Help!!! Going back to work and my 8 week old is not sleeping at night.

Larissa - posted on 01/21/2009

with my 2 kids i put them to bed at about 9pm and at the 8week age mark i started puttin a 1/4t of farix in there last bottle 4 the night.....

just heat up a pin and melt the hole in the teat of the bottle a bit bigger.

i did this with both of my kids and they both sleep all night every night

Diana - posted on 01/21/2009

Aww thanks!! Well he slept pretty good the night before. But the 12 hour shift killed me. I have not worked since the end of Oct. So being thrown back into the craziness of the hospital threw me alittle. He didn't sleep much last night. SO his sleep pattern is totally off still. I'm just hoping with time it will get better. One of the biggest problems we have is getting back to sleep after a feeding. He fights it bad. During the day he goes right to sleep and you can move him wherever. Hmmm:)  

Sherry - posted on 01/21/2009

Hows it going for you since back to work? just checking in with you :)

Roxanne - posted on 01/20/2009

Thanks for the link to the pitcher, Jenny. I agree, it looks great! I'm still breastfeeding full time, but I know my supply will dwindle when I go back to work, and there's only so much in the freezer. Also, thanks for the tip about the coupons, Megan - formula is so expensive!

Megan - posted on 01/20/2009

Try the Nestle Good Start in the orange can (with comfort proteins for easy digestion) plus when you sign up on their website they have really good coupons.. $8-$11 dollar coupon a month or more!!! Also have a friend or realitive sign up for the coupons... get more!!

Kari - posted on 01/19/2009

To all who are worried about little ones who sleep on their sides or tummies.... don't worry so much..lol. My 7 wk old has mild colic and reflux... sleeping on his back is just setting him up for a world of painful discomfort. He is a strong little fellow who flips himself onto his side or tummy... he does what is natural to help with the pain. Some babies just can't sleep on their backs... (not and have a good sleep anyway). He s also fussy and likes to sleep with me half the night, and I find as long as you sleep safely with them, they are fine. I slept with my middle boy (now 7) all the time with no problems. You have to think that most of us slept on our tummies as at the time it was a no no to sleep babies on their backs. I believe it really a matter of preference of our little ones.

Stacy - posted on 01/19/2009

Wow, I'm getting that pitcher, I use Dr Browns bottles so this would be great!!  

Lisa, what type of formula do you use?

I'm currently using Similac Advance and think he may become constipated when I stop mixing it with breast  milk.  Any suggestion on formulas?

Lisa - posted on 01/19/2009

im in the same boat as diana and sherry. my doctor had me switch formula. and it seemed to work with her gas and constipation which meant she could sleep better. the first night she was on her new formula she slept 6 hours and the second night 7 hours. well see tonight on her third night. I go back to work soon

Jenny - posted on 01/19/2009

Hi Savanha,
Here's a link to the pitcher. It's made our lives SO much easier to have the formula pre-mixed and in the fridge!
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp...
Jenny

Savanha - posted on 01/18/2009

Can someone tell me what the Dr Brown formula pitcher is?

Stacy - posted on 01/18/2009

Thanks Jessica!  I will take a look at the positioners.  That might work!

Jessica - posted on 01/18/2009

Stacy : if your son likes to sleep on his side, get a sleep positioner that allows him to sleep on his side.  You can get them at Target for like $15.  I wouldn't up his ounces at night, because you could be overfeeding him and give him a tummy ache.

My first son took 6 ounces at 12 weeks and we just gradually built up to that. But he plateaued at that amount until he waws 6 months or so.

Jessica - posted on 01/18/2009

I am having the same issue with my son. He will NOT sleep on his back because of his acid reflux.  He sleeps in his swing.  I really dislike it, but I need sleep, too!  He usually sleeps 5 hours at night, but will not go to sleep for the night until 11 or 12.  It's frustrating as I'm going back to work tomorrow.  He'll be in daycare, so I'm hoping that the stimulation during the day will tire him out to fall alseep early in the evening.Oh, and he's drinking breastmilk from a bottle.

My first son fell asleep in his crib without issue every night at 7pm. That was sooooooooo nice!! Just goes to show every kid is different.

Stacy - posted on 01/17/2009

I'm in the same boat.... going back to work soon and my little peanut will only sleep two to three hours at a time. Once in a while he sleeps four hours. I feed him 4-5 ounces every three hours, sometimes he'll go four hours. He is taking a mix of breast milk (pumping) and formula however I am trying to stop pumping so he will soon be on 100% formula. He is not a fussy baby just would rather sleep being held then in his crib most nights. I think I need to start putting him down in his crib for naps instead of letting him sleep on the couch with me. I will be having a nanny watch him when I return to work so I would like for him to have a better routine by then (5 weeks from now). He is 7 weeks old. He'll be 12 weeks when I return to work. Any suggestions on increasing his ounces so that he can sleep 7 hours at night?? He does prefer to sleep on his side or tummy but I am too nervous to leave him like that at night.

