how to get bub to sleep through the night

[DIANNEKB]

Bubs is nearly 11 weeks old and he wont sleep through the night.. he sleeps for 3hours then wakes .. then does another 3 hours and wakes... then he will do 2 and he wakes.. then he will finish up with a 1 hour sleep... I am so sleep deprived and feel I am struggling to cope :crying: ... has anyone got any suggestions to help him sleep through the night.

Di..xxx

[the_queen]

Sounds like a normal baby, sorry to have to tell you. Babies have tiny tiny stomachs (same size as their fist) and breastmilk is so nutritionally perfect for them that it digests really quickly. So he will wake up hungry again after a few hours. He is probably going through a bit of a growth spurt right now, and needs that fantastic boobie juice more often to give him all the good stuff he needs.

Sleep deprivation is tough to cope with, I think every mother will tell you that. And "sleep when your baby sleeps" is fantastic advice, but as adults we need more than 2 or 3 hours sleep in a row to feel properly rested. My advice would be to forget about everything else right now - Cody is your number one priority - and just feed him, and sleep. Try co-sleeping. This doesn't have to be bubs in bed with you. Try pushing the cot right up against your side of the bed, with one side off, so it's almost an extension of your bed. This is called a "side-car arrangement". When he wakes for a feed, you don't need to get out of bed, just slide over towards him and feed him laying down.

Don't worry about housework, or anything like that. Call on everybody who said "oh let me know if you ever need help with the baby" and ask them to cook some meals for you, or do your washing, or clean your house. If you have a partner (you don't say in your post, so I don't want to assume) then get him to help out more.

And please remember, this doesn't last forever. This is normal behaviour for a little bubba, and he will settle into a more mum-friendly routine sooner or later.

[MonkeyMum05]

I know this might not be what you want to hear... but my little boy has only started sleeping through (till 5am), in the last couple of months... and he is almost 9 1/2 mths old!
He was a shocker... would be awake every 1-2 hours and would only go to sleep while feeding.
He ended up sleeping in our bed with us, and then at 7 mths. when he started waking all the time in our bed aswell, I did a modified form of CC with him, which worked, thankfully! (And yes, I previously thought CC was ******** and a form of child abuse... but now understand why people are forced to do it!) ...

...but I agree that what you have described sounds pretty normal ... so maybe just do the old 'sleep when he sleeps', day and night... easier said than done, I know!
...maybe consider co-sleeping... definately leave the housework!

I guess I'm just repeating the_queen's ideas, aren't I...:rolleyes:

Sorry that I haven't really helped at all...:D ... I tried... :p

[nemosmum]

The Baby Whisperer is appearing on Sunrise tomorrow at 8.40am and they have asked people to email them Q.s so why not send of an email and tune in for some helpful tid bits:D

Good luck:)

[Tea Lady]

You poor thing :( I don't have much to add to what the others have said, except to say I've been there and survived, but it is horribly exhausting and depressing. Are there people who can help you out with housework, cooking etc? I know it's really hard to ask people, especially when the house is a mess (maybe yours is nice, but mine was always gross!) because you don't want them having to deal with your mess, but it may save your sanity. Also if you can get someone to babysit it can really help. When you're both awake don't expect too much of yourself - it's ok to watch TV or read a book (if bub will let you - mine wouldn't) or do whatever other lazy things you want.

Anyway, probably not much help, but I hope you feel better soon :hugs: :hugs:

Also, I'm not sure where you live, but it can be good to ring the nurse hotline in your area for advice - you might not follow it but it's good to have some different ideas to try.

:hugs: again

[Twoterrorsmum]

Hi Dianne, I know it's probably not what you want to hear but that's pretty much how little bubbies sleep in those early months...unless you're one of those lucky mums who bubs sleep through early on. My DS's routine was like that for quite a while, he only started sleeping through from about 7 mths old, pretty much when he was eating more solids as well. I can sympathise with you at the moment, it is hell sometimes and you think it's never going to end!!. I can remember quite a few times saying to DH that we needed to drop DS off at the hospital and put him up for adoption coz I couldn't handle it anymore. I was serious at the time but now when I think back I just laugh and think what crazy things we come out with when we're sleep deprived lol. All I can say is don't worry is does get better as they grow older and you can really start to enjoy them and have fun. Bubs just needs to get into his routine.You should definately have a rest or sleep when bubs has a sleep during the day or is there someone that you could ask to look after bubs so you could have a sleep, even just a short nap does wonders during these tired times.