Hi everyone! I haven't been good about keeping up here.
We are still trying to figure out dd2's sleep. She is pretty good at night, but during the day is usually a disaster. If she doesn't sleep right away after eating, she always gets overtired. I just can't get her to sleep. I've tried swaddling, a swing, rock n play, pack n play, wore her in a wrap, in a room away from the toddler, in a room with the toddler, and in the car. The car has the best results, but I can't do that all of the time. Everything else was terrible or mixed results.
Reading all this sleep stuff makes me certain my baby is constantly over tired. He rarely naps most days, maybe twice for 20-40mins each. What do I do? I try everything to get him to nap. Quiet time in the nursey, white noise videos on YouTube, listen and dance/sway to his favorite Jack Johnson cd- lullabies. These thing usually work for night time but during the day it's like he refuses to nap.
If he's getting that little sleep, you're probably missing his tired cues - don't worry, that's not rare. Babies are often very subtle. Sometimes even waiting until a yawn is too long. Something as simple as closing his hands into fists might be his first sign of tiredness. Max is a champion of the "100-yard stare."
Generally young babies shouldn't be awake for longer than about 90 minutes, from awake to back asleep - so that includes all feeding, changing, swaddling, rocking, etc. They may want to sleep sooner than that, too.
If your baby is subtle with his tired cues, I'd just start the nap routine no later than an hour after he's been awake. I'm big on swaddling, loud white noise, and a darkened room. It works great for my babies, but your mileage may vary. Whatever works in your house, find a nap routine and stick with it.
It will probably take some experimentation because hey, you're both learning. I would recommend not worrying about feeding to sleep or "drowsy but awake" until he's getting better day sleep. He might do it on his own, then!
Good luck - baby sleep is, I think, one of the hardest parts of having kids.
kristhegirl I'm not struggling with naps too much, but your post was really helpful! Just this morning my mom and I were having so much fun getting L to smile that he went from happy baby to ANGRY BABY in like 2 seconds- probably overtired. Even my mom said that at his age maybe he just can't handle that much stimulation and mimicking for long
Reading all this sleep stuff makes me certain my baby is constantly over tired. He rarely naps most days, maybe twice for 20-40mins each. What do I do? I try everything to get him to nap. Quiet time in the nursey, white noise videos on YouTube, listen and dance/sway to his favorite Jack Johnson cd- lullabies. These thing usually work for night time but during the day it's like he refuses to nap.
If he's getting that little sleep, you're probably missing his tired cues - don't worry, that's not rare. Babies are often very subtle. Sometimes even waiting until a yawn is too long. Something as simple as closing his hands into fists might be his first sign of tiredness. Max is a champion of the "100-yard stare."
Generally young babies shouldn't be awake for longer than about 90 minutes, from awake to back asleep - so that includes all feeding, changing, swaddling, rocking, etc. They may want to sleep sooner than that, too.
If your baby is subtle with his tired cues, I'd just start the nap routine no later than an hour after he's been awake. I'm big on swaddling, loud white noise, and a darkened room. It works great for my babies, but your mileage may vary. Whatever works in your house, find a nap routine and stick with it.
It will probably take some experimentation because hey, you're both learning. I would recommend not worrying about feeding to sleep or "drowsy but awake" until he's getting better day sleep. He might do it on his own, then!
Good luck - baby sleep is, I think, one of the hardest parts of having kids.
Omg I feel terrible. He is ALWAYS with closed fists. Like his hand smell of stinky cheese because they get sweaty from him keeping them closed.
mikaela20 don't feel bad- this stuff is hard! I also learn everything from the board and other moms. I didn't really even know there were tired cues.
kristhegirl you always have so much helpful information! Thank you for always taking the time to share it with us newbies!
This times a million kristhegirl is always on point. Actually, everyone here is always awesome. I didnt do all this newborn stuff that long ago and I still don't remember most of this sleeping and eating stuff. I'm SO glad that everyone on our BMB is so encouraging, non-judgy, and helpful. It is kind of weird for me to even say this, but I think reading all of these posts and realizing that I have similar feels as eveyone is a big reason why I don't have PPD this time around.
If he's getting that little sleep, you're probably missing his tired cues - don't worry, that's not rare. Babies are often very subtle. Sometimes even waiting until a yawn is too long. Something as simple as closing his hands into fists might be his first sign of tiredness. Max is a champion of the "100-yard stare."
Generally young babies shouldn't be awake for longer than about 90 minutes, from awake to back asleep - so that includes all feeding, changing, swaddling, rocking, etc. They may want to sleep sooner than that, too.
