Community› The Bump Month Clubs› July 2014 Moms
July 2014 Moms
New Discussion

Advice needed for FTM

jennp1979jennp1979 member
edited July 2014 in July 2014 Moms
So our LO is 3 weeks old and is super fussy at night...we had a gas problem but started supplementing at night and that has worked . It's been 3weeks and were still having a rough time getting LO to sleep at the beginning if the night. Here's our routine...
Diaper
Bath (every other night-he does not like these)
Check diaper again
Feed-formula
Bed...but he's not going to sleep

We're using a swaddle which is a pain to feed and LO likes arms out but won't sleep in pajamas

we put him down once he falls asleep and within 20 mins he's awake crying...it's now almost 3am and he's still awake (he's kept us up until 7am before)

We try to keep him awake during day but there's not much you can do to entertain a 3 week old

DH is starting to freak out because we both have demanding jobs where we need sleep and it's almost time for him to go back

We feel as FT parents that were doing something wrong

Feel like I'm not able to enjoy LO or day to day things because I'm so tired and behind on sleep

Please help.,.any advice is appreciated
Report Reply to Post

Re: Advice needed for FTM

  • Loading the player...
  • iris427iris427 member
    Also don't keep him awake during the day too much. He needs his sleep. Little babies can't stay awake long stretches, and when they get overly tired, it can make it harder to settle them down at night. Go ahead and keep things bright and active during the day, but still let him get some good sleep in when he needs it.
    image

    Big sister {September 2008} Sweet boy {April 2011} Fuzzy Bundle {ETA July 2014}

    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • BPerBPer member
    Have you noticed any back arching or discomfort during feedings? Is he sleeping on a flat, or slightly elevated surface (like a rock n play)? He could have mild reflux.
    image
    image

    image


    Report Reply
  • earichar23earichar23 member
    We were having a similar problem until we changing the night time lighting in the nursery. I had a small lamp on so I could see LO and BF and do changes etc but apparently it was confusing her days and nights. We started just using a nightlight this week and instantly we started getting longer stretches if sleep. We also started exposing her to more sunlight in the day.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Nichole8787Nichole8787 member
    I'm a ftm also so I have no idea if I'm just getting lucky but heres what we do....I breast feed until he is completely milk drunk. I mean I wake him up repeatedly while he's feeding to make sure he is 100% full. Then he sleeps in his swing...when he wakes up for a change or to eat I keep the lights off (I leave on a light in the bathroom) and am as quiet as possible. Then repeat by inducing food coma again.
    image
    image.
    Report Reply
  • missyrissymissyrissy member
    If you have a fussy baby, I have found that gripe water helps. I started to use this last week when my LO was having constipation issues. I got the prune juice and laxitives, but found the gripe water or "baby calm" at BRU. She loves if and within minutes is sleeping comfortably
    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Getting Pregnant"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt198c30.aspx" alt=" Pregnancy Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
    Report Reply
  • jennp1979jennp1979 member
    LO sleeps Ina cosleeper next to our bed. We have elevated to help with the reflux. We also give him gripe water after his nightly feeding which has helped with gas but for some reason he just wants to stay up until 4am
    Report Reply
  • BBColt78BBColt78 member
    jennp1979 said:

    LO sleeps Ina cosleeper next to our bed. We have elevated to help with the reflux. We also give him gripe water after his nightly feeding which has helped with gas but for some reason he just wants to stay up until 4am

    Baby has ads nights mixed up. You can keep everything bright in the day and regular noise. At night keep lights low and don't chat too much with baby. Repeat the next day with brightness etc. eventually baby will get it figured out
    IVF #1- BFP- DD 4/8/2011
    FET #1- 3BB and 3B-B
    Beta #1 (4w0d)- 504
    Beta #2 (4w4d)- 4,577
    Beta #3 (6w0d)- 78,399 HB 115 bpm
    U/S #2 7w0d- HB 155 bpm

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers




    Report Reply
  • BBColt78BBColt78 member
    Yes! Do not keep baby awake. It sounds counter productive but he/she will get overtired and be inconsolable.
    IVF #1- BFP- DD 4/8/2011
    FET #1- 3BB and 3B-B
    Beta #1 (4w0d)- 504
    Beta #2 (4w4d)- 4,577
    Beta #3 (6w0d)- 78,399 HB 115 bpm
    U/S #2 7w0d- HB 155 bpm

