No Sleep - Clearwater,FL

I can not help but agree with all of those people who said put him in his own baby, possibly in his own room. You are so much capable of being a good mother when you get sleep. Spend quality time with him while he is waking. Rock him, cuddle him when it matters and put him to bed in his own bed. Good Luck!

6 Weeks is the hardest time for sleep. By the time he is 8 weeks things should be better and then by 12 weeks even better. Just hang in there. There is a great book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" it explains a babies sleep cycle. Great reading so that you can be prepared.

Good Luck !
K.

It seems that he staying up because he is being entertained by mom or dad...He will continue doing that because he is enjoying that attention. You need to perhaps put him in his own crib or (pretend to) ignore him as he squirms, searching for attention.

Good luck,

T.

It won't last too much longer. Give it another few weeks or so and he'll get into a better sleep pattern. I remember when my son was newborn, I was so over it myself..Luckily, I don't work and had no other children so I could sleep when he did, but that will all change since I have another one due Dec. 1....Putting him in preschool twice a week soon, so that will help a little...Your in for it girl..Welcome to parenthood...It's so worth it!! Lot's of luck to ya...:)

I have a 1 year old and it seems like just yesterday I had your problem. my advice- put him in his room. My baby would grunt and keep me awake around the clock. If he needs you- you'll know. Hook up a video monitor so you can see what he's doing. Worked wonders for us! I was nervous to put her in her room b/c I was anxiety ridden and I worried about EVERYTHING! With my next one- in the room you go! You need your sleep.

First of all way-to-go for co-sleeping with your little one! You are providing a closeness and comfort by night that many families only offer by day - and although the tiring nights may seem hard right now, the rewards and benefits for the future can not be measured. Sure, it would be easier to put him in another room and leave him be (knowing that he will eventually cry himself to sleep and ultimately stop calling for or expecting human contact at night)...But I think the route you have chosen is far more compassionate, understanding and develops a closeness rather than distcance between you and your newborn. Remember anything worth doing is worth doing well..... and it won't always be easy :-)

Hang in there, if you haven't already been told babies will change like the wind. Just when you think they are consistently doing one thing, it will change to an entirely different pattern or routine. The more you try to change or 'fix' it each and every time, the more tired and frustated you (and the baby!) will be. They are doing what comes naturally and I think it is more natural and easier for everyone to follow their natural lead. You can't really force sleep or eating. Maybe an Arms Reach Co-Sleeper would be good for those early am playtimes for now? We have one that attaches to the side of the bed so night nursing and closeness are still easy when you can't have him right next to you. What about moving a crib to your bedroom and allowing him to play in there when he wakes? Both options still keep him close and still allow you to co-sleep the rest of the night.... Best wishes!

Have you ever read or seen the DVD by Dr. Harvey Karp that is called the "Happiest Baby on the Block"? It was a lifesaver for my hubby and me with our first son that a neighbor recommended to us. Tomorrow I am having our second son and plan to use it again. As long as your son does not have any medical issues, it works like a charm! Here is the "Five S" sequence he teaches, but I highly recommend that you get the book, or DVD too.

1- Swaddle (super tight!!! Remember he was even tighter in your womb, he will feel secure.)
2- Side or stomach (while holding him, NEVER to go down to sleep)
3- Swing (from side to side in your arms, fast)
4- Shhhh (the louder he cries, the louder you say shhh in his ear until he calms down. It reminds him of the womb sounds. Those Womb Bears work great too!)
5- Suck (nurse, bottle, or pacifier)

That should calm him down and once he starts sucking, it will take him off to dreamland. Try it and see if it works for you. Hope this helps!!! Please let me know if you try it. My mom-in-law, who is a super baby person, could not believe how well we could calm our newborn as first time parents. =)

P.S. We co-slept for the first year and I highly recommend it too. The bottom line though is that you need to do what feels right to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have!

Best of luck!!!!!
Smiles!
E.

You should get him his own little bed and put it next to your bed. He may stay awake because he knows the two of you are next to him...so he just wants to hang out with you guys. For god's sake.... please don't give him any drugs.

Let the baby sleep in another room. He's not discontented by the sounds of it. He will remain an active sleeper for a loooong, loong time. They seem to squirm and move all night. Mine is almost 3 1/2 years old and will sit straight up with his eyes open when I check on him and then say down and sleep again....he's not really awake.

My doc said I was waking mine up at night by attending to him every time he moved or made a peep!!

