STMs... Tell me it gets better?!

texasmommie · December 2013

My LO is 2 weeks old. she's a great day time sleeper but when it comes to night time, she doesn't sleep. I've tried a nice warm bath, bottle and story.. nothing seems to work. I just feel like im doing something wrong. I have tried keeping the rooms bright and well lit during the day.. making the normal noise, not trying to be quiet so she can sleep... but she snoozes all day... but at night one little itty bitty noise and she is awake.... Im an emotional wreck...I would just like her to sleep longer than one-two hours between 11p-6a... but no.. she is up wide awake. DH has been off the last two weeks and has been helping at night.. but hes back at work tomorrow, and I feel like its all on me now.. so he can get more sleep.

Any suggestions?

Mae208 · December 2013

Where are you having her sleep at night? During the first month, there were some nights that LO would only
Sleep if she was laying on my chest in the recliner. Some nights we still do a swing all night long. Have you tried either of those?

texasmommie · December 2013

Mae208 said:

Where are you having her sleep at night? During the first month, there were some nights that LO would only Sleep if she was laying on my chest in the recliner. Some nights we still do a swing all night long. Have you tried either of those?

she sleeps great in swing during the day... at night I have her in bassinet,,, seems to hate it...even in day time when I put her in it...she never stays asleep long in it... I guess I didn't want to get her used to the swing as her sleeping spot... but its worth a try,

EandIMommy86 · December 2013

If she hates it stop putting her in it. If you can, maybe try putting the swing in your room and let her sleep in it. If not maybe try co sleeping? You are going to have to keep trying what works. It is also possible she doesn't have her days and nights straight yet.

TashnBabii · December 2013

I'm not a STM. I'm a FTM but
My son is 9 weeks and I've already experienced this. Around 6 weeks, he started readjusting his schedule. He was more alert during the day and slept more during the night. Now he only wakes up twice a night for feedings (3am and 6am). It's great! So hang on! It does get better! Just keep in mind every baby is different. My friend's baby is 5 months old, and wakes up more often than my 9 week old son.

smhiles · December 2013

I'm a FTM too and I found that things my now 6wo DS hated one day, he liked the next, so just remember, it's all trial and error...constantly. You have to crack the code!! LOL we have the Graco version of the rock and play and he didn't like it at first, but he absolutely hated his swing, so during the day, I would try to put him in it in the living room with the lights on, if only for him to get used to the space... And during the day, the stakes aren't as high. I prefer he sleep at night (which he still only does in 1-2.5 hr clips, but that's kinda how it is) - anyway, he's gotten so much better with it....and he even tolerates his swing for 10 mins or so at a time. I don't think it's always a matter of "not liking it" so much as it is "not used to it." Good luck! Hope you crack your baby's code soon!!

ASmallWonder · December 2013

If she loves the swing, use the swing

Sure, some kids may struggle with transition but you worry about issues of the moment and not put too much weight in worry for the future. You may find that it may or may not work but it's definitely worth a try and for the time being, you may have to adjust YOUR schedule. Sleep during the day when she sleeps so being up at night isn't so devastating until she adjusts.

julie1122 · December 2013

I'm a FTM too. My baby is 5 weeks. I can share my experience and opinions. 2 weeks is still really early and what you describe is normal. It gets better I promise. I would say after a few more weeks keeping her engaged a bit more in the day helped my lo sleep better at night.

In the meantime as pp said, look into whether a Rnp or other sleep arrangement works. My lo slept better in that than the bassinet we had

shannoncorrin · December 2013

We limit our LO daytime naps to 2 hrs. No longer. That has helped

texasmommie · December 2013

AFwifelife said:

When you say that your LO is wide awake, is she awake and screaming or content just laying around? Those early weeks I had DS in the RnP next to me. I would feed him then lay him down while he was still awake but content. I got a ton of broken sleep but it was still some sleep. I also agree with letting her sleep wherever is best. There were a few nights that DS would only sleep in his swing. Now at 12 weeks, he is in his own crib and sleeping great. Do whatever you need to do to get through the first few weeks. You aren't instilling any bad habits that early.