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers




    Report Reply
  • Ekg688Ekg688 member
    Our DD hates to have her arms swaddled so at first we were swaddling her with her arms out. Now I just wrap her up in a receiving blanket (she could care less if she's swaddled.) Also the rock n play is AMAZING. If I had an extra $70 to blow, I'd buy a second one to keep downstairs instead of carting it up and down every day. Also with the rock n play I'll put DD in then tuck the blanket in around her. As PP said, hold him when he first falls asleep. I usually hold DD for 15-30 minutes after she falls asleep. Good luck!
    Report Reply
  • hgtvmomhgtvmom member
    Can you do a bath earlier or at another time of day? My LO hates baths (and being naked in general). A bath at bedtime would be counter productive, stirring her up and getting her to a point where she is hard to calm down.
    Report Reply
  • Lola825Lola825 member
    Pup4gdb said:

    Can you do a bath earlier or at another time of day? My LO hates baths (and being naked in general). A bath at bedtime would be counter productive, stirring her up and getting her to a point where she is hard to calm down.

    I was going to suggest this. Maybe bathing earlier will help keep her calm before bedtime.
    BabyFruit Ticker

    image

    Report Reply
  • chrinikki1chrinikki1 member
    I highly recommend you read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It was recommended to us by a sleep specialist. We have implemented a lot of the ideas from day 1 and have had a ton of success. Like people have said, "sleep equals sleep" for infants. Plus, figuring out your child's sleep "window" is important to make sure your LO isn't too tired (which means wired and miserable).

    Good luck and I hope you get some sleep soon!
    Report Reply
  • walterjennewalterjenne member
    Our photographer mentioned putting a heating pad where baby sleeps for a few minutes before you lay LO down. It warms the area so there is less of a shock when you take them from your arms and lay them down. It has been a life save for us. We just remove and unplug the pad when we put DS in the pnp.
    First Baby and a complete surprise.
    Hubby has decided to be team green so we are driving friends and family crazy!
    Report Reply
  • jennp1979jennp1979 member
    Ok two more questions...u all are great ...

    Is your room pitch black at night?

    Do you swaddle before you feed and put them to sleep ?

    Thanks again ladies...we're trying ...
    Report Reply
  • HuahineHuahine member
    Nightlight at night. We don't swaddle at all.
    image"">image"">imageBaby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • AmericanInOzAmericanInOz member
    I swaddle after ds is nearly asleep or he just fights it, but if it rouses him then I feed him again in the swaddle. I have a touch lamp for when we get up for night feeds so it's a very dim light, pitch black other than feed times
    Report Reply
  • Aimes33mAimes33m member
    I have a portable nightlight I carry from our room ( where she sleeps) to her room (where I change her and feed her in the rocker). It turns off automatically after about 20 min.

    We use the halo sleep sack. It unzips from her feet up. So you can unzip just her lower half for diaper changes. She does much better being swaddled. She'll still startle herself with her arms if not. She stays swaddled from 9p - 7a or so. She wakes up enough to eat without needing to be unswaddled
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • glitterclawsglitterclaws member
    We swaddle and our room is dark at night. We also just bought a white noise machine. I asked a friend - how do I know if I need one? She said - you don't, you just buy one and your life gets better. So now that's my recommendation to you as well. :)
    //
    image

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers

    ::formerly csmith - regular/lurker since Nov13:: 
    Report Reply
  • katychessherkatychessher member
    edited July 2014
    spam
    Report Reply
  • jennp1979jennp1979 member
    edited July 2014
    So when your LO takes naps do you put them in a dark room in cosleeper or do you let them sleep in the bright room where tv is on and all that?
    Report Reply
  • Soon2BMrsNSoon2BMrsN member
    edited July 2014
    jennp1979 said:

    So when your LO takes naps do you put them in a dark room in cosleeper or do you let them sleep in the bright room where tv is on and all that?

    We don't swaddle or worry about light/noise during the day and DD seems to know the difference between night and day.

    To the OP, you've gotten a lot of good advice and I hope something work for you soon. The only thing I have to add is that I always swaddle before the last feeding before bed. She seems to know that it's bedtime after that. I then hold her for awhile after that feeding before putting her in the PNP. She's been giving us 6ish hour stretches with this routine.

    Again - best of luck!

    Edit (typos)
    Report Reply
  • Julymama714Julymama714 member
    This pretty much describes us every couple nights :)https://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/why-wont-you-sleep-why-why-why-please-why
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"