Sleep Training

I have a 6 week old and I am trying to get him to sleep on his own. I have read about this technique and I think Im doing it wrong. Right now I am trying to get him to eat every 3 hours with 3 ounces, before it was every 2 hours 2 ounces. I figured if I feed him more he will sleep longer, but since trying this method today he seems to spit up a lot and not eat all his 3 ounces. Also, he takes a paci sometimes to go to sleep, usually when he has been crying for a while, he likes to be swadled and Im trying to break him from this habit since he seems to get mad when I swadled him but his arms are all over the place and calms down after a while when swadled. Another thing is his swing and seat I play music to help him sleep and also in his bassinet. This helps him sleep and I dont really know if I should stop all these things at once since they do help him sleep. Sometimes hell sleep 4 hours in his swing, I wish he would do this in his bassinet. Also is he too young to start this and Ive read about a feeding schedule should I start this? I didnt do this with my two other sons and think maybe I would have had more sleep if I did. I hate to hear him cry, there was something else I wanted to ask but cant remember since he is crying now and my 4 yr old is making noise and my mind has gone blank. Thanks for advice and help.

Kelly

Hello. First I have to ask, does or could your son possibly have reflux? I'm not a doctor but by what I read it sounds like he may have it. My daughter, Brynn, who is now 2 has reflux and what you are going through with him was the same for me with her. Why I think he may have it, is....One. You said its hard to get him to sleep in a bassinet or a crib. It could be because when he lies flat stomach acid is coming up into throat and sinus passages and making him uncomfortable. Don't feel bad if your baby has to sleep in a swing or infant car seat. My daughter slept in a swing everynight until she was 2.5 months old when we got her a reflux sling to put in the crib.  She grew out of that at 8.5 months. Try raising the bassinet or the crib on end where he lays his head.  You can also get one of those wedges to place under the mattress. In the bassinet you may have to roll a blanket or towel under his legs to keep him from sliding down.  Does your baby cough on occassion in his sleep? When he breathes does he sound like he needs to clear his throat? 2nd. You mentioned that when he drinks 3oz every 3 hours he spits up.  Try this. Okay you probably have heard don't add rice to your baby's bottle because he may choke. Ignore that. This was doctors orders for my little girl. Add one scoop of single grain rice cereal  for every 2oz of breastmilk or formula. So 3oz would be 1 and a half sccops of rice. The rice helps keep it all from coming up. Plus my baby seemed to feel more satisfied. If you are feeding at the breast then try feeding him more upright. Otherwise for his nighttime feeding pump your milk into the bottle and add the rice cereal.  If someone is staying with you, they can then feed the baby so you can sleep. If you haven't already done so take your son to a ear nose throat doctor who specializes in children and infants and tell him or her what you are experiencing. Also don't worry if he isn't sleeping through the night. Like clockwork he should be sleeping at least 6-8hours by 3mos. It sounds like a long ways from 6weeks, but it will come sooner than you think. Also do not feel ashamed to ask for help if you are too tired or stressed. If what I wrote here doesn't apply to you. Or if you have heard it all before, ignore it and pass it on to someone you know who could use it. I hope this all helps.

Julianne

Hey there,

While I think you are in the right mind set of setting better habits for this baby, my personal opinion is you are rushing it. Studies show that a baby's brain development controls sleep more than the tummy - and it all changes between 3 & 4 months anyway. That means you could have an angel sleeper the first 3 months, that suddenly starts waking non-stop after 3 months! Also, please keep in mind 6 weeks is that fussy week, it's the worst of the fussies, even for 'angel babies'. It should get better every week for the next 6 weeks.

My baby was a terrible napper until almost 6 months, but the first 3 months he slept fantastic at night! He only woke once to feed from 4 weeks until 12 weeks. Then it all went out the window. I dealt with really crappy nights and naps for months, and in hindsight I should have realized that brain had changed and it also meant he was ready for sleep training! How is your guy doing at night?

I am pregnant again, and this time, I have decided to let the first 3 months "roll" and then we'll get tough with sleep rules and routines. I truly felt I put so much pressure on myself trying that whole eat/activity/sleep deal and worrying about routine. While routine is great, you need to keep it realistic. If you baby is acting hungry after 2 hours, feed him. If he spits up 3oz, try 2.5 for a while, or give 2 oz when he wakes and then the last oz before he goes down for a nap. Are you burping after every ounce? If he sleeps well in the swing, then give yourself a break and stick him in the swing. Even if you only do that for the first nap of the day, or the afternoon nap - and you lay down too. Whatever works.

My baby had a cows milk intolerance and also a touch of reflux, and probably 'colic' all though I hated that word. He cried a lot, he didn't sleep during the day, he hated the car seat, stroller and swing. It was a nightmare, but now that seems so far away. It's true what they say about "this too shall pass". They are so portable at this age, if your little guy doesn't scream in the car seat like mine did, they get yourselves out of the house for play dates or whatever and let him sleep on the go. I wouldn't break the swaddle yet either. They need that to feel secure. In fact, I remember my little guy liked his stroller (bassinet style) to sleep in better than the crib. It could have been that it was slightly elevated, or because of the snuggly/closeness it gave him. New babies just aren't ready for all that space! I agree about elevating the bassinet and crib - he's so little now, you can use your pregnancy pillow wedge if you have one. I did that with receiving blankets rolled on either side to keep him from flipping off the pillow. I even used that wedge when he was having some floor time as it seemed to help him.

One thing you'll want to start early, if you haven't already is the bedtime routine. Something to tell him day is different than night. We always kept it simple with bath/jammies/feed/bed. And maybe it's just luck, but we have very easy bedtimes.

Good luck to you!