

Juliebird8307 · October 2013

AFwifelife said:
Sounds like a growth spurt. I wouldn't put too much stock into any "schedule" that your LO is following until after the first 6 weeks. We have nights of great sleep followed by nights that he is up every hour. It really doesn't become more consistent until later and you will only drive yourself crazy trying to figure out a solution. Everything is on-demand at this point but you can look forward to the fact that it won't last forever.

Thanks. We've haven't had a good night in a while. I think last week she slept 3 1/2 hours then 3 hours and I felt like a whole new person. Ever since then, she's had one long stretch (like 3 1/2 hours) and then only 1-2 hour stretches. Part of the problem is that she won't always go back to sleep right away, so by the time ahe does, she's ready to eat again soon.

kat81again2 · October 2013

Juliebird8307 said:

Ugh, these aren't things I wanted to hear! I don't think it's the 3 week growth spurt. I think she's past that. She'll sleep for 3+ hours during her naps. That's what's frustrating. I just wish she would do that at night.

Are you working? If not, just sleep during her 3 hr naps during the day. Black out curtains in your room. And overnight find a way to entertain yourself (kindle, etc) when you nurse. It sucks how much the kid upends your life for a while but as long as the baby is actually sleeping for any stretch of time (even 2 hours) and for enough hours of the day, you can fight your deprivation as well.

I don't really have other advice, other than making sure things are dark at night for LO and not dark during the day. Maybe try to go outside with LO during the day as well. She'll adjust eventually. But I will second the early morning thing. DS woke up at 5 every day until he was about a year. Then 6 eventually, until this summer (2.5 yrs old), when he has moved to 7. Of course, once I'm back at work 6am might work better for me for him to wake up! But yeah, you sort of have to become a morning person! It's hard but you really get used to it. 4am is worth trying to fix, though--that's nowhere near "morning!"

OliveMom3 · October 2013

I could have written this post myself. My ds used to wake up only twice a night, now it's more like 4 times a night and basically up for the day at 3 am. I am convinced its due to his tongue tie. I'm going to the doc today and I will ask them to clip it. Poor guy had horrible gas pains as a result. I feel like a bad mom since there's nothing I can do to help him and trust me, I've tried everything else... Any chance your LO has a tongue or lip tie?

Mama3+1 · October 2013

My little guy "sleeps through the night " lol if the night begins at 2:30 and ends at 6

Juliebird8307 · October 2013

kat81again2 said:

Juliebird8307 said:

Ugh, these aren't things I wanted to hear! I don't think it's the 3 week growth spurt. I think she's past that. She'll sleep for 3+ hours during her naps. That's what's frustrating. I just wish she would do that at night.

Are you working? If not, just sleep during her 3 hr naps during the day. Black out curtains in your room. And overnight find a way to entertain yourself (kindle, etc) when you nurse. It sucks how much the kid upends your life for a while but as long as the baby is actually sleeping for any stretch of time (even 2 hours) and for enough hours of the day, you can fight your deprivation as well.

I don't really have other advice, other than making sure things are dark at night for LO and not dark during the day. Maybe try to go outside with LO during the day as well. She'll adjust eventually. But I will second the early morning thing. DS woke up at 5 every day until he was about a year. Then 6 eventually, until this summer (2.5 yrs old), when he has moved to 7. Of course, once I'm back at work 6am might work better for me for him to wake up! But yeah, you sort of have to become a morning person! It's hard but you really get used to it. 4am is worth trying to fix, though--that's nowhere near "morning!"

I'm not working right now. I guess I have to get used to taking naps. I've always been such an 'on the go' person and hated naps. Although it's now 1pm and I'm still in my PJs. I guess everything changes with a baby!

OliveMom3 said:

I could have written this post myself. My ds used to wake up only twice a night, now it's more like 4 times a night and basically up for the day at 3 am. I am convinced its due to his tongue tie. I'm going to the doc today and I will ask them to clip it. Poor guy had horrible gas pains as a result. I feel like a bad mom since there's nothing I can do to help him and trust me, I've tried everything else... Any chance your LO has a tongue or lip tie?

No, she isn't tongue or lip tied.

She really just seems to have her days and nights a little mixed up. Most of the time when she's awake at night, she's not even crying. She just doesn't want to sleep And I try to feed her, but she'll probably eat for 2 minutes and then just comfort suck.

OliveMom3 · October 2013

She could have a posterior tongue tie. It's worth mentioning to your pedi.

Juliebird8307 · October 2013

AmyG* said:
Go outside and get daylight on her retina at the beginning of the day when you'd like her to wake up. this helps to reset the internal clock and is used by world travelers.
Then keep daytime bright, noisy, feed closer to every 2-3 hours during the day even if that means (gasp) waking baby up. Encourage longer feedings, tickle toes etc.
Then at night, keep things DARK and quiet. even keep tv, computer, cell phone lights and noise to a minimum. don't wake to feed.
it will switch around, it may take a couple more weeks.
but yeah sounds a lot like days and nights mixed up.
Tongue tie is probably not the issue.
This frequent of nursing is normal, if it occurs during the day. when it occurs at night it's a PITA.

Thanks Amy! I have not heard about taking her outside first thing in the morning. I will definitely give that a try tomorrow. And I have no problems with continuing to wake her during the day to eat. I will make sure she doesn't go longer than 3 hours today without eating.

Skalbrecht · October 2013

Everything AmyG said is what my pediatrician said too. Little babies are too young to understand a hard and fast schedule. He recommended just being patient as possible, even though it can seem like an inconvenience. This too shall pass - I just try to remember they will only be this small once and get up in the night with a smile.

313Meg · October 2013

I've been in this boat for 5 weeks lol. My LO does have his awake times in the day.

joys of being a mommy

mrm092 · October 2013

I'm jealous you have babies that sleep for longer periods if time. My lo will only sleep in crib ppm or swing for about 20 min at a time. She wants to be held all night

shakes · October 2013

@mrm092 My son was the same. I am so sorry. I really do feel your pain. I was somewhat terrified DD would be the same but she was such a heavy sleeper she lost too much weight.

@Juliebird8307 I also second everything that Amy said.

Burrberrymum · October 2013

After the first week my daughter never sleeps at night we usually get most of our sleep after 6am!!! I'm going insane I'm so tired! I know how you feel, I have no advice unfortunately but you're not alone

I even tried car rides I was so desperate last night, and to my surprise 2 car rides and 45 minutes later she's still not sleeping! I have a night owl on my hands.

Juliebird8307 · October 2013

I have no idea what we did differently last night, but my DD was up at 2, 4:30 (MH reswaddled her and she went back to sleep), 5:15 and 8:30. Every time she ate and went right back to sleep. I feel amazing today!

Burrberrymum said:
After the first week my daughter never sleeps at night we usually get most of our sleep after 6am!!! I'm going insane I'm so tired! I know how you feel, I have no advice unfortunately but you're not alone

I even tried car rides I was so desperate last night, and to my surprise 2 car rides and 45 minutes later she's still not sleeping! I have a night owl on my hands.

Oh no, that doesn't sound fun at all!

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