LO only sleeps 12 hrs?

giggler25 · June 2014

So I've been tracking my 4 wk old DDs sleep (thanks Baby Connect app!) and it turns out she only sleeps about 11-12 hours a day total. The pediatrician said she should be sleeping closer to 15-16 hrs a day total. She does OK at night (1.5-2 hour stretches between feedings) but during the day I can't get her to sleep, despite her being tired BC she's yawning all day long. She hates being swaddled so that's out; I basically hold her all day long and have tried rocking, shushing, rubbing her head. Even if i get her to sleep though she wakes up 15 minutes later. Ive also tried the Ergo carrier and Moby which she screams in. Any ideas??? Anyone else's LO sleep so little???

DBonfante · June 2014

Hi!!! Yes this is me! LO will be a month on Sat and is constantly awake during the day. He sleeps for a few 30 minute naps and then usually sleep for a few hours in the late afternoon. He seems to be in cycles where he eats and then poops and then wants to eat more cause he has emptied his stomach. At night he will sleep 2-3.5 hours stretches.

KBowen715 · June 2014

Yawning isn't a sign of fatigue in newborns- it is a reflexive muscle reaction.

Baby is probably overtired. I suggest getting a routine down so baby knows what to expect.

Stess22 · June 2014

Have you tried a sound machine when baby sleeps ..? I find it helps my LO settle when I'm trying to get him to sleep but also when he's sleeping and fusses when the white noise is playing he's more likely to sleep longer
He especially likes the one that sounds like a heart beat

LunaBug924 · June 2014

I was having this problem and dealing with an overtired baby for days on end. At first I thought it was a growth spurt or colic but after asking about her behavior on this board I got a lot of advice to try the EASY routine and employ the 5s's. It took about a week or so for us to get into a groove. Now she's almost 7 weeks and STTN and I've just started being able to put her down for naps while she's still awake during the day.

Like PP said, try to start some kind of routine and stick with it, even if it doesn't work right away.

usernewname · June 2014

I had a very fussy overtired baby for a couple weeks. I started putting him in my carrier around the same time before I knew he was going to get fussy. It's made a big difference.

Is there a time roughly then they get fussy? Then you could try to start the routine to sleep before the fussiness kicks in.

Craved1 · June 2014

My LO goes through days of sleeping 12 hrs then there are days when he sleeps 16. Last 3 days he didn't sleep more than 30min at a time during the day. However, oday he took a 3 hr nap...my Dr says that the 16 hrs of sleep is just an averaged #. So some days he will sleep more, some less. As for swaddling our LO is a wiggle worm and loves having his hands any his face. If I swaddled him it's when I BF. As he relaxes I wrap him up.

giggler25 · June 2014

@DBonfante : I'm glad I'm not alone!!

@Stess22‌ : I have the sleep sheep which sort of works but goes off after a while. I downloaded a white noise app today to see if that would work and didn't have luck but will try something else.

@KBowen715‌ and @anniemore‌ : Thanks for the advice on routines. I honestly thought it was too early for that - I thought DD calls the shots this young but I guess not! She hates being swaddled and won't fall asleep on her own but I definitely will try playing and stimulating her less so she sleeps more.

@LunaBug924‌ : I haven't had much luck with 5 S's yet but just watched it Monday night. I am going to look into EASY though... Thx!

@florassecret‌ : I haven't yet been able to get DD comfy in either the Moby wrap I have (likely need more practice) or my Ergo. She has screamed each time I tried. I have a Ktan arriving tomorrow though so I'm hoping that will work!!

@Craved1‌ : the most my DD has ever slept is 14.5 hrs but that's only been twice since we've been home.

Otherwise it has been usually 10-12 hours a day. Pretty ironic i have a non-sleeping baby since my favorite pass time is sleeping.

KBowen715 · June 2014

giggler25 said:
@DBonfante : I'm glad I'm not alone!!

@Stess22‌ : I have the sleep sheep which sort of works but goes off after a while. I downloaded a white noise app today to see if that would work and didn't have luck but will try something else.

@KBowen715‌ and @anniemore‌ : Thanks for the advice on routines. I honestly thought it was too early for that - I thought DD calls the shots this young but I guess not! She hates being swaddled and won't fall asleep on her own but I definitely will try playing and stimulating her less so she sleeps more.

@LunaBug924‌ : I haven't had much luck with 5 S's yet but just watched it Monday night. I am going to look into EASY though... Thx!

@florassecret‌ : I haven't yet been able to get DD comfy in either the Moby wrap I have (likely need more practice) or my Ergo. She has screamed each time I tried. I have a Ktan arriving tomorrow though so I'm hoping that will work!!

@Craved1‌ : the most my DD has ever slept is 14.5 hrs but that's only been twice since we've been home. Otherwise it has been usually 10-12 hours a day. Pretty ironic i have a non-sleeping baby since my favorite pass time is sleeping.

LO still is the boss, I just recommend structure. Let time for baths, play, when you get LO ready for bed, etc. Good luck! It gets more fluid from here.

leachalami · June 2014

OMG I thought I was the only one with this problem!

I second the PPs on working toward a routine. When DD was three weeks old I made it a point to stay home all week and work on a routine. It PAID OFF!

She is much easier to put down for a nap now and if she is awoken from a nap much easier to put back to sleep.

Good luck!

giggler25 · June 2014

leachalami said:
When DD was three weeks old I made it a point to stay home all week and work on a routine. It PAID OFF!

She is much easier to put down for a nap now and if she is awoken from a nap much easier to put back to sleep.

Good luck!

Can you elaborate how exactly you worked on a routine? Sorry for the dumb question but I don't know where to start.

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LO only sleeps 12 hrs?

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