Some Advice To Do With A Newborn.

[mummy2lilly]

Hi All,

The last 2-3 nights DS has been waking at 10pm of a night and not going back to sleep until about 1.30am in the morning.
During this time he is quite fussy. We give him a nappy change, bottle, clean clothing and lots of hugs plus his dummy.

But if we are to put DS down in the Bassinett he will start to cry or spit out his dummy and cry for it. We can set our clocks by the time he wakes and falls alseep.

I spoke to a Midwive about this and she said that he is going through a stage called the witching hour..

Im unsure on how i can start getting him out of this stage. Im wanting him out of it soon as DF is no longer sleeping in our room as df needs to get his sleep due to work the next morning. But as i said i want him out of this stage as im wanting df back in our bed. DS will fall asleep while laying on our bed or hugging up to me but as soon as i put him in his bassinett he will start.

I do know he is still quite young.

help please..

[mummy2lilly]

bump anyone?

[InfiniteDreams]

Im not that fresh with ideas since DD is 4 now and Ive forgotton a lot!
but with DD2 two days past her due date, Im sure it wont be long before im back in the swing of things..

have you tried giving bubs a bath, after a feed etc, might calm them down and resettled them back into sleep

[mummy2lilly]

We have tried that. But with him being quite young he still hates all the bathing etc and will scream.
We have tried everything the last couple of nights. But i did read some where that if he use to move alot a a certain time that he will be up at that time as he thinks its his big fed. Where he use to be kicking alot in my belly at 11pm until early hours of the morning when i was pregnant.
Dont get me wrong i dont mind him being up at that time. But im just wanting him to go to sleep when i lay him down in his bassinett and not to spit the dummy out and scream about it etc. thank you for your reply.

[elleandsam]

I hate to tell you this but for the first 6 weeks the witching hour is very normal, very common, and there's not a lot you can do about it. I coped through this period by co-sleeping, it was the only thing that got DD back to sleep.

[Basil]

Maybe just give him whatever he wants so you all get some sleep. If he sleeps with you during those hours then maybe try co sleeping for that period and the bassinet for the other sleeps? I'm sure you are doing a wonderful job :)

[mummy2lilly]

I did try co-sleeping last night which helped. But i didnt sleep so well as i was scared i was going to roll on him or put covers etc over him or that he would get to hot.
With dd i cant remember going through this. But maybe she did hers at a different time of day.
thanks for your replies ladies.

[BigRedV]

It's not witching hour, he just wants to be next to his mummy.

[Lily of the Nile]

I went through the same (and still am) his routine or lack of changes so much.
I got through this stage by co-sleeping, you can try a basket or those bassinets designed for your bed, that way you can hold the dummy in his mouth until he falls asleep and still get some type of sleep/rest. I used the boob which worked better and we both slept that way (in the nook of my arm) I also used a sling alot.
I found just a couple of nights of getting that sleep pattern back fixes it and he remembered it's sleep time not up time, so I do whatever works to get him to sleep, even going for a drive.
I wish there was one remedie or answer, I'm in need of much need sleep myself :sleeping:

[peanutbutter&jelly]

It's not witching hour, he just wants to be next to his mummy.

I tend to agree.
DD does the same thing at the moment, its just a phase. Worse when my DS is a terrible sleeper, tends to drift off right before my 9 weeks old DD wakes up, then we're up till 1-ish too :( Nothing you can do to change it or fix it, just ride it out :)

[elleandsam]

I did try co-sleeping last night which helped. But i didnt sleep so well as i was scared i was going to roll on him or put covers etc over him or that he would get to hot.
With dd i cant remember going through this. But maybe she did hers at a different time of day.
thanks for your replies ladies.

I feared that too at first, but I learnt to trust my mummy instincts. As long as you're not drunk or drugged co-sleeping is safe.


It's not witching hour, he just wants to be next to his mummy.
:iagree: everyday for you little man is filled with brand new experiences which can be overwhelming for him, his only way of communicating his frustrations is by crying. Quickly shoving a dummy or a breast in his mouth when that's not what he wants is kind of like saying "shut up, I don't want to hear it" however holding him, cuddling him, singing softly to him, and soothing him after making sure all his needs are met (which it sounds like you're doing) could be just the trick. And it also let's him know that Mummy is there for him when he needs her.

[kar]

We also co slept during night unsettled periods. F was always a fan of the bassinet at night, but on the nights he didn't want to be in there we tucked him in with us. Lucky for me he loved sleeping on DHs nice flat chest! We never used one of those bed things although we had one - when f wanted co- sleeping he really wanted it, on top of us or tucked right under arm pit.
He never decided he wanted permanent cosleeping, we just gave what he needed each night. As long as you follow the guidelines it us very safe, and very lovely!

[Lil M]

DS was like this but only for a few weeks. We were advised to feed him quietly, keep the lights out/dim, don't change his nappy unless he's wet through or pooed. Just keep everything subdued so that he starts to learn the difference between night & day. Changing & talking to him just keeps him awake. Also we tried to give him as much formula as possible before bedtime as it takes longer to digest. He's 3 months now & sleeps through for about 7 - 10 hours.:sleeping:

[kar]

I think it is generally considered that FF is unlikely to help with night waking for small babies and could contribute to
upset tum if overfeeding or usually BF, making things worse. But if it worked for you that is great.

[BigRedV]

DS was like this but only for a few weeks. We were advised to feed him quietly, keep the lights out/dim, don't change his nappy unless he's wet through or pooed. Just keep everything subdued so that he starts to learn the difference between night & day. Changing & talking to him just keeps him awake. Also we tried to give him as much formula as possible before bedtime as it takes longer to digest. He's 3 months now & sleeps through for about 7 - 10 hours.:sleeping:

The OP's son is on formula so I don't think being hungry is the problem.

[Lil M]

I think it is generally considered that FF is unlikely to help with night waking for small babies and could contribute to
upset tum if overfeeding or usually BF, making things worse. But if it worked for you that is great.


We didn't OVER feed him,:no: just tried to get him to drink as much of the bottle before he fell asleep. He didn't have an upset tum either. This was advice from health professionals.

[Rachael]

This happened with my DS and my DD at approximately the same age until about 3-4months.

With DS we bought one those sleep things that go in the bed as I was paranoid one of us would roll on him; this is what we got http://www.productreview.com.au/showitem.php?item_id=58388 it worked really well. I would just stroke DS and hold his hand till he slept.

With DD I was slightly less paranoid and when she refused to sleep in her bassinet beside our bed I let he cosleep snuggled up to me. It worked well and she has been back in her bassinet (now cot) since about 4months of age.

PS: You have to remember that bub is used to be incredibly snug and hearing your heart 24/7 for the past 9months and only wants that same comforting enviroment. :)