When LO is awake at night.. she is content as long as we are holding her. But if we set her in the bassinet or even swing she fusses. I have tried to let her grunt, moan as long as I can hoping she may tired herself out and fall asleep but no. I am still trying to crack the code... but no luck yet.. just hope it gets better.. heck it cant get much worse

aessary03 · December 2013

Have you tried swaddling? I agree, if she'll sleep in the swing, go for it. I'd stop putting her in the bassinet if it makes her mad.

bmqcmg · December 2013

DD2 had her days and nights mixed up too and it has already cleared up. I would try putting your LO in different things. DD1 either co-slept with me or slept in her swing for the first almost 6 months of her life. DD1 won't sleep in her swing at night and instead sleeps in her rock n play at night and during the day either naps in our arms, swing, or in her boppy next to us on the couch. Also is your LO sleeping in your room or in their own room? Maybe try a different room?

kelli&dave · December 2013

it gets better. every baby is different. but your story sounds a lot like mine did 1 short month ago. for the first 4 weeks or so, the only way i could get my son to sleep longer than a few minutes at night was in my arms or occasionally in a swing. he hated his bassinet (still isn't his favorite place to sleep, but he tolerates it, lol.). a lot of babies have day/night confusion. poor things don't know how to tell time. keeping the place well-lit and somewhat noisy early in the day and very mellow and dim in the evening did seem to help my guy get into the groove. it also seems that he is more comfortable sleeping on a bit of an incline. we put a small pillow under the mattress in his bassinet and that really helped. he naps in it all the time now. he is seven months and sleeps comfortably for 3-4 hour stretches. not always at the same times, but at least he's figuring it out. i hope yours does, too :0)

normandyn7 · December 2013

Totally normal. DS did the same thing at that age. He would literally sleep for hours during the day no matter what we were doing or how much noise we were making. As soon as night hit he would be up all night. I was going crazy. I really didn't do anything to get him out of it. I think he just figured out his days and nights and fixed it himself. I do swaddle at night only and that helps. He is 3 months and sleeps 6-9 hours straight at night. It sounds like you are doing everything right so just keep it up and wait it out. Good luck!

smilingeyes2308 · December 2013

FTM here. My LO was the same way for the first few weeks until one night she fell asleep in her bouncer and we woke up 5 hours later, it was glorious. My daughter doesn't like to sleep in her bassinet. Try a bouncer or let her sleep in her swing if that's where she can catch some good rest. Sleepy baby and over sleepy mommy is not a good combination. Obviously, the swing isn't a long term solution but if it lets you get some rest now, go for it.

CDMay2006 · December 2013

The first 3-4 weeks were rough. Ds is now 9 weeks and dg gets a (reasonably) full night of sleep most nights, and while I am tired, it's not the exhaustion of the first weeks.
What you're experiencing is totally normal at this point, she it does get better! Keep trying things till you find what works for you and baby. Happiest baby on the block (book or video) may help. Have you tried swaddling? The halo swaddle sleep sacks are amazing (better than the other brands i tried, and easier than swaddling in a blanket at 2am). That's been the biggest help for us.

CDMay2006 · December 2013

I forgot to mention. Baths and stories get our lo more awake, not more sleepy, so maybe that's the same for your lo and you could try those earlier in the day. Bouncy walking (or on the exercise ball) with quiet singing worked for us in the early days.

texasmommie · December 2013

CDMay2006 said:

I forgot to mention. Baths and stories get our lo more awake, not more sleepy, so maybe that's the same for your lo and you could try those earlier in the day. Bouncy walking (or on the exercise ball) with quiet singing worked for us in the early days.

I was just telling my mom that the Johnson's bedtime bath "clinically proven to help babies sleep better" is a lie.. LOL... DH said baths wake him up so maybe its making her more alert than sleeping.. I will try giving her a bath earlier.

Believe me I am trying everything to see what works. Last night we moved the swing in our room.. she got a little more sleep.. but still doesn't sleep as good in the swing as she does in the day time. Im sure it will just take time...

CDMay2006 · December 2013

Oh, and i didn't mean you weren't trying everything, but that trying everything (and maybe trying it again a week later bc babies change so fast at this age) will eventual lead to finding something(s) that work.

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