The newborn sleep thread

[adeline]

Greetings from 2 weeks of sleep deprivation.

Ok, I’m a second time mum and my daughter was a categorically shitty sleeper so this is not a surprise to me.

What *is* a surprise is that I seem to have learned nothing and have no skills in teaching this baby to settle and sleep, especially at night.

Issues:
- She hates sleeping flat on her back but I’m a stickler for the safe sleep guidelines
- She’s a grazer so can’t go that long between feeds
- I can’t get a sleep during the day to catch up because her sleeps are short and there is no window for me to rest for any worthwhile period.

So I suppose the point of this thread is to ask:
- This is normal at 2 weeks right? It’s not like she’ll still be like this at 2 months?
- What are you all doing to encourage longer feeds and longer naps (I suppose I mean techniques rather than co-sleeping/upright sleepers etc)
- What have you done that’s really working for you?

I guess I’m just trying to see if there’s anything more I can do at this early stage to set us up for good sleep in the coming months. As if you couldn’t tell, I’m feeling a bit tired and emotional. DH is back at work tomorrow so it’s me and the 2 kids and I’m starting to panic that I just can’t do it when I’m so tired.

Thanks.

[kiri]

I’ve been trying to have H give DS a pumped bottle before he goes to bed and I try to go to bed early (9 ish) or after a feed ti get an extra hour or two of sleep.

[kiri]

Maybe to add to add to that, what I’m doing differently this time is pumping more to have more flexibility. For example, if DS eats at 3, I can pump afterwards and have H do the next feeding before he gets ready for work.

With DS1, it was hard setting a routine because he was hungry around the clock every two hours so afternoon, spilled into evening, which became MOTN. At two weeks it probably doesn’t matter, but I’m hoping that having s bedtime routine with DS1 now helps with cues for DS2 to signal nighttime.

Perhaps try to set daytime quiet hours and create cues/environment for signal an afternoon nap. Say 1-3 when the lights go off, noise machine comes on, you feed, change, put in fresh onesies. Maybe eventually it could help get you and DD a longer afternoon nap.

I’m seeing how different DS1 and DS2 are and it has nothing to do with anything that I’m doing.

[jaidit]

I’m coming from a standpoint of needing both babies to take long feeds that’s are spread out, or I would go insane 😉

If they are not eating enough, I first take off their socks and tickle their feet. Next step is to strip them down to a onesie.

I try as much as possible to differentiate day and night, so I don’t swaddle during the day, and have them nap in daylight. At night, they are swaddled and it’s dark in the room.

This is maybe not a popular opinion, but I let them cry it out for 5 minutes or so at this age (if they don’t need a change and have recently eaten). It’s important for them to learn how to fall back asleep.

[adeline]

Thanks ladies. I need to start pumping I think. With DD1 my supply was low and I worry it’s the same this time. Perhaps pumping will improve it and give her a big feed too.

Appreciate your advice.

[kiri]

May 23, 2018 3:58:16 GMT -6 adeline said:

Thanks ladies. I need to start pumping I think. With DD1 my supply was low and I worry it’s the same this time. Perhaps pumping will improve it and give her a big feed too.

Appreciate your advice.

I’m suspicious that low supply with DS1 didn’t help with the sleep Issues. I have a better supply this time and DS2 seems more satisfied. (I’ve been pumping whenever I get the chance to make sure supply is good this time).

Don’t beat yourself up though... some babies are jerks when it comes to sleep lol

FWIW, DS1 had FOMO and was very alert. I suspect that he had reflux that perhaps we could have done something about. He was also really sensitive to urine and would wake up the second his diaper had a drop of moisture. The cycle was nurse, spit up up on clothes, change, nurse again, put into bassinet gently, wake up 2 min later with a wet diaper, repeat again all night long,

I told myself that I’d put reminders on my phone for every several weeks with this baby to keep me in check on bad sleep habits that creep in when you are on survival mode ( letting the baby fall asleep at the breast, not creating a routine, etc...). I’m planning to read a few sleep books to see what I can try to do better this time around but I know that a lot if it just depends on the baby.

[itsmemeg]

I’m taking an online newborn sleep class right now and some of the things suggested are:
Swaddle and sound machine for ALL sleep (day or night)

Newborn naps are considered normal anywhere from 20-120 minutes

Newborns need to have a nap every 60-90 minutes

For feeding, unswaddle, diaper change, skin to skin if necessary to get a full feeding. About 5 minutes left of feeding, cloth and swaddle again.

Try to have baby nap in their bed at least 1x a day.

[robot]

May 23, 2018 6:39:27 GMT -6 itsmemeg said:

I’m taking an online newborn sleep class right now and some of the things suggested are:
Swaddle and sound machine for ALL sleep (day or night)

Newborn naps are considered normal anywhere from 20-120 minutes

Newborns need to have a nap every 60-90 minutes

For feeding, unswaddle, diaper change, skin to skin if necessary to get a full feeding. About 5 minutes left of feeding, cloth and swaddle again.

Try to have baby nap in their bed at least 1x a day.

Please to share everything you learn! I’m getting scared.

[itsmemeg]

May 23, 2018 7:58:35 GMT -6 robot said:

May 23, 2018 6:39:27 GMT -6 itsmemeg said:

I’m taking an online newborn sleep class right now and some of the things suggested are:
Swaddle and sound machine for ALL sleep (day or night)

Newborn naps are considered normal anywhere from 20-120 minutes

Newborns need to have a nap every 60-90 minutes

For feeding, unswaddle, diaper change, skin to skin if necessary to get a full feeding. About 5 minutes left of feeding, cloth and swaddle again.

Try to have baby nap in their bed at least 1x a day.

Please to share everything you learn! I’m getting scared.

It’s only $60 course and you get 7 short videos to watch and a booklet. Look up takingcarababies . Com
She has classes for all age groups of infants and a blog with other free useful info.