3 month old routines?? Sleeping!

[A&Omummy]

I have a 3 month old baby girl. I was having problems with her sleeping during the day and went to a day stay clinic. Things improved after that were so much better and she was sleeping heaps more. Still had the occasional off day and when were out wouldn’t sleep much if any. Over the last few days I have had problems again. I know she could be going though a growth spurt. I am B/F 3 hrly. But she is not sleeping any longer then 1/2 hr at the most. She is quite happy laying in her cot. Wingers a bit at times but is usually quite good. I feel she is in her cot heaps. But I know she needs so sleep. Sometimes she will go back to sleep, but again only for 10-15 mins. I don’t know if I should leave her or get her up and then put her down again in an hr. Because if she doesn't have a sleep close to her feed time she wont feed properly and falls asleep. This is what she was doing before, (using the breast for a comforter to go to sleep). Im worried she will lose weight and my milk supply will go down. Please help! I would like to know what other bubs around 3 months, routines are. She wakes at 6:30 has a feed at 7 then goes back down after this around 7:30. She is showing tired signs after only an hr. I don't know if I should hold her up till 8 or what. Because the nurse told me you have to catch the tired signs or they become over tired. She used to have a really good first sleep like 2-3 hrs it was so good. I really worried as I am returning back to work next week. She will be with me as I work in Childcare. But in different rooms. But am still able to B/F.

Diana

[carls]

Hi

I'm having EXACTLY the same problem with my 3 month old - it was as if i was reading my own life!! James doesnt sleep during the day (or for 10 minutes at a time) - even when hes tired he keeps waking up so I just keep him up, but as soon as we get on a bus or get into a shopping centre he falls straight asleep! Most of the time I just dont know what to do.

For the first 3 months he slept between 2-6 hours at night, usually with a big sleep at the beginning around 7-9pm for about 4-6 hours, then steadily getting less as the night went by but always waking at least 2-3 times for feeds.

I'm exhausted and at my wits end!!!

I would appreciate advice too.

Do we keep trying over and over all day to put bubs to sleep if they wont? If they sleep during the day does it necessarily mean they will sleep better at night?

[A&Omummy]

Hi

I'm having EXACTLY the same problem with my 3 month old - it was as if i was reading my own life!! James doesnt sleep during the day (or for 10 minutes at a time) - even when hes tired he keeps waking up so I just keep him up, but as soon as we get on a bus or get into a shopping centre he falls straight asleep! Most of the time I just dont know what to do.

For the first 3 months he slept between 2-6 hours at night, usually with a big sleep at the beginning around 7-9pm for about 4-6 hours, then steadily getting less as the night went by but always waking at least 2-3 times for feeds.

I'm exhausted and at my wits end!!!

I would appreciate advice too.

Do we keep trying over and over all day to put bubs to sleep if they wont? If they sleep during the day does it necessarily mean they will sleep better at night?


Hi Carls

It's good to know I am not the only one with a bub only napping. But I do have to say my bub does sleep well at night:smiliedance: She goes down at 7:30 and usually sleeps untill 7, waking around 2-3 am for a feed. So I am glad about that.

I have been tould that the better they sleep during the day the better they will sleep at night. I really feel for you, :( I would hate if my bub didn't sleep well during the night. I am just thankful for that.

Carls is bub happy though or does he winge during the day? Aleah seems quite happy. It's like she doesn't need to sleep. She shows tired signs so I put her down if she goes to sleep :smiliedance: I leave her in there untill she because really upset then get her up and she so happy.

Anyone can u help us??

Diana

[sharvs]

My DS is nearly 4 months old, up until he was about 3 months old he was a terrible day sleeper. I started trying to get him to self settle and it has worked really well. His routine is pretty good. His first bottle of the day is at 7.30. He is awake for 2 hours, sleeps for an hour, awake for 2 hours, sleeps for an hour. This happens all day until about 5pm. He is bottle feed, every 4 hours. From 5-7 it's a bit nasty because he wants to sleep but fights it. We bath him at 7.30, last bottle at 8pm & he is usually asleep within half an hour. We dont see him again until 7.30 the next morning. He doesnt even wake for a feed anymore. All I did was start putting him to bed whilst he was still awake. You have to know your babys signs, but once you start the 2 hour rule, you'll be amazed how your baby will get tired almost exactly after 2 hours.

Hope this makes sence, I'm trying to type quickly before DS wakes again.

