Getting a Newborn to Sleep...

SWADDLE, SWADDLE, SWADDLE - it makes all the difference in the world. My kids were swaddled and then basically slept through the night at 6 weeks. At first I thought they looked uncomforatble, but, after reading the Happiest Baby on the Block, I knew that it is what they wanted, because it is how they were in the womb.

Hi E.

Try swaddling, shushing - quite loudly, we used a Mommy bear twice it has a womb sound thing inside it and my babies loved to have it up nice and loud while they were sleeping, anything that will make baby feel warm, snug and like they are still in the womb. That is how they are most secure. She likes being held because you are what is most familiar to her. You could try a carrier or sling. She and you will develop a rhythm for sleeping and feeding, although every 2 1/2 to 3 hours is very typical for a newborn throughout the night and day.

I know in the beginning, especially with the first everything feels so out of whack and it takes time to learn what baby is going to need and want next. Get as much help as you can from hubby, grandparents, whoever is willing so you can nap and shower. Hang in there, these days will quickly pass and you'll be wanting to hold and snuggle your little one and she'll be much too busy for the holding and snuggling.

Don't be afraid to use a pacifier even though you're breastfeeding. I was so hesitant to use it because of all you hear about "nipple confusion." But the pediatrician and my own mother said to use it. It actually helps reduce the risk of SIDs and the baby will still want to nurse when he's hungry because he's not getting any milk from the pacifier. I feel for you, though. My baby is almost 8 months old, and back in the summer I cried every day because I didn't think I'd ever sleep again. The first month or two are the hardest. Hang in there and don't be afraid to ask family or friends for help so that you can get some rest!

Are you breastfeeding or bottle-feeding? Either way, newborns do eat very frequently, so what you've posted is normal. (Breastfed babies commonly eat even more often.)

I would definitely recommend using a sling or other baby carrier that swaddles your baby rather than leaves her limbs dangling. That swaddling feeling, combined w/ the warmth, smell, sounds, and motion of your body is remarkably calming. In the early weeks, my son slept more in the sling than in his bassinet! You can also try different positions - cradle hold, upright, semi-reclined, etc. to see which she likes best.

Congrats on being a first time mom!

So am I. I remember those feelings you are having all too well!

I do not think we (my husband and I) had ANY sense of consistency with our daughter until she was 4 months old.

Before then, she slept when she felt like it, ate when she felt like it, etc. I remember three nights in a row where she was awake from 10 pm to 4 am!!!

I, like you, thought that she would sleep way more than she did.

Don't worry. If she is warm, dry, well-fed and secure, then you have nothing to worry about. She may be too excited about everything that is around right now.

That sounds like my little guy. The Happiest Baby on the Block routine did help some (swaddling especially): swaddle, suck (breast, bottle, or pacifier), shush (louder than they are crying), sway, and whatever the other one was. And he still cried a lot and didn't sleep very long. We thought there was something seriously wrong with him, but the pediatrician kept telling us he is just being a baby, and it got better eventually. If she's eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, you're actually getting away better than lots of new parents-they're theoretically supposed to eat every 2 hours or so at that age (mine never did, and he gained 3 pounds the first month breastfeeding pretty exclusively). Now, if she's inconsolable after a feeding, you might try formula (if nursing--or an extra ounce or two if you're bottle-feeding), they sometimes just want more and she could be having a growth spurt.

Elishai hated the swing and the bouncer, in fact, he still does (he's almost 6 months old, and is totally fearless). Some babies are really sensitive to external stimulus. It really helped for us to reduce the number of colors, objects and noises he was exposed to after we figured that out (after about the first 2 weeks of continuous screaming). They don't need to be on a bright play gym with the lights and the music and things waving at them at this age--some babies are really freaked out by the commotion. You can try giving her her tummy time on your stomach-the closeness is appealing for them and plus it encourages her to lift her head to look at your face.

Last, have you started some kind of bedtime ritual for her? It helps babies to understand the difference between day sleep (naps) and night sleep. Somewhere in the next couple of weeks, she'll start to be able to sleep differently at day and at night (which is to say, she'll still wake to eat at night, but hopefully go right back to sleep, whereas in the day, she'll have some awake time between shorter naps). We use the standard bath, book, lullaby, feeding ritual, and it does help. Not overnight, unfortunately.

Actually, really last: try to make some time for yourself. This age is so hard on you. Right now, she probably sleeps fine in her carseat, so go out and do things. If she's asleep at a mealtime, go out to dinner with your SO. Go shopping, get a manicure, whatever it was you used to do for fun.

Good luck--feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the babies who don't sleep like babies problem!

E.,
The other Moms have said all that I would say... I had a boy with Colic and I cried when he did! Plus with my husbands hours and not much family offering to help it was tough. I thought I would never ever get sleep again! So, my husbands step-mother got him Ocean Sounds by Fisher Price. The thing was a miracle! We used it with out the light (already have a nite lite in the room) and set it to the ocean sound or running brook sound and whala! He was asleep.... also routine routine routine! Works like a charm. I was so very against the cry it out method BUT had to use it as a final alternative after trying everything else, but that was after 6 months of age. He sleeps like a champ and we are all much happier! Now there is once in awhile he just plain ol wants to be held and snuggled and refuses to go to sleep until we do so, and we do it and then he falls asleep. Not dependant on it and he is still in need of his Mommys loving arms and I will give it to him whenever he needs it!
Good luck and enjoy this time cause they grow toooooo fast!

I agree with Sharon. One suggestion I have, and this comes from personal experience, is.... try giving your baby a little bit of formula. There is a chance that your baby is hungry and not getting enough breast milk from you. If your bottle feeding, then that wouldn't hold true. I know that a lot of mom's will probably disagree with my next statement, but 2 out of my 3 kids started on rice cereal at about 1 month old (very diluted). This advice came from my mother and she I believe was right! I didn't do it w/one of my kids and I paid the price, because he was colic'y for the first 3 months (in hind sight, my hubby and I think he was just hungry!) All of my babies were pretty big boys (at birth in 9 lb range). Definately try swaddling your baby and "hushing" him.... those are life savers! And as hard as it is (gut wrenching for a mom to hear her baby cry), you have to let them cry it out... However, I never let my kids cry it out until they were at least 4 months? old. I don't think at that little of an age they can get spoiled....they're learning about love...but they are smart little creatures and they learn how to work you and never stop.... :o) Good luck and don't be afraid to ask for help so you can get some rest too! Hang in there, they grow up way too fast!

Oh and one other thing we did, was get a noise machine for their room. They loved listening to the babbling brook and such and some of them have a heart beat sound built into there sounds too.....

36 y.o. mom of 3 great boys (11, 9, and 4). Married for 13+ years and work full time in healthcare.

my son ate 13 times a day, but at 6 weeks, it slowed down and i was able to nurse him until he was a year old!!! try chamomille tea for you to decrease gas, and lots of belly when she's supervised...try to wear her sleep sac on you throughout the day...see if your smell keeps her sleeping...some mom's try marathon nursing before bed, too...every hour for a few hours to try and fill up...i tried cereal with my first, never made any difference, but many swear by that...one thing i wouldn't try is formula...i would look at your diet first to make sure nothing there is irritating and go from there...good luck and hang in there...it will get easier and you WILL sleep and rest again!!