Overtired 6-weeker

My baby is high-needs; there is no doubt about it.

He is easily bored, especially clingy, and has an inability to sleep in the daytime. He maybe takes 30minute naps, twice a day. On a good day he may take one 30minute nap, and one two hour nap. By night time he is overtired and it takes over an hour to get him down to sleep. He falls asleep between 11p and midnight.

Yesterday he took only one 30minute nap. Neitherless to say, by 8:30 he was so exhausted that he screamed and screamed for two hours. We tried everything to get him to sleep: let him nurse (usually works), put him in the swing, white noise, swaddling, rocking and gripe water. But clearly it was a lost cause.

I know 6 weeks is too early to try to implement a schedule for a baby but what can we do to make sure he takes more naps and/or go to bed earlier.

I felt terrible that DS was so upset and there was nothing I could do to help him.

TIA

try making a bedtime routine. Like a bath and nursing and sit quietly with him in the dark and rock him before bed. Does he have colic? When my son was little, he did a lot of screaming, and the only thing that really worked was Nutramagen formula. It was the difference between night and day.

Not to keep posting the same thing on your threads but I don't think 6 weeks is too early to start with a schedule. You can't expect it to get followed every day in exactly the same way but my son was a wild card between 6-9 weeks until we did and he eventually started catching on. Others will disagree, but it can't hurt. Babies need sleep to develop their brains, and you need sleep so you don't go crazy.

Quoting wannaknow:" try making a bedtime routine. Like a bath and nursing and sit quietly with him in the dark and rock him ... [snip!] ... a lot of screaming, and the only thing that really worked was Nutramagen formula. It was the difference between night and day."

No he doesnt have colic. He usually is consolable. He has never cried for 3 hours a day... no less 3 days a week for three weeks. He also is breast fed.

Forgot to try the bath yesterday! That could've made the world of difference.

Quoting buddhababy:" Not to keep posting the same thing on your threads but I don't think 6 weeks is too early to start with ... [snip!] ... Others will disagree, but it can't hurt. Babies need sleep to develop their brains, and you need sleep so you don't go crazy."

Hahah I feel like I keep posting the same threads over and over... I'm just trying to figure my DS and motherhood out LOL.

I definitely think I will try to start a (flexible) schedule! But how do I get him to nap if he refuses?

i dont think 6 weeks is too early for a schedule. i had to put nemo on one because I had to go to work and he had to start daycare. Have you tried giving a night time bath and a baby massage?

Believe it or not but the only thing that stops my LO from screaming is the main Star Wars theme song. I never watched it when I was pregnant or anything but my MIL saw a YouTube video of it working. I was desperate so I tried it and it worked. He stopped screaming and passed right out. Maybe that will help with the screaming fit?

One of my friends would take there baby and see on the washer or the dryer. The vibration would help. Also some doctors will say to take them on a car ride. I hope this helps.

Quoting whoknowsx:" Hahah I feel like I keep posting the same threads over and over... I'm just trying to figure my DS and ... [snip!] ... motherhood out LOL. I definitely think I will try to start a (flexible) schedule! But how do I get him to nap if he refuses?"

Yeah, it's probably sort of a life-long process lol but those first few months are especially hectic. As far as how to get him to nap, just be consistent and persistent. Pick a place for him to sleep (even if that's with you) and bring him there. He might cry and fuss for a while and it might not work and that's okay but then try the same thing again later, over and over. The book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth really helped me to understand how infant sleep works and their patterns. I'd recommend that, if you're interested in learning more about sleep.

Quoting Ꭶwan♥Nemö:" i dont think 6 weeks is too early for a schedule. i had to put nemo on one because I had to go to work and he had to start daycare. Have you tried giving a night time bath and a baby massage?"

He always refuses the massage but the bath calms him down somewhat.. until he gets out and then he gets sad and starts crying.

*sigh*

After he nurses and then is rocked he falls asleep but the bath itself doesnt do too much.

Did nemo nap in the day? how did you manage that.

Quoting 1st1ontheway:" Believe it or not but the only thing that stops my LO from screaming is the main Star Wars theme song. ... [snip!] ... desperate so I tried it and it worked. He stopped screaming and passed right out. Maybe that will help with the screaming fit?"

Hhaha I will try ANYTHING.

Quoting Tara Kathryn Burleson:" One of my friends would take there baby and see on the washer or the dryer. The vibration would help. Also some doctors will say to take them on a car ride. I hope this helps."

Sadly I live in NYC so... no washer/drying in the apartment and no car lol but thanks!

Quoting buddhababy:" Yeah, it's probably sort of a life-long process lol but those first few months are especially hectic. ... [snip!] ... to understand how infant sleep works and their patterns. I'd recommend that, if you're interested in learning more about sleep."

I actually just purchased that book yesterday so I'll try to find time to read it! I read the other book you recommended and I loved it and felt so much better.

Thanks for all of your help. You have been priceless!

Quoting whoknowsx:" He always refuses the massage but the bath calms him down somewhat.. until he gets out and then he gets ... [snip!] ... and then is rocked he falls asleep but the bath itself doesnt do too much. Did nemo nap in the day? how did you manage that."

no he never really napped. He'd sleep maybe for a hour one or twice a day. Rest of the time he was up being nosy. He for sure doesnt nap at all now. One 20 minute nap is all I can get out of him and that ONLY if we are in the car.

When he wasnt gigantic, I wore him in my baby sling thing. Actually that wearing him in his sling put him right to sleep as long as he was on me.

Quoting Ꭶwan♥Nemö:" no he never really napped. He'd sleep maybe for a hour one or twice a day. Rest of the time he was up ... [snip!] ... I wore him in my baby sling thing. Actually that wearing him in his sling put him right to sleep as long as he was on me. "

sounds like my DS except he naps half as long. He sleeps in the bjorn or stroller but if I bend over to pick up something while he is the bjorn, he startles and wakes. He lovessss to be entertained which is why, I believe, he refuses to nap.