Sleeping HELP!

Lindsey - posted on 09/29/2009

I had to sleep with both of my twins too. nothing else worked. After a while they will start to sleep on their own but you should try everytime you put her down to put her in the basinet, so she relates that as her bed. Just be carful. You need your sleep too!

Rebecca - posted on 09/28/2009

I personally wouldnt co sleep, i did it for a while and although my baby slept, my relationship went downhill with the father. We tried a different method. We made sure he was clean and well fed, not too much napping during the day. We had a set time for night sleeping and stuck to it. When we put him to bed we made it soothing by giving a little massage and played songs. Then we would leave the room and let him cry it out,after 5 mins we would go in and just touch him to let him know we were there....no talking, no picking up!! Then leave the room again. Make the little visits longer each time but NEVER talk or pick up the baby! The baby will eventually fall asleep and learn that every time he cries you will not come....sounds mean but it was the only way we could get any sleep. He found a way of putting himself to sleep. Change nappies in babys bed in very dim lighting.Only picking up for night feeds. It will be hard and seem like its not working for a week or two but trust me it works! My son is 5 now and he knows when i say sleep time....I MEAN IT!!

Lauren - posted on 09/28/2009

Well, i read that there are no bad sleep habits until 4 months and so my son spent his first 4 months sleeping on my chest at night. I found the movie Happiest Baby on the Block helpful and The Sleepeasy Solution book got us on a great schedule.

Olevia - posted on 09/28/2009

Try wrapping her in a blanket and rocking her to sleep in her bassinet, it worked for me.

Anne - posted on 09/28/2009

Mine was like that & I found it was because I hadn't burped him enough. He would cry because he was in pain but being near me comforted him so he would go to sleep. When I made sure he was properly burped & had fallen asleep on my chest I transferred him to his cot & he slept like a log.

Stefanie - posted on 09/28/2009

When I first got home from the hospital, my son slept in bed with me too. After about a week I started putting him in his bassinet. What we did, was we rocked him to sleep (even though they say not to do this) and then we placed him in his bassinet. Yes, he became accustomed to us rocking him to sleep, but he also became used to waking up in his bed. But as soon as we moved him into his crib (about 3 months) he would go right to sleep without being rocked. Since your baby is still so young, it's a perfect time to start a sleep schedule. Try waking her up every 3 hours during the day and then after about 9pm just let her sleep. We did this and yes he still woke up at night, but gradually he slept longer and longer in between feedings.

Lisa - posted on 09/28/2009

My son did the same thing and we did a few things a psychiatrist actually suggested. First, he was checked for acid reflux (which he had). If this is the case, elevate the bed slightly so their head is higher than their feet (He suggested a book under the mattress) which helps the acid from rising up into their throught and causing them discomfort. This was why our son loved sleeping in his bouncey chair or our arms, because he was elivated. My son started doing it again around three months and the doctor suggested not picking him up, but rather rub his back for a little while they walking out, letting him cry for a few minutes and repeating these steps adding one more minute every time we left. It was hell for the first few weeks, but after that he has gone to bed and slept through the night without any problems. Children will test their parents boundries and if you start setting them early, you won't have a problem later on. If you enjoy the co-sleeping and won't mind it as she gets older, continue as long as you are careful about SIDS (our bedds are ,much softer than theirs plus we have pillows and blankets) and rolling on her. My spouce and I couldn't do it (we both move alot and sleep very deeply) so we ended it very quickly.

Samantha - posted on 09/28/2009

i know how u feel when my little boy was a baby i was living with my boyfriend and his parents all of them working and had to be up early for work. He used to sleep fine by him self during the day but at night when he used to wake up for his feed he would neva fall off and cry all night till i put him in bed with me. I had him sleeping with me from birth till about he was 6 mounths. It all changed untill i got my own house and got sick of three in a bed i did controled crying going into his bed room every 15 mins or so to make sure he was alright. This went on for about a week hard work and tireing but it paid off i havnt had no probblems since he is now 4 years. Iv never looked back since. I hope u found this usefull and u are not alone.

April - posted on 09/27/2009

I wouldn't cosleep, you will never get her out of your bed. The thing that worked wonders for my son was swaddling. It is safer and it relaxes babies because it is a cozy feeling as if in the womb. don't be afraid to have it tight, it keeps her hands in and will make her feel secure. What also worked for me son was a heartbeat/womb teddybear. The sounds are soothing for babies. I found these at babies r us or target

Colleen - posted on 09/27/2009

My son was the same way. I recommend trying a sleep positioner in the crib. Just be careful sleeping with your baby.