[Me]

Wow! I just read my exact experiences - DD is a terrible day sleeper.. As I word it to the CHN or docs when they ask - it is a good day if I get her down for a nap! today there were 2 x 30min naps - YAY! that's a good day. and at night she's feeding twice atm - but can be up to 5 times a night - makes me :sleeping:
can't wait to read about some more advice.
ps have tried the self settle thing before and was working really well for DD but we've gone back to our old ways(only settling with dummy):thumbsdown: should i be stern and just take the dummy away again? even just throw it out?

[kuz78au]

My DS is nearly 4 months old, up until he was about 3 months old he was a terrible day sleeper. I started trying to get him to self settle and it has worked really well. His routine is pretty good. His first bottle of the day is at 7.30. He is awake for 2 hours, sleeps for an hour, awake for 2 hours, sleeps for an hour. This happens all day until about 5pm. He is bottle feed, every 4 hours. From 5-7 it's a bit nasty because he wants to sleep but fights it. We bath him at 7.30, last bottle at 8pm & he is usually asleep within half an hour. We dont see him again until 7.30 the next morning. He doesnt even wake for a feed anymore. All I did was start putting him to bed whilst he was still awake. You have to know your babys signs, but once you start the 2 hour rule, you'll be amazed how your baby will get tired almost exactly after 2 hours.

Hope this makes sence, I'm trying to type quickly before DS wakes again.

Our bubs is about the same, I try to stick to the 2 hours rule too. Today though he has been out of whack. He has been asleep most of the day and I'm soooo worried about what he will be like tonight! This morning he was up at 3am and didn't go down until I fed him. He normally goes to bed about 8/9pm and sleeps until 5am. I've been told it's rare to have a baby sleeping through at this age so I think I'm very lucky and hope your bubs does this soon. Then you just need to work your sleeping patterns out! And it aint easy! I'm still waking a few times a night! :sleeping:

Anyway, as for the daytime sleeps, I let him take charge of those, when he looks tired I put him in his cot and usually pop a dummy in and have to hold it for a while. I also have a fisher price ocean thingy on the side of his cot, I turn this on and sometimes he goes off to sleep with that. He only will sleep for 30mins to an hour. I don't think he has ever slept any longer than that. At first I used to put him in a rocker and rock him to sleep, but I get more done when he is in the cot so I rarely do that anymore.

Good luck and I hope I've given some help?!!!?! :fingerscrossed:

PS. JRmumma - if the dummy works, STICK WITH IT! :thumbsup:

[Me]

well today i went to the CHN for a check up and she was asking about DD feeding and sleeping habits and has sent a referal in for me to go to riverton to see if we can sort out some of these issues.
about the dummy - 2 days no dummy!:smiliedance: can't wait til it's a full week - i can't stand the thing!
will keep you posted

PS - Di E i tried to PM you back but it said your inbox was full - i'll try again tomorrow

[A&Omummy]

Sorry Jess haven't been on for awhile. I have sent you a PM.

[emilysmumma]

DD is now 4 months old, but had the same problem.
I found that wrapping her arms up would mean that when she went from one sleep phase to the next, roughly every 30-45 mins she wouldn't wake herself up.
This helped heaps, and would sometimes sleep for 1 1/2 hours a few times a day.

I do the feed, play, sleep thingy and she pretty much will start showing signs of tiredness about 1 to 1 1/2 hours from waking.

Now that she is more mobile we went cold turkey on the wrapping as she was getting her arms out and waking her self up. That worked until she started rolling over and waking herself up again, so last night and today i have tried wrapping her body and legs so she can't roll over and so far today she is still asleep after 1 1/2.

There always seem to be some obstacle to get over. Try the wrapping and see how it goes, also i put her to bed awake and just rock her a little bit and sing a song so she knows it's time to sleep and leave her to go to sleep by herself.
If she is crying or upset I cuddle her and settle her down as I don't can't let her cry herself to sleep, breaks my heart. Sometimes though she just whinges and is a bit cranky and i do leave her then as it will only last a few minutes then she will go to sleep.

good luck, i'm sure it will get better. :fingerscrossed:

[annb]

I started to follow this routine when my baby was 8 weeks old and have never looked back, yes it is pretty strict but if you want them to be happy, have good naps and eat well then really you have to stick to it

wake - 7am and feed
nap - 9am till 10.30am-11am
11am - feed
1pm - nap
3pm - feed
4.30pm - walk- maybe a short nap in the pram but must be awake by 5pm
6pm- bath
6.30pm - feed
7pm - bed
10.30pm - dream feed (ie shove the bottle in when they are still asleep!!) if they need a feed during the night

it took me a few days of persevering to get him to sleep long naps but it was well worth staying home for a few days as then i was able to get him to take his lunchtime nap in his pram if we went out as he knew it was time for a sleep...this is a baby who also only used to sleep 20mins at a time, i even went to a sleep school and read everygoddam book!!
i happen to like routines so it may not be for everyone!! 15mths on the routine has been adapted and he is still a good sleeper!!