If your baby is subtle with his tired cues, I'd just start the nap routine no later than an hour after he's been awake. I'm big on swaddling, loud white noise, and a darkened room. It works great for my babies, but your mileage may vary. Whatever works in your house, find a nap routine and stick with it.
It will probably take some experimentation because hey, you're both learning. I would recommend not worrying about feeding to sleep or "drowsy but awake" until he's getting better day sleep. He might do it on his own, then!
Good luck - baby sleep is, I think, one of the hardest parts of having kids.
Omg I feel terrible. He is ALWAYS with closed fists. Like his hand smell of stinky cheese because they get sweaty from him keeping them closed.
Why is this so hard!
I'm going to try a nap routine starting tomorrow.
Lots of babies have always-closed fists! Don't feel bad. Babies are seriously cute little poopy mysteries.
mikaela20 don't feel bad- this stuff is hard! I also learn everything from the board and other moms. I didn't really even know there were tired cues.
kristhegirl you always have so much helpful information! Thank you for always taking the time to share it with us newbies!
This times a million kristhegirl is always on point. Actually, everyone here is always awesome. I didnt do all this newborn stuff that long ago and I still don't remember most of this sleeping and eating stuff. I'm SO glad that everyone on our BMB is so encouraging, non-judgy, and helpful. It is kind of weird for me to even say this, but I think reading all of these posts and realizing that I have similar feels as eveyone is a big reason why I don't have PPD this time around.
seconded with all of this!
To piggy-back off of your PPD comment, the forums here helped me a LOT after my loss, along with TTCAL and being PGAL. This really is a great community. I feel so informed through everyone here!
kristhegirl I'm not struggling with naps too much, but your post was really helpful! Just this morning my mom and I were having so much fun getting L to smile that he went from happy baby to ANGRY BABY in like 2 seconds- probably overtired. Even my mom said that at his age maybe he just can't handle that much stimulation and mimicking for long
This is very true. And then baby wants to stay up and play with you, but is tired and fussy, but then smiles and coos, and ugh! Babies, man.
If he's getting that little sleep, you're probably missing his tired cues - don't worry, that's not rare. Babies are often very subtle. Sometimes even waiting until a yawn is too long. Something as simple as closing his hands into fists might be his first sign of tiredness. Max is a champion of the "100-yard stare."
Generally young babies shouldn't be awake for longer than about 90 minutes, from awake to back asleep - so that includes all feeding, changing, swaddling, rocking, etc. They may want to sleep sooner than that, too.
If your baby is subtle with his tired cues, I'd just start the nap routine no later than an hour after he's been awake. I'm big on swaddling, loud white noise, and a darkened room. It works great for my babies, but your mileage may vary. Whatever works in your house, find a nap routine and stick with it.
It will probably take some experimentation because hey, you're both learning. I would recommend not worrying about feeding to sleep or "drowsy but awake" until he's getting better day sleep. He might do it on his own, then!
Good luck - baby sleep is, I think, one of the hardest parts of having kids.
Omg I feel terrible. He is ALWAYS with closed fists. Like his hand smell of stinky cheese because they get sweaty from him keeping them closed.
Why is this so hard!
I'm going to try a nap routine starting tomorrow.
Don't feel bad! Babies are tricky and everything is new to both of you.
When my first was a baby he was also always tight fisted. His nickname is "stonefist" because of it. Things got much better nap wise around 12 weeks and then got a thousand times better by 16.
Their sense of night and day are still developing. I might help to expose him to sunlight during the day. Like, walks, open blinds, stuff like that. I know my DS and DD seem to love the outside for 15 min or so at this age.
kristhegirl I'm not struggling with naps too much, but your post was really helpful! Just this morning my mom and I were having so much fun getting L to smile that he went from happy baby to ANGRY BABY in like 2 seconds- probably overtired. Even my mom said that at his age maybe he just can't handle that much stimulation and mimicking for long
This is very true. And then baby wants to stay up and play with you, but is tired and fussy, but then smiles and coos, and ugh! Babies, man.
LOL this just happened tonight.
L: *smiles big*
Mr &Mrs. Dub: AWWWW HEY LITTLE GUY!! You smilin' at us? GOO GOO GOO GOO!
L: *smiles*
Mr &Mrs. Dub: AWWWW LOOKATCHUOHMAHGAH! Hey my baaaaby!
Post by ladytiffany24 on May 8, 2017 5:45:09 GMT -5
Another +whatever to thanking kristhegirl and everyone on our BMB for all of their wise wisdom and advice. Even as a STM I find myself asking lots of questions and seeking out advice. This parenting thing is tough.
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