My child won't sleep. Ok, I know she's only a month old (almost) and babies just don't sleep. But this is her:
She will sleep for long periods of time during the day. She would sleep all day if I let her. The pediatrician suggest I don't let her sleep more than 2 hours at a time during the day and make sure I feed her plenty often so she's getting the nutrition she needs. So I've been following that advice and got two good nights out of it.
The thing is, she doesn't really cry or fuss. She will when she gets hungry. Then I'll try to feed her and she'll eat for a few minutes and then pull away and refuse to eat anymore. Then she'll just be content and wide awake . . . but SCREAM if you put her down. And she will do this for 5 hours. Its 1 am and we've been at this since 9:30. I can't get her to eat for more than a few minutes and I really can't get her to even be tired.
Any tips? Also, I know there are a million and one books out there for getting babies to sleep. Anyone have one that they actually found works well? I know, she's still young. But I feel like this is crazy. Is this crazy? Or maybe its normal. I don't know. I'm tired.
The evidence. (Ps. Don't mind the non-sense I'm saying or the ridiculous voice I'm saying it in. Babies have the effect on people.) This video was taken at 3 am. Wide awake. But very cute, no?
10 comments:
Erin,
I am sorry that you are not having much sleep. The only sleeping advice I can give you is what my sister told me. She said that you should keep you baby awake for at least a few minutes after nursing and to lay them down right before they fall asleep, that way they learn to fall asleep on their own. I think it comes for the Baby Wise Sleep book, but I don't really know cuz I never looked it up. Hang in there it will get better.
Also, I was reading some of your other posting and something that really helped me with the baby blues and feel like I was actually doing something was making a list of things to do every day thing like shower and get ready, Get the mail, make the bed, eat breakfast, etc. But having the little boxes made me feel like I was getting back to my old self and being productive.
One more thing: if she wants/has to be held all the time you might want to try using a wrap or sling of some kind. You can either buy one for like 30-50 bucks or make your own from patterns on the internet. Anyway my baby just woke up. Good luck and let me know if there is anything I can do!
I wish I knew! I'm just bracing myself for this myself, and enjoying my plentiful sleep I'm getting now! Even if it IS interrupted four times every night to pee! :) You'll have to keep us updated with what you figure out!
Erin, this is so hard! I remember feeling like I was going out of my mind when Aubrey wouldn't sleep as a baby.
Every baby is different but we LOVED the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child" and it worked wonders for us! Aubrey is still a great sleeper and napper to this day, and I really attribute much of it to the things I learned from that book. The other good thing about it is that it provides info from infants all the way up to school aged children, so the book is still going to be useful and applicable even after Carly grows up.
hang in there!
Keep swaddling! I thought that after a few weeks babies didn't need to be swaddled but they love it until they are about 4-6 months! It worked for me!Good luck!
I agree with Tedi, read the book, Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Sleep. It addresses schedules, naps, feedings, and helping baby understand the difference between night and day. It worked great for me and Tayden loved the concept. Not only that, once he got into the routine of the book, he was a happy baby. He was always content, but I mean seriously happy. Its made my life so much easier. But, you have to remember all babies are different, and I have heard good things about the Healthy Sleep Habits book too. I would suggest Babywise to anyone. I love it. Good luck!...I know you have heard it a million times, but it really does get better.
My kid didn't sleep, he would be up screaming for hours when he was Carly's age. Actually, following a sickness at 15 months he got in a terrible habit of being up from 2am-4 am every night. He finally just worked out of it and sleeps great now. Everyone recommended Babywise for me, and I really gave it a go, but it didn't help him much, and to tell you the truth I think trying to be so scheduled hurt our already shaky breastfeeding relationship. Then again though, I've realized that Cam isn't like most kids, so it'd probably work great for you. I think every kid's different, so any advice anyone has is worth a try. I can relate to the fact that Carly will only nurse for a few minutes and then refuse to nurse anymore, Cam did that all the time. Even in the hospital i couldn't get him to nurse as long as the nurses said he should. You can't force kids, especially stubborn ones. One little thing that I think helped Cam is that I left his bedroom light out when I went in to feed and change him at night so that he knew it was still 'night.' Good luck, I'm sure she'll grow out of it, and if not she's cute enough to get away with it right?
I hate those sleepless nights! I am no expert....but Shaefer now sleeps 12 hours at night! He will wake up one time a night once in awhile but that I can do! Shaefer was a night owl for awahile and he eventually grew out of it. I have been reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby" and that was wonderful! The best advice I have is when she is awake at night, don't talk to her or stimulate her at all...make night time boring and make the day time really over-stimulated so that she would rather be up during the day. That is advice I got in the hospital and it has worked for us!! Good luck!
Erin....
I am right there with Katie. Swaddling worked WONDERS for Jessa. I swaddled her until about 6 months old. And the tighter, the better. She loved it. It's supposed to recreate the womb where they were so cozy and cramped. I also agree with Tennille and others who have said to make sure when it's dark to not be stimulating them. I always used a small/whisper voice and kept it dark.
Good luck! She'll eventually figure it out. But I suggest getting your little naps in during the day while she is sleeping so you dont exhaust yourself!
Erin-
My baby is almost 7 weeks and when he was around 4 weeks he struggled knowing night and day he would sleep all day and up all night...but he would CRY all night UGH! I havent read any books but sounds like that would help but my mother in law told me when your nursing at night dont turn on any lights, dont talk to him and dont walk with him. I also give him a bath at night right after I nurse him for the night...I hear its all about routines. Once again im NO expert but thats what helped us. he will still wake up to eat but he will now fall asleep while eating! so good luck! Im going to read those books too! hang in there! Oh and my mom always says...take naps when they take naps...IT HELPS keep your sanity!
Hey Erin! Congrats on baby Carly- she's adorable.
Reading your description of Carly not eating or wanting to be put down sounded exactly like Spencer at that age. For the first 2 months of his life he cried when I fed him and when I put him down (or would wake up shortly after putting him down). At his 2 month check up the doctor said he had acid reflux. I thought, "Wait a minute, it's not MY fault that my baby cries?!" All the advice I'd received was how "I" should change the way I nurse, the way I hold him or the way I put him to bed... You get the picture. :) After Spencer started taking something for his acid reflux things got A LOT better. After 7 months it cleared up completely. He now sleeps 11-12 hours at night.
As far as books go, I did read "Baby Whisperer", "Happiest Baby on the Block", "Babywise", and "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby". They all had good suggestions, but the first three were programs that resulted in mommy guilt when you didn't stick to them. "Healthy Sleep Habits", however, did change our life. :) I had to read it a few times because there's a lot of information. I would recommend buying it because I still refer back to it when something with Spencer's sleep schedule changes (like vacation or moving).
Good luck and it just gets better and better. :)
Let us know if you're ever in Ohio and we'll get together.
Post a Comment