1 week growth spurt and sleep advice needed!

Re: 1 week growth spurt and sleep advice needed!

• BeachM member

  August 2014 edited August 2014

  Unfortunately cribs are just too big for a lot of newborn babies.  Some do ok from day one, but many prefer the rock n play or pack n play because it's a smaller environment.  At this point there's not a whole lot you can do but get LO to sleep wherever LO will sleep.  Swing, rock n play, crib, wherever.  We moved DS1 from the pack n play to the crib around 8 weeks old and it went pretty well, but there was no having it before then.
  
  Growth spurts generally last from a few days to a week.  There's not really any way of predicting until it's over. 
  
  Hang in there.  Nothing stays one way for very long when they're little.
  
  ETA:  Are you swaddling?  If not, I highly recommend it as well as using white noise.  The first 3 months are often called the "4th trimester" and it can help if you recreate the womb a bit with swaddling, white noise, shushing, pretty much what Happiest Baby on the Block Recommends.
  

  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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• Alaska_Bride member

  August 2014

  @flip_flops - That makes sense. We've been trying the 5 S's, but haven't tried white noise yet. We'll try it today! We were using a halo sleep sack, but our apartment is really hot this time of year and she seems so uncomfortable in it. She also seems to really like her arms out. Maybe we should try swaddling in a blanket and see what happens. I think we'll stick to her sleeping in the RnP for now, that is once she'll sleep!

   

  
  

  
  

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• tamarar5 member

  August 2014

  @Alaska_Bride Do you have any really big swaddle blankets, like the Aden & Anais brand? They are so awesome for swaddling at this stage.  They are big enough that you can get a really good, tight swaddle that will stay tight and not be a suffocation risk, while still being light weight that they aren't too hot.  Otherwise, look around at the newborn type halo swaddles-- the kind with the Velcro wrapper that holds the arms.  Even just wrapping her in tighter might help her sleep in the crib.  Like PPs said, it simulates the womb better, giving them that cramped, warm feeling they are so used to.

  For what its worth, my first DD absolutely hated being swaddled.  I did it for three straight weeks before giving up, so I understand how awful it can be.  She was still in that newborn startle phase where she would jerk herself awake just by bumping her face with her hands-- yet I couldn't strap her hands down to keep her asleep either.  Unfortunately, that is a very real thing too.  DD also wouldn't sleep in the bounce chair, the PNP, or the swing.  I've done a pretty good job of blacking out the first weeks with her because they were just so hard...

  I hope you find something that works soon! I know how the sleep deprivation goes.  Good Luck!

                  We're Going to be a Family of 5!
  

   
  

                                
  

  
  

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• Alaska_Bride member

  August 2014

  @tamarar5 - The A & A blankets were the one thing I regret not buying off my registry! I just wasn't sure I could justify the cost. We might go ahead and get a couple though. I have 2 of the swaddle blankets from the hospital, but DD is a chunkster so it's hard to fit her in those. Do you happen to know of A & A are the same size as the hospital ones? 

  
  

  We have the newborn halo sleep sack with the velcro, is that what you're talking about? She always seems to get her arms out of there no matter how tight we wrap, and I worry it's too tight most of the time so I just leave her arms out. I think we'll try it again today with her in the RnP and see how it goes.

   

  
  

  
  

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• lookame3639 member

  August 2014

  The hospital nicu used sleep sacs but they bundled them.so her hands were by her face so if she felt the need she could self sooth. She felt tight and womb like without being overwhelmed. We also sleep with the box fan on and she's in a pack n.play bassinet.

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• jlynn62511 member

  August 2014

  Sounds like my LO. I feed her, rock her and she falls asleep. I lay her down and she starts kicking around and eventually cries. One night she was up until 4am, then 1am, then last night she finally feel asleep at 11pm. So hopefully that means things are getting better.
  
  I just try to keep the same routine, bath, feed, swaddle, sleep. She loves her swing but I try to limit her because she got used to sleeping in there.

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

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• cdseno member

  August 2014

  We went through the constant crying and nursing a couple nights after getting home and it is so hard. My H didn't want me falling asleep with baby so he would come in and put him in the RNP and DS would wake right up and want to nurse back to sleep. Finally I had to convince H to just let us be and I propped myself up with pillows and then propped him on a pillow with my arm around him so he can't roll anywhere and I can't roll on him and that is how we sleep most nights. Sometimes he is ok for a few hours in the RNP, but he hates being swaddled and loves being held close. That way if we both fall asleep during a feeding we get a couple hours of sleep before switching sides to eat again. I'm not big on bed sharing, but I also can't function on zero sleep.

  
  

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• Alaska_Bride member

  August 2014

  @bekahblaze - Oh those are so cute! Are they really 46 x 46? Are they stretchy?

   

  
  

  
  

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• Alaska_Bride member

  August 2014

  bekahblaze said:

  @Alaska_Bride they are huge. I didn't actually measure them, but I'd say yes. And they are very stretchy/soft. I've swaddled my LO in them twice today and she has slept for 3 hour stretches which has been UNHEARD of prior to this afternoon. 

  Thanks so much! I just ordered them.

   

  
  

  
  

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• tamarar5 member

  August 2014

  @Alaska_Bride‌ A&A boutique (brown cardboard boxes) are 47" x47" and you can get them at baby boutique shops. The Aden brand by A&A (plastic or white boxes) is 45" x45" and you can get them at stores like target and bru. I think they are a Totally worth the cost. Ds had 8, and he's 18 months old, and they still look as good as new. Our water has yellowed the whites a bit, but they have held up incredibly well. And DS takes them EVERYWHERE. There are 4 on the floor of my living room right now, lol!
  
  But if you go to boutique shops, you can buy a single swaddle to try before you invest in several.

                  We're Going to be a Family of 5!
  

   
  

                                
  

  
  

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