Breeson will be 6 weeks old this coming Sunday. He currently has colic in the evenings starting anywhere around 5-6 p.m. and can go up to midnight. Some nights are better than others.
During the day though he sleeps a lot. I usually try and keep him up after feedings for about 1-2 hours, but then after that he gets super fussy. It's easier to just put him to sleep rather than deal with his moodiness. He is starting to make eye contact and "play" on his floor mat (not sure what that's called?). He is fun to play with for the first 1/2 hour after he eats. At this age (almost 6 weeks), how much should he be sleeping? And how much should we allow him to sleep? After his 2nd to the last meal in the evenings, we try and keep him up before his last feeding so that he'll be sleepy. Sometimes it's too hard to keep him happy and entertained for that long, so we occasionally let him take a short nap. The funny thing is, it's super hard to keep him awake before the last feeding, but then after we do feed him, he doesn't want to go sleep. Grrr!!
I tried to look it up on how much sleep during the day is appropriate for his age, but didn't find much. Are we to just let him sleep when he wants to sleep? And if the answer is "no", then are we wrong in wanting him to sleep rather than hear him cry (more like scream)??
What to do, what to do?!?
8 comments:
Joy NOTHING you do is EVER wrong, provided you are meeting all his needs (ie diaper changes, feeding etc)! There is no right answer on the sleeping issue. I say let him sleep when he wants to sleep and for however long he wants to sleep!!! ( NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY!!)
You are fortunate he does nap...Lo NEVER DID! She would take little cat naps during the day (10-30minutes MAX) and scream the rest.
I struggled w/ feeling like I was suppose to "do" something with her during the day at that age, but the truth is there really isn't anything you can do and they should be sleeping a lot at this stage. I wouldn't worry to much about "playing" right now...there will be plenty of that sooner than you realize!
Also, are you waking him for this last feeding?! b/c if he falls asleep just see how long he will go. I don't know if you are a stay at home mom or working but you may just have to let him schedule you. According to one book I have Healthy Sleep, Happy Babies, they shouldn't be up longer than 1.5-2 hours at a time anyway, so that sounds about right. And it also says and I have found it to be a little true, is that keeping them up makes them sleep less, b/c they become OVERTIRED and can't unwind...esp colic babies!!!
I am not sure if this helped or confused you more?!?! I guess maybe you could try and put him down at that 2nd to last feed...he may not need what you consider to be his last feed at this point?!?! Babies are so weird and just when you think you figured them out they change on you!
Keep up the good work, I know you are an amazing mommy!
Here's a chart that helped me some: http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-child-need_7645.bc Of course every baby is differnt and just when you think you have it figured out it all changes. That link also has links to other info too. I referred to that website a lot. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn't but I was thankful for a place to look.
I am so sorry about the colic. We suffered (and I do mean suffered because there is nothing fun about it) through it with Mason for 6 months. We tried everything and the only thing that worked was running the vacuum cleaner.
I randomly found your blog just in case you find it weird that someone you don't know is reading your blog! I have a nearly one-year old and the book that was our saving grace was "On Becoming Babywise." Wilder took to the techniques and we in turn, breathed (& slept) a little easier!
thanks all for the great advice!!! It's good to know we're "on the right track". It's so hard to know at times b/c every baby is different.
Hey Joy - I understand the "am I doing the right thing?" thing. :) So many little questions... and big ones, too. Not to add to your myriad of advice, but I talked to my pediatrician recently... she said to let them sleep whenever they want... just don't let them go more than 3 hours between feedings during the day. Only then she said to wake them - it helps with the night/day reversal. Avery sleeps quite a bit - she takes naps during the day that span different amounts of time, but now it's no more than 2 hours. At night what has begun working for us is I feed her for a LONG time before bedtime (I nurse on one side, then change and swaddle her, then nurse on the other). She goes through the night then. Oh - something I read said to expose them to natural sunlight in the mornings and it'll help with the night/day reversal stuff, too. It seemed to work for us. Around 7am each morning I take Avery out on the deck and rock for a bit. :) Oh - I agree with Chele that the baby schedules you at this age, if you're able to do that. I don't mean to cause any friction, but I really disagree about Babywise... I would recommend NOT reading it. :) This age is too young to schedule too strictly and it can cause more problems than help. It sounds like you're doing all you know... and that's sometimes all we can do, I've learned. :) Avery has been constipated lately and I wish I could make her feel better... anywho, Chele knows a lot about colic, so she would have good advice in that area. :) I will pray for you and Breeson! Keep us posted. :)
It's so funny how different things work for different people. Just goes to show that babies are as different as adults... I read about half of babywise, implemented the techniques, and have been SUPER pleased with the outcome. Putting Noah on a schedule has been the best thing ever... We aren't too rigid, but try to let him go 2 1/2 or 3 hours between feedings during the day. Another thing that has worked for us in the evening is routine. At first, we were just bathing him every few days and putting him to bed whenever...and it was terrible. He'd cried through the bath, eat, and then cry and cry when we laid him down. But, we started the 3 B's before bedtime: Bath, Breast, Bed. We don't start the whole process until like 8:30, but some babies go to bed earlier (Jack!)...but if we try earlier, he doesn't sleep as well it seems. Weird, but whatever... anyway, that's what's worked for us. Hope it helps! :)
Well honey, I don't know about babies who sleep too much during the day! :) But I would definitely let him sleep as he seems to need. Isn't he growing like crazy? But I would agree with Ginger's dr's advice to make sure he is awake to eat every few hours during the day. As far as advice from books...we were not Babywise (it made me feel like a failure!) but I know some people just love it. I really don't have a book I'd recommend. For us, it was just trial and error, seeming to maybe figure something out and then she'd change again. :) Take everyone's advice with a grain of salt, knowing Breeson is his own little person, and do what meets his needs AND makes you a sane/happy mama. Love you!
Oh sweet sister! Let me just say, I really was in awe of your finesse and confidence as such a new mom on the scene.
I read "Baby Whisperer" and found it helpful. Does he like motion i.e. swinging? Does swaddling help? Also the book "Happiest baby on the block" has some really helpful advice. Both the books I mention talk about colic in newborns.
Love you and I will pray for your sanity and a heavenly patience.
Amanda Olinger
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