Tiana - posted on 09/26/2009

When we first took our son home, I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. I decided to follow Gina Ford's routines in her contented baby books (not to the letter cos it was pretty hard) but her routines gave me a general guideline of how much food and sleep a baby needs. Her routines are a bit draconian but I adapted it to fit our family life. My son was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old, he is now 21 months and sleeps from 6.30pm-6.30am everynight without any dramas and still has a 2hr nap during the day. Good luck :-)

Anessa - posted on 09/26/2009

When I had my baby girl she had her nights and days mixed up! HORRIBLE!! But I took her to her check up and asked the doctor what to do, during the day we would kinda tickle the backs of the leg on the upper thigh and it would wakde her up, then we would keep her awake for about a hour or two and then let her take a nap for about a hour, and do it again! We did this for about 2 days and then she started sleeing all night every night! She is 18 months and has slept all night since then! Try it, it may work for you to! One of the girls I work with asked me and tried it, it worked for her too!

Melissa - posted on 09/26/2009

My advice would be to try to keep her awake during the day. I know it is hard though because she is so little. Do you have a swing? That is the only way I would get my first to sleep. When she would be totally out I would move her. It is hard when they are so little they bodies are not use to the sense of time. I would really try to to get her to sleep any other way other than in your bed. I believe some parents would do this I really didnt want any of my children to rely on sleeping with us. Plus I was scared at first I would turn over on them or hurt them in my sleep. Personally I move around too much. Now there were many times I would sit in the rocker and rock until they were asleep.

Kaleena - posted on 09/26/2009

At 2 weeks don't worry about taking her in bed with you so she sleeps, it is not bad and if anything it helps them feel more secure and helps with bonding and prevention of sids (as long as there are no loose blankets and you are not a deep sleeper.) You may want to try to get her on a little day schedule, try to feed her, play with her, then let her sleep. Have you tried swaddling or a pacifier? That may also help. Dont worry, she is so young she is not on a routine yet!

Sarah - posted on 09/26/2009

My daughter started out doing this too. I would sleep when she did if I could but I also had my son too so sometimes I couldn't sleep if he wouldn't. I had to try to get her on a schedule though cause I had to go back to work. So about eight weeks I gave her cereal at about 10 pm and then she slept though the whole night since then. She wasn't getting full off the milk. I think it is hard to try to get them on a schedule so early. Also if you want her to sleep in her basinet you're going to have to let her cry. If you don't then she will always want to sleep in your bed. Doctors say that's a big no no. If she is hystrical then pick her up until she calms down and lay her back down. Maybe if you sing to her that might help to, its soothing.

Amy - posted on 09/26/2009

Keep her awake during the day. I did this with mine and had my first one sleeping through the night in no time. Whatever it takes....I gave them baths, ran their feet under water, anything to keep them awake during the day. It took about 3 days of this and my problem was fixed.

Bessie - posted on 09/26/2009

well the only thing every one has been telling me i just had a little boy that is one month now try to keep her up as much as posable during the day she will wake up still every 3-4 hours to eat but the hour she stays up during the day really helps and try not to hold her during the day as much as posable thats all the tips i have

Holly - posted on 09/26/2009

It takes at least 6 weeks before a baby has any concept at all of night and day, my little boy is one in a couple of weeks and still not sleeping through and still co sleeping at least half of the night, hehe I tried everything and the whole sleep things started to consume me, once I gave up and did what made him happy we were all much hapier and had much more sleep, it's really important to have one on one time with your man but there are other places in the house other than your bed, something else that worked for a short time was putting my jumper that I had been wearing all that day around my little boy so he can smell you and feel extra warmth, she is soo tiny enjoy her, they grow up way too fast, best of luck!!

Jackie - posted on 09/26/2009

try sleeping with blankets she's going to use or pj's that way your smell will be on it and try to swaddle her if you don't want to co-sleep with her.she may just miss your smell and want to be held tight.

Britni - posted on 09/26/2009

HMM no I havnt tried the tshirt thing ill try that as well, thank you guys!

