how to get my son to sleep better ????

Candice - posted on 09/21/2009

k thanks .. i just got a swing and its just about the only way i can get him to pass out during the day . he'll stare at me and you can tell him eyes wanna close but they just wont until you put him in there.. thank god for that swing......

Cathralynn - posted on 09/21/2009

I just do whatever it takes for the first 6mo. I wore my daughter in a sling constantly, if you bottle feed they can even eat in there! And my swing was a lifesaver, even for hours at night! I also got a bouncy seat when she was more alert, can't remember when that happened but I think it was more around three mo. I loved the gripe water too. Try to get him to nap more in the day, an overtired baby actually has trouble sleeping at night. And have you found a good burping technique? Sometimes that's all it takes. Don't worry, it will pass. Do your best, this is why your son will love mom best!

Candice - posted on 09/21/2009

ive already taken him to the hospital ... they ran a gazzillion tests and said there was nothing wrong :( i dunno wat to do i mean hes not like this constantly but theres just certain days where he wont sleep and just refuses to be happy

Cathralynn - posted on 09/21/2009

My daughter never drank huge amounts that's okay, those babies just eat more frequently. But screaming constantly and that much awake time for a month old baby sounds bad, I might check with your doc. Make sure there's no allergies or reflux going on. Maybe colic? I have no experience with any of those, I just know if a baby is inconsolable, you need help! Some babies get there nights and days mixed up but eventually a baby will conk out just from exhaustion, so I think call your doc. That's what they are there for!

Candice - posted on 09/21/2009

yes he is my first and i try not to hold him all the time so he doesnt get to used to it ...... i dont kno if the problem is that hes not getting enuff food becuase he rarely drinks more than 3 oz at a time..... we do swaddle him and rock him ..... we've tried laying him in almost every position imaginable..... hes doing a bit better lately but theres some nights where he just wont sleep ... he was up from 330 yesterday morning until almost 10 last night screaming . we thought maybe it was a belly ache or something but even the gripe water isnt really helping much .... although it doesnt help that he spits out half of what i give him lol

Debora - posted on 09/21/2009

I SAY KEEP HIM AWAKE MORE DURING DAY ,YOU CAN STILL DO HOUSEWORK WITH HIM IN ONE OF THOSE BABY SNUGGLERS THAT YOU CAN STRAP ON . AFTER YOU FEED HIM HIS LUNCH TRY TAKING A NAP WITH HIM .IT DOES NO HARM FOR U TO SLEEP WITH HIM ,IF HE BREAST FED YOU MAY HAVE TO GIVE HIM SOME WATER DURING THE DAY OR A LITTLE APPLE JUICE MIXED WITH WATER .THIS HELPS YOU GET REST AND HELPS WITH MAKING MORE MILK.

DR SAYS CEREAL NOT BEFORE 4 MONTHS BUT IT DEPENDS ON HOW BIG THEY WERE AT BIRTH.TRYING CHANGING HIM MORE DURING THE DAY AS WELL.YOU DON`T NEED TO PICK HIM UP JUST BECAUSE HE IS AWAKE LET HIM CRY FOR AT LEAST 5 MINS. THEN TRY ROCKING HIM BACK TO SLEEP OR MAKING SURE HE IS NOT NEEDING TO BE CHANGED OR FED.

Angela - posted on 09/21/2009

LAY PILLOWS AGAINST HIS BACK SO HE THINKS YOUR LAYING THERE WITH HIM.. MAYBE GET A NIGHT LIGHT.. OF SOOTHING MUSIC FOR HIM TO HEAR OR THOSE LIGHTS THAT SHOW IMAGES ON THE WALL FOR HIM TOO LOOK AT

Cathralynn - posted on 09/21/2009

I recommend swaddling, was the best thing for my daughter. And does he just wake up, or cry? If he just wakes that but goes back to sleep that's normal and actually good. If he's crying that's a different story. We used a white noise machine. My daughter was in a bassinett in our room at that point and was a VERY noisy sleeper. But didn't actually need anything, she just moved and grunted a lot. The noise machine helped mom and dad fall asleep and we noticed it calmed her too. It made the transition to her own room pretty easy too.

Kate - posted on 09/21/2009

hi candice,



my son was verry similar (he is now six months) i used to cuddle him to sleep and he would go off then as soon as i put him in the crib he was awake... i used to put him down in his cot and if he woke up i used to lay on my bed next to him and just hold his hand and re-assure him, that worked for us. i tried taking him out in the car but as soon as rthe engine stopped he would wake so i wouldn't try that one... lol, is he your first child??

Torri - posted on 09/20/2009

the Woombie is the best thing we found! it swaddles them nice and snug so their startle reflex doesn't wake him throughout the night! our little one has been sleeping through the night since we got one!

Beth - posted on 09/20/2009

A nice warm bath before bed, Johnson's Chamomile bath is good the fragrance makes them sleepy. Make sure he is well burped and keep him wrapped tight in a blanket. He is still a new baby and they like to feel secure. Good luck to you!

Tamara - posted on 09/20/2009

Well, first off, he's only just over a month old. He was in your womb not too long ago being snuggled and tended to 24/7. He is used to having your warmth near him all the time. What do your sleeping arrangements look like? He should benefit from cosleeping w/you as your warmth nearby is going to comfort him. Please disregard other suggestions to add rice cereal to his bottle as his body is NOT ready for solid foods.

While it is entirely possible that he's going through a growth spurt, please simply give him more breastmilk (or formula if medically needed) as solid foods are only going to cause problems.

