how to settle your little one

Belinda - posted on 04/27/2010

Don't worry - I know how you feel my husband doesn't help at all much either.

Try this routine - perservere with it - it will work well!

7am - Feed then play
8:30am - sleep
11am - Feed then play
12:30pm - sleep
3pm - Feed then play
4:30pm - nap in a swing, bouncer or on you.
5:30pm - Bath time
6:00pm - Feed then gentle calming play and a story
7:00pm sleep
10:30pm - dream feed
then let them demand feed till 7am again.
Don't forget to feed them always at 7am even if they demanded only an hour before. They need to start the day on a full tummy.

This is the technique I use to get them to sleep:
put down to sleep awake, sing to them a little, pat them in bed and let them know you are there for them. When they stop crying, leave the room for 4 mins. If you hear a desperate scream that is unusual or they are crying actual tears - STOP :( They are hurting emotionally or physically. Don't let them self settle like that.
After 4 mins go back and sing, pat etc untill they are settled again. This time leave them 6 mins. Go back and re settle. If they don't nod off after that pick them up and nurse them through till the next feed or as close to it as you can.

Also I find caressing their eyebrows and head is a miracle worker on my bub.

Good luck!

Janet - posted on 04/26/2010

hi...my son is almost 9 wks...i hav been givin him cereal in his formula since bout 4 wks old. he still seemed to get up frequently to eat, but of course he was still sleeping w/ me or in his swing (layed back) or in his carrier cuz he didnt seem to sleep well layin flat. so since bout 7 weeks i have been giving him baby food at night....i give him 1/2 jar of veg and 1/2 jar of fruit and then anywhere from 2-4 oz of formula w/ cereal...and we just started putting him in his bed w/ a blanket under his head, so he's not flat on his back, and a pillow on either side of him, so he feels snuggled, and also a BIG, BIG thing is that i take off the shirt that i wore that day (so he can smell me) and lay is beside him, somewhat close to his face....and he sleeps 4 or so hours, wakes up, eats 3-4 oz of formula w/ cereal, and goes back to sleep for bout another 4 hours!!! if you want, add me to your circle or friend on facebook and i can tell u other suggestions that we have tried....maybe one of them will work for you!! :) good luck!!

Ledia - posted on 04/24/2010

try to limit ur coffee intake if u r breastfeeding..i notice my baby gets a little fussy & refuse to sleep if i took coffee in d morning..

Michelle - posted on 04/22/2010

Check out Sheyne Rowleys dream baby, esp for your older child gives lots of advice on bedtime routines and the effects of play and nutrition on sleep. worth a read.

Kate - posted on 04/18/2010

I have a 21m old and an 8 week old and experienced the same thing. I think the older one regresses a bit and wakes more. But it does get easier. What helped me was putting baby on his side to sleep as then wind etc wasn't a problem, made a huge difference to how long he slept also. Good luck!!

Holly - posted on 04/17/2010

I'm so glad to hear other moms talk about babywise. Other forums I have talked about it on, people are very negative about it

Heidi - posted on 04/17/2010

i have an 8-week old and a 13 month old. we used the babywise method for both. my 13 month old sleeps through the night and my 8 week old is only up once a night. the baby wise method works great for us. all it really is, is during the day feed every 3 hours and after each feeding have activity time (tummytime, boucer...just awake time) with the baby for around an hour or more. then put the baby down for a nap and repeat till bed time. this gets them tired and full so they sleep longer at night.it does take a few nights to start seeing the difference though. a bedtime routine worked well for us to like bathtime bottle then bed. and we always put our kids to bed when they are tired but not asleep. they will cry for a while but it teches them how to self soothe. its a process but sooo worth it! good luck!

Lisa - posted on 04/17/2010

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 8 wk old. The toddler naps no prob for 2 hours but it is trying to time the baby to sleep at the same time that is hard. If the baby won't sleep I have resorted to laying on my back on the bed with her on my chest or with her beside me on the bed. She tends to sleep if I am with her and that allows me to get some rest at least.

Komal - posted on 04/17/2010

oh,wow my dughter wakes up twice at night but only tobe fed n den sleeps bck in no time...

Holly - posted on 04/17/2010

I definitely agree with the suggestion to use babywise. I have been doing it as well as I can (we have had some health issues that have required her to sometimes be fed more frequently than Babywise suggests) and this past week my 8 wk old slept around 7 hours a night for 3 nights!! Hoping it is soon the norm!

Komal - posted on 04/17/2010

try to give ur baby bath at night..before ur planning to go to sleep.. feed him n wrap him into da receiving blanket wid hands n leg tightly wrapped... dis can help him sleep for sumtime more den he usually sleeps !!!

if ur breast feeding try to give him formula before goin to bed.. dis will make his tummy full for sumtime n he will sleep more..

Ledia - posted on 04/16/2010

i cant help too since im having the same problem as u do..just that i sent my 2yr todd to baby sitter..now im dealing with 7wk baby boy..he cant get nap longer than 1 hr..the worst is for few minute..as for me i try to get gud nite sleep as the baby start to sleep through the nite..taking a nap for few minute only worsen my headache & get frustrated easily..so just try to take a gud rest and relax instead of a short nap..

Lyricz - posted on 04/15/2010

my so called boyfriend is not much help thats the hard thing iv told him to go as there no point him here were do i get the book from thanks for the help

Christa - posted on 04/15/2010

I have an 8wk old and a two year old so I feel your pain. Have your husband watch them while you nap whenever you can. I also recommend the Babywise book. It's about getting them on a routine. It helps them sleep through the night sooner so you can sleep. My 8 wk old slept 8 hours last night, she's done it before I'm hoping it becomes her routine soon. My first slept throuh the night at 11 wks on the same method. It does involve some letting them cry, so if that's something you're ok with I would give it a try.