horrible sleeper

Anna - posted on 10/17/2010

swaddling is the best thing i ever did for my daughter. i've been doing it since she was born, and even tho she still gets up multiple times during the night, once shes swaddled she goes right back to sleep. also i started giving her a pacifier even though at the beginning i was set against them, but they do help to soothe. i've never had to use a swing with her, and she does not sleep with me. she never has. but, like i said, she does still get up in the night more than just once and that's still very frustrating but i dont know what to do to get her to sleep all the way through, but at least she goes to sleep easily. try it!

Jennifer - posted on 10/16/2010

Ashley, PLEASE read or watch the DVD "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp.
In fact renting (or buying) the DVD from the library would be better. The DVD is only 30 minutes long, plus a question and answer part. It was so helpful that I rented "The Happiest Toddler on the Block "and read both books (while I was nursing) I have a 20 mos old and a 3 mos old. We 'did things' so differently with each baby. Since 3 weeks old our baby was sleeping... yes, SLEEPING through the night (8 - 11 hrs) and having 2 - 3 hour naps ( x2) during the day. She is breast-fed by the way. By far the most eye-opening info. You will not be dissapointed.
As you can tell I am a little excited to share this information....I would appreciate it if you'd let me know if it's helped in any way.
PS, our great little sleeper, now 12 wks old, goes to sleep on her own in her bassinett!

Jennifer

Kathleen - posted on 10/10/2010

By the way - the summary of Dr. Karp is the 5 S's - swaddling, shushing, swinging, side position, sucking. Dr. Moore summary is basically babies are on a 90-minute wake cycle. When they wake up, they will be ready for another sleep at 90 minutes. You will notice fussing signs a bit before the 90 minutes (my 11 week old fusses at exactly 70 minutes EVERY time). Sure enough, I can catch that window and down she goes for 3-4 hours!

Kathleen - posted on 10/10/2010

I highly recommend the following books - very quick reads and I have 2 girls who both sleep very soundly from 2 weeks old as a result...
"Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp and "The 90-minute Baby Sleep Program" by Polly Moore PhD. They are both very very quick reads and I recommend them to everyone. They all swear by the techniques used. Works for all! Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Julie - posted on 10/09/2010

For a really easy white noise maker turn a radio to static where there is no station.

Julie - posted on 10/09/2010

Look up Happiest baby on the block. My first baby was very fussy and we tried it and it works. Now I use it on my second one and she sleeps ten to eleven hours at night at three months. It is the five s's: swaddle, swing, suck, shhh(white noise works) and side. Although we just swaddle our baby really tight with her hands by her side and use a swing to get her to sleep or nurse her to sleep. You have to gradually lengthen the time they sleep until they sleep all night. Good luck and stick with it. It really works!

Krista - posted on 10/09/2010

And by 9 months, I meant to say 9 weeks.

Krista - posted on 10/08/2010

Get a baby carrier. You can't spoil your baby and if what he needs right now is you, then wear him! It's pretty much the only thing I can say aside from different sleep training methods. However, at 9 months, babies aren't really ready for that yet.

Michelle - posted on 10/08/2010

He is still so young that his sleeping patterns are not going to be great yet. Please do not follow the rice cereal method. I'm really surprised at the number of people on Circle of Moms that recommend this method. It is an old wive's tale that it allows for better sleep, babies shouldn't be feed solids till at least 4 months and studies have shown that starting young with rice cereal can lead to diabetes later on.

Anyway, maybe if you don't have him wrapped up in blankets it might be better. Do you have a baby bjorn or something to wear him in? This will help you have your hands free from holding him. What about a white noise machine or something to help sooth him to sleep?

Catherine - posted on 10/07/2010

Hi Ashley,

I have a 3 month old and this is my second i presume this is your 1st, at 9 weeks he probably only needs about just over an hour up before going back down to sleep Im sorry i don't know where AZ is we are in New Zealand and our temps are variable at the moment 19/20 degrees in the day and down to 10 outside at night Rhys is in a short sleeved body suit and then a long sleeved babygro a sleeping bag and swaddled over the top and a number of blankets too wrapping or swaddling them even if its hot where yoou are in a thin muslin helps keep then feeling secure and stops them kicking off blankets then if you want to not hold him all day you have to be a bit brave and leave him to cry as long as you think he has had a good feed some one once told me once you have put him down go and empty the kettle fill it up boil it and make a cup of tea/coffee and by the time you have drunk it they should be asleep on average it takes 15-20 mins for them to put themselves to sleep and the settling time will get easier see how you go any other questions

oh and at 9 weeks it is not recommended to give rice cereal as there little digestive systems can't cope till about 4-5 months

Catherine

Nai - posted on 10/04/2010

my dayghter who is 2months & 1wk shes not a good sleeper either. she normally naps & sleeps in the daytime. what my fience and I did was before bedtime give her a bath, after we dress her we put her on her stomach giving her some tummy time about 5-10mins she'll start crying and shes tired herself out. i always feed her after we swaddle her up and she sleeps great through the night.



1) bath

2) tummy time 5-10mins letting him cry it out.

3) swaddle him up

4) either bf or bottle feed him

5) he should fall right to sleep.



give it a try & let me know how that works for you.

Kenisha - posted on 10/04/2010

Umm...My baby is 3 months and he's not really a fussy baby so my advice may not work but here goes...Try swaddling your baby before naps and bedtime...feed him rice cereal (not alot) and then give him his bottle(this should keep him fuller longer)...nice warm baths before bedtime (my baby loves bath time. he "plays" in the tub and I think that wears him out)...or running the vacuum cleaner (I know that sounds weird but when my son is fussy, tired, and fights sleep. I just cut it on and he's out within like 5 mins. I'll lay him down and run the vacuum for about 10-15 mins, cut it off and he'll sleep for about 45 mins to an hour). I hope this works and if not I hope you find some type of resolution...I can only imagine how exhausted you must feel!!