7 week old sleep - help?

[Frankenmum]

I don't know about the sleep schools. I too thought this was for 6mths + and they usually have long waiting lists anyway. It's really hard because she probably thinks there is something 'wrong' with her baby that can be 'fixed' given her previous experience with her 'good' sleeper.

She doesn't think there's anything wrong with bub, she just thinks there's something with her and that she's failing I think she's just so sleep deprived and emotional that she can't think clearly enough to put some coping strategies in place.

Thanks for all of your suggestions, I'll add them to the list!

[YeahYeahYeah]

Definitely baby wearing for naps during the day. My 10wo will only sleep in the carrier. Or has she tried a swing for day sleeps? Also, I rug my baby up at night. It's well above recommendations & it worries me but was a vast improvement. I so hope things get better soon!

[VicPark]

Hey @VicPark..

Sorry to high jack the thread OP!!

re:groegg.. It says for 16-20degrees to put only vest, onsie and 1tog bag... Other people say rug the babies up. What's your opinion on the Groegg clothing guidelines.. ( 11mth old )

Grobag guidelines say something like:
- 20 degrees: 2.5 tog bag, long sleeve legless onesie
- 18 degrees: 2.5 tog bag, long sleeve legless onesie and cardigan/pyjama top
- 16 degrees: 2.5 tog bag, full onesie and cardigan/pyjama top.

I personally would use a thermostat controlled heater and set the room to 20

[VicPark]

She doesn't think there's anything wrong with bub, she just thinks there's something with her and that she's failing I think she's just so sleep deprived and emotional that she can't think clearly enough to put some coping strategies in place.

Thanks for all of your suggestions, I'll add them to the list!

Maybe it's mum that needs the attention and not bub? Getting outside in the sunshine each day helped me (get a double pram, put both kids in it and walk walk walk). Can hubby give mum a break for a couple of hours so she can go to the gym or out for a coffee?

[VicPark]

Most of these things she's got covered, but day naps are a huge issue - they're pretty much non-existant right now.

What's the reccomended strategy with these? I know there's a feed/play/sleep routine, but not timings...?

Look at around 1.5 hours awake time - possible less if bub starts to display tired signs.

It's hard to provide advice without knowing the specifics of your friends situation (swaddling, how bub is put to sleep, feeding etc). Perhaps you can encourage your friend to join BH?

[Wise Enough]

Baby swings are a life saver

[SSecret Squirrel]

From a medical perspective, reflux is a common issue that affects sleeping and something a GP could help with.

My kids were all shocking sleepers. They would wake up the second I put them down, but would sleep okayish in my arms. By the time I got to my second child I started using a sling for day sleeps. When number three came along I gave up on the cot all together and just put her straight in the sling. For the first few months of her life, she was either at the boob or in the sling. Not for everyone, but it worked for us and got me through the haze of the newborn days.

I also coslept at night and found I got more sleep that way as my babies didn't really wake up and cry, they just used to stir a bit and I would wake up enough to feed them and go back to sleep when they were done. Again not for everyone, but I functioned better this way. I did sleep lighter when the babies were in bed with me but found I felt better on the whole.

ETA I did find that my kids did sometimes cry a lot I first put them in the sling if they were chronically overtired, BUT they did eventually always get to sleep sometimes for hours. It did mean that I had to go about my business with a baby hanging off my front eg hang washing on the clothesline, vacuum the floor etc etc but it was the only way I could get anything done.

[Billie2]

Hi all, hoping some of you lovely ladies can help me help my sister.

She has a 2yo and a 7 week old. With her 2 year old she was lucky to have a 'good' sleeper pretty much straight away. So she's now at a total loss as to what to do with her 7 week old who will not sleep during the day, and wakes every couple of hours overnight. This has been going on since week 3.

She wants to get referred to a sleep school, but I'm not sure if she'll get a referral due to bub still being so young. Unfortunately she's feeling rather desperate as she feels like she's slipping into PND again, she had it pretty bad with her first.

Personally I think bub is still a bit too too young for sleep training, I know it's not reccomended before 6 months, but I don't want to tell her this due to her mental state, so I'm not sure how to help her...

Bub was diagnosed with lactose intolerance about 3 weeks ago, and has been on a lactose free formula since then. She's feeding, weeing and pooping normally. They don't know of any other medical issues.

So my questions are:

- If she goes to her GP, what medical conditions could she ask to be check for that may be affecting sleep?

- What is the youngest age that a sleep school will accept bub?

- Are there any gentle techniques for encouraging day sleeps that could be used on a bub so young?

- What things can she do/check for encouraging longer sleep periods overnight?

Please don't turn this into a debate thread (there's already one of those going!). I really want to help her as she's getting to a desperate stage, but I'm not sure what to reccomend due to bub still being so young...? 😕

I took my son to "sleep school" from 5wks of age and he slept 12hrs a night from that very day. I would "dream feed" him at night. It worked out well for us. He was a screamer and I acknowledged I needed help and never too proud to admit it. Cannot recommend it enough. One day at a clinic with 1 nurse between 2 mums. It was a private clinic and worth every cent (only $200).

Hope your sister finds a solution or way to work through it soon xx

[RedCreamingSoda]

I had an 18 month old DS and a new DD. It was at 7 weeks that I had a complete meltdown. My DD was unhappy all the time. She would hardly sleep in the day and woke all night. She would wake at 7, feed, hangout while DS had breakfast, get cranky, Feed again, I'd try to put her to sleep but she would scream so I would feed again, then try settling, burping, settling, feeding, settling and on and on it went but she just wouldn't actually sleep until she passed out at around 2-3pm. That's 8 hrs awake in the day!!!! It was awful. Loooonnnng story short is that I was kind of distracted by my toddler and I was alway a step behind with meeting babys needs. At 7 weeks I snapped and got out my SOS book. I looked up the routine for her age and it said wake at 7 and first sleep of the day at 8:30. I was never trying to put her down that early. Our mornings were so busy that it was usually about 9 before I was trying to settler her for her first sleep. So after reading the routine I decided to put her down at 8:30 the next day. I did and she IMMEDIATELY went to sleep. And sleep for 2 hours. It turned out that she had always been over tired. I put her on a routine and she started sleeping soooooo much better. The nights improved just because days sleeps were better.

I feel sick just thinking about your sister. It is a really hard time. If it was my sister I would suggest trying a routine. Or somehow having someone come over from first thing in the morning to take care of her toddler so she can focus on bub. Get bub down for that first day sleep after 1.5hrs awake time or at the first tired signs.
Good luck. Xxx

[sajimum]

I agree with those who have suggested a carrier for day naps. My second baby basically lived in one for the first few months as it was the best way to get him to have decent naps.