Maria - posted on 09/20/2009

Try to keep that last bottle of milk warm, swaddle him in a warm blanket so that he feels like hes being held. Check on him from a distance and stay out of his site, if he sees you, hes going to want to be held.

Hopefully that works, but for the most part hes young, just wait it out.

Best wishes and good luck.

Christine - posted on 09/20/2009

Quoting Angela:

It is really not a good idea to start feeding your baby cereal this early. Talk to your doctor before doing that.

AS U CAN SEE MOST MOTHERS ARE SUGGESTING THE CEREAL BECAUSE MOST PEDITRICIANS WILL TELL YOU THEY MAY BE GOING THROUGH A GROWTH SPURT  OR THEIR  BELLY JUST ISNT GETTING FULL ENOUGH AND ITS OKAY TO GIVE THEM A SMALL AMOUNT IN THEIR MILK JUST ENOUGH TO HAVE IT COAT THEIR STOMACH AND HAVE THE MILK A BIT THICKER ... iVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS FEEDING THEM CEREAL WITH COLIC OR WEIGHT ISSUES OR ANYTHING WITH THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. ALSO THE BATHS AND MASSAGING THEM  AS ANGELA SAID DOES THE BABY WONDERS UNLESS THEY ARENT GETTING FULL ENOUGH

NiCole - posted on 09/20/2009

I want to first say congrads to you for having beautiful child. Next I want to say to try and give the baby a warm soothing bath with some lavender and chamomille and after the bath give some cereal in their milk, it makes them alot more full and keeps them sleeping longer.

April - posted on 09/20/2009

Some other moms turned me onto a cd called "happiest baby on the block" it's womb sound. Just like you heard during your ultrasounds. It should be called the happiest parents on the block. I also started my son on rice cereal when he was that age. My doctor actually recommended it because of reflux. 1 teaspoon per oz. Good Luck.

Catherine - posted on 09/20/2009

I would ask your doctor first but I know that when my children were that age they were in need of having the baby cereal such as rice or oatmeal, rice is easier to digest for them but the oatmeal would last longer for their rest. I also added some music that was braums or Mozart, Aaron Copeland, etc. The child will sleep better with the music along with a nice blanket. I also recommend rocking your son as that helps also.

Angela - posted on 09/20/2009

It is really not a good idea to start feeding your baby cereal this early. Talk to your doctor before doing that.

Angela - posted on 09/20/2009

First of all if you and others were holding him a lot when you first brought him home, that may be a reason, or if you are carrying him everywhere you go.

What I found to be a good thing was to give my children a nice warm bath,then take the time to slowly and gently massage them from head to toe, back and front. Instead of the quick bathe, feed and lay down--make the process comfortable. Take your time, begin at the head and as you lotion his arms, massage them one at a time, work your way down and talk, hum or sing to him while doing this.
With my children, by the time I turned them over on their stomach they were dozing--don't stop, finish with a back, booty and leg rub, go to the toes, by the time you finish, he should be out.
If you're worried about dressing him after he is asleep, just put on a tee shirt when you finish the chest and back then put on the pamper before completing the back of the legs.
This method worked for me with my 2nd daughter, she cried constantly, had to be burped 3x before she could be put down to bed. The quiet time to just massage her, made her feel better and helped me to relax also. This is supposed to be your time to bond, try not to have too many visitors and limit the amount of time they are there, you both need your rest.
Take the time to enjoy your new bundle of joy. Time goes by so fast, before you know it he'll be walking and talking.
Take Care
t

Pippa - posted on 09/20/2009

Quoting CHRISTINE:

My daughter is a month old as well. I also have 3 kids and from my experience is to use just a little bit of rice cereal in their milk and it helps them get there tummy a bit fuller and she sleeps much better with that.My daughter had a small case of reflux and the peditrician recommended for me 2 do that and so she would sleep better.I finally get more sleep than usual it never hurts 2 try and see if it will work for u as well. I wish u luck and congrtas on your bundle of joy

this is a very good point that Christine has said try this first then if your lil 1 is by chance needing more try feeding baby food i did this with both mine as well as a bigger bottle oh and you might be experiancing a groth spurt so you might need to b giving more than just a bottle for a short time

Laura - posted on 09/20/2009

well as i see some one already said just adding a lil rice ceareal to the bottle b4 bed and try and keep him up during the day thats what i did with my son

Christine - posted on 09/20/2009

My daughter is a month old as well. I also have 3 kids and from my experience is to use just a little bit of rice cereal in their milk and it helps them get there tummy a bit fuller and she sleeps much better with that.My daughter had a small case of reflux and the peditrician recommended for me 2 do that and so she would sleep better.I finally get more sleep than usual it never hurts 2 try and see if it will work for u as well. I wish u luck and congrtas on your bundle of joy

Pippa - posted on 09/20/2009

try putting him in his bed and if you have wheels rock him in it if not find a song he likes try one you listen to so he knows you arn't leaving him. what is going on is he thinks when mummy puts him down shes leaving him and never coming back my son did this man it killed me but i would rock him in his cot in my arms everything he wasn't keeping his milk dwn kept throwing it up and it wasn't filling his tummy li8ke it shuld have bin so we put him on s26 reflux he slept so well but also we made him more in the bottle than what the avrage 3month old and unda is recommended we started giving him the amount for 12months and over and he slept now my 2yo daughter i started giving her the same amount as william but it was s26 gold and she slept threw the night she was 4weeks at that stage