My Bub is a few days off being 4 weeks old, and I'm worried he's not sleeping enough. I'm not just talking about being up at night - it's anytime. Right now it's 8pm and he's been awake for nearly 8 hours!
I really didn't think newborns should stay awake for more than an hour or 2 at a time??
At night he's not too bad, he wakes for a feed every 2 hours and normally goes back down without too much fuss.
But it's the days - I try to follow the 'eat, play, sleep' routine I've heard a lot about - but he won't go down - the only time he really looks like he's ready to sleep is after a feed, or a car ride will put him straight to sleep.
He's also a little behind in weight - he's not underweight, but not putting on as much as he should be. I've been trying to boost my milk supply, and also top him up 2 or 3 times a days with formula until my supply improves. I'm worried that the lack of sleep he's getting is also affecting his growth?
Newborn doesn't sleep
Newborn doesn't sleep
Posted in:
Baby & Toddler
15 Replies
Firstly, I always worry supplementing with formula as it creates a cycle of never having enough milk for bubs because you build your supply by the amount he drinks but at the moment, your not making milk for those feeds he has formula?
Secondly, 8 hours does seem like a very long time for a tiny bub. My toddlers can't even do that.
Could it be he is over-tired or over-stimulated? Do you know his tired cues and are you getting onto them as soon as he shows a sign?
Also, I think four weeks is a leap. Do you have the wonder weeks app? He could be going through this just before a leap, where they usually have a day or two of big sleeps for a growth spurt.
Hang in there mama.
I'm still breastfeeding the same, I'm not replacing any feeds with formula, but will offer him a small amount after a feed if he gets restless at the boob after swapping sides a few times (advised by baby clinic nurse).
It's helpful to put them down after the first few signs of tiredness - yawn/eye rub. A midwife once told me to look for red eyebrows. Best tip ever!! Put him down soon after he displays these signs rather than waiting too long otherwise he could get overtired and upset and not want to go down.
I've failed to be able to actually get him to fall asleep on his own when trying this - he'll happily lay there for a while, but will soon get sooky, and by the time I try to settle him, he'll be due to eat again - then he'll seem sleepy, so I wrap him up, have a cuddle, put him down - and the same thing happens for a few times.
I couldn't do the play bit! We did play, eat then sleep. If we did eat then play he'd couldn't go to sleep and I'd have to do a feed to get him to sleep.
I still found Day sleep we had to work hard at. Like putting him in the stroller and going for a walk, or to the shops and he'd sleep for ages. So we just did that.
I agree! I fed babies to go to sleep as it was so much easier and saved my sanity!
What is bub doing for 8 hours of awake time? That's a very long time! In saying that my first was never the best day sleeper and would wake as soon as I put her down (would sleep for hours if I held her). A baby carrier was my saviour. My second is 9 months old and been doing the eat, play, sleep routine for only a couple months. As a newborn it was more like feed, sleep, feed, play, feed, sleep..
Is the midwife/doctor concerned about his weight gain? They would be the best ones to speak to about any concerns you have
Most of the time he's awake, he's feeding - usually takes about an hour each time!
I was told by a midwife that after 10/15 minutes on a side they're not really getting much. She could be wrong but it saved my sanity (and my nipples!) my son would've sat there all day if he could! Especially when after 2 hours he would turn around and be hungry again.
I wonder if maybe you're expecting too much of him to go to sleep by himself. Maybe try some other variations - sit next to his bed with a hand on him until he goes to sleep, lay down on a bed until he goes to sleep or maybe put him to sleep in the pram
At 4 weeks my bubs was mainly eating then sleeping with maybe only about 30 mins play twice a day perhaps. Now he is older (4 months) he is up for between 1.5-2 hrs between sleeps (except when he is overtired). Definitely think he is overtired and needs to just eat then sleep.
Im guessing obviously, but he could be overstimulated in the day. Throw away the routine and just follow his cues. When hes awake give him a little play, a nice bath, a massage, when hes ready for a feed feed him and try to turn off all the lights and sounds and just be chill, maybe go for a walk cuddling him or babywearing.
Youre right thats a very long time for a newborn to be awake, I would be concerned as well, would definitely be asking midwife or health nurse, and dont let them tell you its normal. Get tactics, try them, then go back again and say still not sleeping. You do have to push and follow up or they are likely to send you on your way.
I noticed above that you said you wrap him up after a feed if he seems sleepy - have you looked into different methods of swaddling? Such as love to dream swaddles? He can self comfort with his hands and are meant to be a miracle. I have 15 ready to go for when bubs arrives, I have heard nothing but positive feedback about them. You can quickly zip him in/out and hardly disturb him if he is sleepy.
Yeah love to dream zip up suits are the best!! They became a sleep cue for both my boys. One of the best purchases ever.
Have u tried baby wearing ??
Your saying you put him down and he won't fall asleep but maybe he's stressed ? He's very tiny and relies on you to feel safe and secure . The world is a big big place to him and it's surprisingly quiet . The movement of the car is likely to settle him because that's what he's used to (all the movement inside you ) - white noise can help too as it's noisy in side you !!!
Maybe also if you really don't want to hold him to sleep popping him in alarm and walking around til he drifts off might help ! He'd like the movement of that too!!
Also with boosting your milk supply look up boobie bickies! You can buy them or there are recipes around that you can make itself ! They really work !!
I swear by the safe our sleep routine. 4 kids and each one exactly the same.