Diana - posted on 01/16/2009

Thank you all for the great advise. He has slept better the last few nights!! I was always trying to keep him up as much as possible during the day. Not anymore!!! I have also been guilty and let him sleep in bed, but he does alot better there as well. So he is in his bouncer until he gets really fussy before going to sleep.

Glad to hear its ok to give the chamomael (sp?) tea and the olive oil. My mom actually told me that while she was up visiting. So we are going to give that a try.

Only 3 more days till I go back to work, lets just hope he is broke of his 2 hours feedings by then. By the way, he is on formula, has been since 3 weeks old. And eats 5 ounces every 2 hours....yea major chow hound, but normal size. Hmm figure that one out.

Nicole - posted on 01/16/2009

oh i also fogot to add he is breastfed too. so he gets milk with his food.

Nicole - posted on 01/16/2009

its true about sleep during the day. I recently have gone back to work 2 weeks ago and my 2 month old takes 2 1 and a half hour naps during the day and sleep through the night(well 10pm-5:45ish, am) He is also very advanced and is a supported sitter, a few people including my dr told me to try fruit or veggies now. I was fed fruit and veggies at 8 weeks so i was told. He now has oatmeal with a bit of bananas for breakfast, the rest if the unused bananas or a veggie for lunch and some other kind of fruit or veggie for dinner and since then hes full longer(cause he would drink 4 oz every hour) and sleeps great! I also give him 2 teething tablets if he still isnt falling alseep by 11pm.

Christina - posted on 01/16/2009

It's true, if the baby has a good nap during the day, they sleep better at nite. My son fusses when he sleeps on his back. My husband and I have had him sleep on his tummy and he slept 7 hours. I have also put a tiny drop of extra virgin olive oil in his bottle to help with constipation and it helped. Good Luck.

Cynthia - posted on 01/16/2009

Ditto I have a 2month old....THey say he is suppose to take it 4oz every 4 hrs....not the case here. he wants 2-3 ounces every 2 hrs...but I have tried to set my self up a pattern...I try to push him as far as i can to four hrs...by playing with him giving him tummy time ( which I noticed helps with releasing his gases) and playing with him he seems to calm down and it usually takes him to 3 hrs before he wants the bottle. Now at night if he sleeps in his bassinet he wont sleep longer than 2 hrs...but if he is int he bed with me and my fiancee he will only wake up like 2 times in the night. Camamiel Tea is also a plus to help with gas and sleeping I asked my dr if i could give him some before bed and he said no problem just an ounce or 2. It helps. Every baby will have their nights though...weather its a tummy ache or justing wanting to be close to someone.

Jenny - posted on 01/16/2009

Hi - I agree with Roxanne. Ever since my 7-week-old started sleeping better during the day he is less fussy in the evening and sleeps longer at night (I know, sort of counter-intuitive, right?). My son is also gassy and was waking up every 2 hours (or more) until we stopped putting him down on his back. He sleeps in his car seat so that he is propped up to help the gas bubbles out (some people use a wedge or swing). He'll sleep 3-4 hour stretches now. For the daytime naps I also put him on his tummy (hard surface, where I can hear him, etc. for safety). He is much happier. Also, if you are bottle feeding I suggest using Dr. Brown's bottles and also getting the Dr. Brown's formula pitcher. They have helped out a lot with the gas. I wish you all the best going back to work! I will be going back this week as well and expect to drink my share of coffee. :)

Roxanne - posted on 01/16/2009

Sadly, I think a baby's sleep pattern is very individual - not a *lot* you can do. However, I found it very true with my son, and also with my daughter now (8 wks and sleeping 5-6hrs) that the better the sleep during the day, the better the sleep at night. Not all day, mind you, but in my experience, good naps + wide awake time during the day = good night's sleep. I know if my daughter doesn't get at least one 2 hr nap during the day, I'm going to be up every 2-3hrs at night. I HTH and good luck going back - I will be headed back to work soon also!

Sherry - posted on 01/15/2009

You didnt say if you are breastfeeding or not, My son is the same exact way, Just yesterday we tried another formula, It seemed to work, He slept 7.5 hours. I also started putting him to bed a little later ( around 10 instead of 8). I dont know if this was a fluke or not, we will see tonight. Im going back soon as well...Im trying anything :)