Terri - posted on 09/26/2009

I had the same problem with my son he would go to bed on his own but wake in the night and wouldn't stop crying until he came in my bed, and to get a few hours sleep I would have done anythin, he sometimes does it now and hes 21 months. Have you tried puttin 1 of ur t-shirts etc in her basinet as she will be able to smell you and might reassure her that your there xx

Caitlin - posted on 09/26/2009

My daughter did the same thing, it was really hard since I was already back at work and she would want to sleep all day, I would def try to swaddle her at bedtime, the people at the hospital make it look easy it took me some time to figure out the best way to wrap her, I also would rub her down with lotion before her bedtime and spend some time rocking with her. She's ten months old now, its hard to believe but I miss when she was 2 wks old, I don't miss getting up as frequently lol...Good luck and it prob doesn't seem like it will ever end but it will...

Joy - posted on 09/26/2009

i had the problem when i had mine she is now 4 and yes its nice at the time when u cn get sum sleep bt in the long run bad idea,my sugestion would b keep putin her bk in untill she nos u wont giv up and yes it will take time and does sound kinda nasty bt in the long run it will help u so much

Britni - posted on 09/26/2009

hmm thanks that is interresting

Melissa - posted on 09/26/2009

Have you tried swaddling her tightly before laying her down. Sometimes they wake up because they feel insecure but if they are wrapped up tight they feel more safe and won't startle awake. My son is only 4 weeks old (today!) and he is still up once or twice a night to eat. I let him fall back asleep on me and am able to lay him down in his bouncy chair to sleep.



Another thing you might try is when baby's first fall asleep they enter directly into REM sleep. You can see their eyes moving and faces twitching. They are not in deep sleep yet. So when you go to put them down thinking they are all the way asleep they wake up. Wait until she really goes limp and her eyes stop moving before laying her down. This is backwards from what adultsdo by the way. We go deep sleep then wake slightly at night for REM when we dream, then go back to deep sleep and cycle through.

Britni - posted on 09/26/2009

Thanks i do all of that as well lol , I guess its just takes time and i will just have to keep trying every night after feeding her and just keep trying to keep her in her basinet and hopfully it be longer and longer each time who knows lol thanks guys

Christina - posted on 09/26/2009

My son is only 2 weeks old too and does the same thing, he sleeps all day then stays awake most of the night. He kept me awake all night when I was pregnant too so I just wanted to sleep all day! My bf and I take turns staying up with him right now. They are too young to have any concept of time, or night and day so we are trying to adjust it... They are too young to give them cereal but right now we let him sleep through the morning and then in the afternoon start unbundling him and little things to try to keep him awake, he loves to be bundled so much it usually helps to keep him awake, at least for a little while, we start 'bed time' at about 11 now and will continue to go down til we can all sleep through the night :)... Luke also has to sleep touching me and it is true you're not supposed to do that but I admit defeat there and he sleeps in my arms so that we can all get what sleep we can (we start him in his basinet every night, but he's awake within a minute)... My 6 year old, Jake, was the same way and it didn't take long before he was sleeping through the night and in his own basinet... also remember to keep everything you need right there with you, bottle, diapers, wipes... and it helps to have a dim lamp so you dont have to turn all the lights on when you're trying to get her back to sleep... Hope this helps!

Britni - posted on 09/26/2009

yeah when she sleeps with me she will sleep for hours and not wake up at all,just if i go to put her in her basinet its like instant notification of not being in my arms or next to me lol

Briana - posted on 09/26/2009

I would try to keep her up through the day with only a couple naps throught the day. But i do think its normal for a new born to sleep all day and be a wake for most of the night. Just like a few others have said that if you try and co sleep with your child that may help and both of you guys can get some sleep. Im sure as she gets older it will change and she will be a wake during the day and sleep during the night,

Teresa - posted on 09/26/2009

Co-Sleep!! I did that both of mine...wouldn't have it any other way...everyone's happy and well rested :)

Nikki - posted on 09/26/2009

try to wake her up more through out the day to play or something, and maybe she will want to sleep more at night . have you started her on baby cereal yet that will help her sleep longer also. i would be careful on co-sleeping though some ppl get so tired they roll over on to their babies, and nobody ever means to do something like that its just always scared me to fall asleep w/my baby..

Chelsea - posted on 09/26/2009

Co-sleep so that you can both get some sleep.