[LilSqz]

Hi Diana,

Thank you so much for posting your original msg. My little baby girl is so precious, but she is just not a day sleeper either. I was starting to wonder whether it was just me so found your msg (and everyone's response + advice) v. reassuring. :)

[Kirstyn]

I have a similar problem.....

My little DD who is currently 3 mths old is a great night sleeper, and will usually do around 9 - 11hrs, 10pm - 8am. However will barely sleep during the day and only when I am holding her. No matter what I try I can't seem to get her to sleep in her cot, I have spent hours on end trying to get her to settle in there and after 3 - 4hrs of going in a settling her, we run into her next feed time and then she falls asleep mid feed. I fear this is now leading to her pattern being play feed play feed sleep, as she will no longer even consider sleepiong without being fed to sleep.

Can anyone offer any advice on how to get out of this pattern? and hopefully get her to sleep in her cot during the day, so I can actually get things done?

Thanks :fingerscrossed:

[IheartOman]

I'm the same here. Oscar will have a nap here and there during the day.. but NOT in his bed. In my arms or the pram if it's moving but once movement stops he wakes up straight away or 5 mins later.

Settling him of a night time is a new story every night. We try many things every night till one works. Sometimes he can be crying for 2-3 hours before he sleeps and that is with us trying to sooth him. Once he does get to sleep though I will give him a dream feed around 10 and then he will wake at about 4.30am for a feed and goes straight back down til 7-8am. He has occasionaly skipped the 4.30am feed and gone straight through but not often!

We are booked in to a day stay this Thursday so I really hope they can get this fixed. It has been happening for 3 months straight now (since he was born) and I dont know how much more I can take. :gloomy:

[nic28]

Save our sleep by Tizzie Hall has some great routine's to follow. I have used it since my daughter was about 3 months old, the same thing started to happen. It took a little while but then things started to fall in place. At 4 months my daughter was waking once for a feed at night and sleeping 4 hours a day!! Mind you she is b/fed to sleep, which the book advises not to do. I have never managed to crack that one...but she is still a great sleeper!

[fionarae]

HI, just wondering with that routine, you said it took a few days to get your little one to nap longer = how did u go about getting them to nap longer?

[Jackiloo]

Hi All,
My DS is 3 months old tomorrow, he was a pretty good night sleeper for about 5 weeks sleeping from around 7 til 7 with a quick feed at 3am. He was a bad day sleeper then, he is now sleeping for approx 4 hours during the day and is now waking every 2 hours at night, he will sometimes settle if dummy popped in but usually needs 2 feeds.
Does anyone think that he is waking more at night cause he is aleeping more during the day, perhaps he is not meant to sleep heaps. Or could he be waking to have the dummy put back in? Sometimes he does still have the dummy in his mouth though so maybe not.
He has been doing the night waking for about 2 weeks now and is also fussy at bottle and refuses some feeds and cries when he even just sees the bottle sometimes. He is bottle fed EBM and formula, has been since birth.
Any advice would be great as I am soooo tired!

In regards to getting Charlie to day sleep the only think I can think of that has changed is that I am using a mobile above him that he seems to watch until he falls asleep, dont know why I didnt think to use it until about 2 weeks ago.

J.:sleeping:

[Kadwil]

My son is the same! He will sleep great during the night - goes down around 9 and sleeps till 6.30. During the day he doesn't sleep past one hour, and wakes in pain - his little eyes are jammed shut and his body is writhing with belly pains. I'm not sure why this happens only during the day? About 3 weeks ago I tried avoiding wheat and it made a difference, before this he would only sleep 20 minutes if I was lucky. My Mum would come to visit and cuddle him so he could have a decent sleep and I could get some stuff done! I'm glad it's not just my baby that does this - obviously it's normal for some babies.