Little grizzler!

[mel6280]

Hi Everyone,

My DS is almost 6 weeks old. He feeds approximately every three hours during the day, and then has two 4-5 hour stretches over night which is great.

The only thing is that he has become quite unsettled between feeds and before sleep. After feeding we usually 'play' with him (during the day only) until he starts to show signs of being tired. Then I put him in bed. He then lies there 'grizzling', squirming and grunting for up to an hour. He is not really crying, it's just like he is getting really frustrated by something and is fighting falling asleep. I can't stand to hear it anymore so I usually pick him up to try and settle him. He does tend to settle in my arms and falls asleep.

I then put him back to bed, but within half and hour or so he wakes up hungry because the whole process has literally taken hours! So, no time for me to get sleep/eat/dress etc. I'm getting really distressed by it and have ended up in tears most days.

We've tried 'hands-on' settling (rocking/patting etc while he is still in bassinette), doesn't work.
I thought it might be wind, so have tried gripe water. Doesn't work.
I then thought he wants a dummy, so tried that and it's no longer working (worked for 1 day).
We wrap/swaddle him, and have tried lots of different techniques and different wraps, none of which seem to make a difference.
I've tried making the room dark and silent. No difference. I've also tried keeping it light, and have also tried playing relaxation music.

Nothing seems to make a difference.

The only thing that really works is me carrying him around 24 hrs a day and I just can't physically do that anymore. I do use a sling sometimes, but I find I can't do alot of things like getting dressed, drive, cook etc while I have it on. I also worry that he will never learn to sleep by himself if I carry him around all the time and allow him to sleep on me.

[sharvs]

DS2 was just like that - then something seemed to just fall into place around 8 weeks. I think maybe once they get that 6 week growth spurt out of the way, they tend to settle a little. The only way I could get DS2 to sleep was in my arms or the sling which made life difficult. Around 7 weeks I started putting him in his bassinet to sleep - sometimes it worked, sometimes it didnt. I would never leave DS2 if he was crying, i would pat him until he settled. Once he settled I would walk away, then if he started crying I would settle him again. I started off with his bassinet in the lounge (where I was most of the time) and once he got used to that I moved him to his room. Now (at 13 weeks) he gets put down in his room and is usually asleep within 5 minutes. Sometimes he only sleeps for 40 minutes, other times its 3 hours.

Dont forget they call the first 12 weeks the '4th trimester' when all they want is to be close to you but I promise it wont last forever.

[SalsaMama]

:hugs: It sounds like really hard work at the moment, but you're doing a great job.

My DS was like that for the first 3 months ie. only slept if I carried him upright, and in the first couple of months he would squirm and grunt after every feed. He has silent reflux and it was only after that was diagnosed and treatment started that he's improved. It might be worth looking into as it often goes undiagnosed for a while - google it and see if the symptoms match.

It is really difficult for you both physically and emotionally, because you're giving a lot of yourself. Is there anyone who can come over and look after bub while you have a shower,nap etc?

[Ethan um]

:highfive:U r not alone, my ds is 12wks still doesn't sleep at all during day time since he was born. If lucky I can make him 2*30mins sleep otherwise he is awake n needs me all day, I can't do anything until my partner comes home from work,even a shower! He slee ps at night but wake up 4 times to feed. I m very tired everyday ..trying to train him to sleep but not working.

[trishalishous]

I know its hard, but its worse if you stress about it.
I found that once I 'let go' of the worries (DD has always catnapped for 40 minutes during the day) things were easier, and now shes older she sleeps 3-4 hours in the arvo, and I have 'me' time