Sleep/crying Issues 2 Week Old

You might check out "Happiest Baby on the Block" By Dr. Harvey Karp- he has a book and a video, and you should be able to check either out of the library or find it at any big bookstore. His techniques are simple, gentle, and they really work!

It's very normal. After I've checked to make sure everything is fine with my baby (fed, changed diaper, clothes aren't uncomfy somewhere), then I'll snuggle my baby up and hold him/her close to comfort while they cry. I'm not suggesting you do this, but I definitely do not let them cry it out at this age. It's very, very normal and common for babies to have crying spells at the end of the day. It could even be a release of emotions that they are letting out (as I've read some places that some think it might be). So, I just comfort and snuggle until they outgrow it.

It does sound like it could be colic which is very challenging. I would try some Mylicon drops first in case it is a little bit of gas. These helped my son. If it is true colic then it seems that they just have to grow out of it. But from some things I've read it seems to happen in the evening when the house has been the most hectic - parents come home from work, you're trying to get dinner on the table and starting to get ready for bedtime. It's just a hectic time of day for most families. See if there is any way you can arrange for this time of day to be more peaceful. Maybe plan simpler meals and even make them earlier in the day. I feel like these early weeks are just about trying to survive the day sometimes! I don't know if you have older kids - they can add to the stress! But get them in on it if you can. Everyone needs to work together to bring the chaos level down and then baby may be more peaceful. Then EVERYONE is more relaxed and happy! I wish you all the best. It can be very trying on your nerves. Just know you are NOT alone and this WILL get better!!

This is a really common pattern, which pediatricians have been calling "colic" for ages, though nobody's really sure what colic is. When my daughter was born in 1971, I had to walk her for 4 hours every single night for months, because we were both completely miserable if I put her down.

You are in the stage of infancy where your baby is completely dependent on you for all her needs, and her needs are legitimate. She has no other way that nurturing adults to meet them. These are the exhausting days all those more experienced mothers probably warned you about when you were pregnant. They will pass, and you'll be surprised at how quickly when you look back at this time.

And there are ways to calm you daughter and help her become more comfortable. Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, explains in these short videos why he calls the first 3 months the Fourth Trimester, and shows techniques that will help comfort your child, and possibly help her sleep:

How-to's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KnVPUdEgQ&feature=re...

Enhanced sleep: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0TtxO-ocY&feature=re...

Congratulations! This is such a tough age, because they are just trying to get used to the world outside of the womb. Many babies take awhile to get a sense of night and day. It just doesn't come naturally. At that age, I nursed them to sleep (or bottlefed, whatever). Sometimes they finish eating and are not sleepy. Generally, rocking worked for me. You can also try swaddling, putting her in a swing or bouncy seat or car seat. Really, just keep trying things until you figure out what works. Remember, the best place for baby to sleep is wherever baby can sleep (safely, of course). It does not have to be a crib, just whatever helps them to sleep.

At this age, their habits change so fast, so try not to get discourage of something that works one day doesn't work a few days later. Just keep working with her until you find something that works. Try not to worry about setting bad habits, because she doesn't have habits. She is going to keep changing. If you bring her to bed with her now, she's not going to depend on that when she 10 or 18.

Good luck! It really does get easier!

Sometimes they just cry. I believe it's pretty natural for them to do this as it builds up their respiratory system. She's only 2 weeks old, you just have to learn her cry pattern and do what you can do. If it's only at night it's probably nothing but plain ol' frustration at this point. Just do what you can do to sooth her. I used to stand and swing or rock back and forth. Movement usually helps settle them. My friend use to put her baby in her chair and set her on the running dryer, the vibration always settled the baby. Just make sure the chair is setting on something that wont allow the chair to vibrate off of the dryer.

Ahh this brings back memories(notice I didn't say fond). I daughter now 7months old did the exact samething for about two months. I called 730pm the cranky time. Some little ones do this and it does get better if I remember right I read somewhere that it gets better about two months and sure enough my daughter didn't get as fussy at about 2.5 months. At 7pm on the dot she still gets fussy to this day but now she goes to bed at 745 and we start her night time routine at 715 so its not that bad.
At two weeks she thought midnight to one am was bedtime. At three weeks we went to Florida which is a 3 hour time change for us and so she wasn't going to bed until like 3 or 4 in the morning. Ehh we were tired. At about 5 weeks we started being able to put her to bed about 900-930pm. Then about 5 months it was 0830 now at finally about 6.5 she started saying okay to the ###-###-#### lay down time.
The only thing that helped during this nasty time was my yoga ball and I bounced for hours with her facing outwards. I still think thats how I lost a lot of my weight. Just try different things and don't take this personally her doing this.
Just remember this time will pass. Heck I didn't even remember her doing this until you posted this. The bad times have a way of getting pushed to the back of your memory.

have you tried swaddling her? maybe she is getting startled.

Ugh, sounds like colic and I really feel for you. Unfortunately there is not a whole lot you can do, but let her grow out of it. Rule out all the things that you have (such as dirty diaper, hungry, etc.). It wouldn't hurt to talk to your doctor about acid reflux if she fusses after eating or when lying flat on her back...meds may help reduce some of that. Unfortunately, some babies are just colicky and it can be miserable for you and hubby (been there!!!). Good news? She WILL ABSOLUTELY grow out of it if it is colic. Some babies settle with a car ride, some being rocked, you'll find out what helps with you. We had a crazy looking lamp in her room that we would have to sort of hold our daughter in front of to look at to help her settle a bit, but the crying for us would begin around 7pm and go until midnight for about 4 months...not necessarily every night and sometimes for longer or short durations as time went on. Try a sound machine with sounds of the womb, swaddling, etc. I would just suggest that you NOT let her cry it out...she's too young (I know you didn't say anything about that); however, there is nothing wrong with laying her down in her crib where she is safe and walking away for a few moments of peace and quiet (there may be moments you need it and don't feel bad about that). If you've got some friends or family that can help, ASK!! Don't be afraid to accept some help while you're dealing with it; it can be extremely stressful to listen to your baby cry night after night for hours. Just know, this is not something you caused. Talk to your doctor just to rule out anything medical and then do what you can to keep her, you and your hubby comfortable and I PROMISE!!! It will get better. Hang in there.

You have hit what's refered to as colic.
Try bouncing, walking , wearing , going outside, rocking, soft music and just plain letting her sleep on your chest.
try laying her on her back , bending her knees , and rotating her hips so you lightly push her knees up into her tummy. it will make her toot and relieve some of the gas. a good way to burp her is to lay her down on your legs on her tummy and pat her back from there. or on your shoulder putting light but firm pressure on her lower back and rub firmly upward