Congradulations on making the choice to co-sleep! Its wonderful being able to bond with your child like our greatgrand mother did way back when. With my son he suffered from refux among other things, so we didnt get much sleep until he was almost a year old due to his health problems. None the less, at 6 weeks he may be going threw a growth spur and also might have the days and nights mixed up. Dont stress about it too much. I use to chart mine in a note book to see when my son got the most sleep and I noticed he slept more durring the day, less at night. So in my case to get him back on schedual we went threw a few days of slowly limiting the sleep during the day in order to get more at night. Hope this helps.

Try to get him sleeping in a crib. Co-sleeping is a wonderful thought having them snuggled with you is a great feeling, but the truth is it can be very dangerous, and can also start a very bad habit that will very hard to break in years to come. Sleeping in cribs are the best place for babies to sleep. My 20month old twin girls slept in a bassinet in our room for the 1st three months, and have since been sleeping all night(8pm-8am)with an occasional wake up for lost binky. I know alot of parents who like to co-sleep with their babies, and it is all of them who still months even years later complaining about no sleep or wanting their beds back for themselves.
Best of Luck to you.

Co Sleeping is so sweet.. did it with my first three & after almost 8 year of very little sleep,constant bags under my eyes & way too many wrinkles before my time,,, I decide to try my 4th baby in a basinet beside my bed.
It was much better. And then he went to his big bed so much faster & better at around 4 months old. "No sleep" wears on you and it will wear out a marriage very quick.

Our son did that, too. He would grunt for hours. It must be their digestive tract...try giving Mylicon before your middle of the night feeding. That helped us!

Hi J. - Like you, I am all for co-sleeping. I'm a mother of three: 6yrs, 3yrs, and 14 mos. My husband and I have always welcomed our children into the bed with us - but there needed to be structure behind it, otherwise we knew that an infant can end up "dictating" what the "rules" are behind our sleep schedule. It sounds like your baby is not getting enough sleep and I think that his regular sleep schedule (from 11p-12a to 3-4am) might be a result of co-sleeping. Again, I am all for co-sleeping, however, I believe it's important that your baby has his own space (crib) to sleep. It will take some time and re-training to get him to go to sleep in his own bed, but you will find that he will sleep better because he has his own space. Then, when and if he should wake in the middle of the night, feel free to bring him into the bed with you. With my first child, I needed to sleep with him in order for him to fall asleep (around 8:30pm). However, once he was asleep I would carefully bring him into his crib. He would sleep for approx 5 hrs by himself in his crib before he cried for me to nurse him. I was working full-time back then and, so, would bring him into the bed with me to nurse. He would sleep with me (and my husband) until morning. (He is now 6 yrs old and enjoys sleeping in his own bed, however, all three of our children will come and creep into our bed every so often.) You will obviously need to make adjustments as he grows older, but for your sanity (and his well-being), get him used to sleeping on his own now (and you can always welcome him into your bed throughout the night). Good luck! And don't forget to be patient with yourself. :)

Okay, so, I kept my baby in my room cause I want him close and I got a fan that blows fairly noisily. I feed him, lay him back down in the bassinette and then the sounds of the fan usually lulls us all back to sleep. If it doesn't make him sleep, it might drown out his little noises. But, for me, the key has always been to make the night as uninteresting as possible. No conversation, no smiles, no eye contact, VERY dim lighting so I can barely see and soon they catch on that night time is for sleeping. Consistency is the key. Now, if you're set on co-sleeping, the concept could still work. The fan or even some ear plugs could drown out the little noises. Good luck!

I'm kind of with Lisa on this topic. I breast-fed both of my babies, and when that time came in the wee hours to feed, I would let them fall asleep with me. It was nice for a short while, but I was finding no one was getting the sleep they truly needed. It was difficult, but I began putting the babies back into their bassinet, and everyone slept soundly. It also set them up to sleep alone in the future. While I understand why parents want to co-sleep, for the closeness/bonding, etc., I don't think it strengthens your relationship anymore than not co-sleeping. In the long run, everyone ends up miserable. Dad doesn't get the sleep he needs to provide wholeheartedly. Mom isn't sleeping like she should, and neither is baby! And, it hinders Mom and Dad's physical love, which is important to maintain a happy, healthy marriage. Sleep is a VERY important part of our lives...I hope you find a way to get more of it! Best of luck!

I co-slept with my children too. My oldest wouldn't go to sleep or even stay asleep if I put her in her bassinet or crib until she was a year old. My middle son slept in his crib then later became a co-sleeper because of space issues, he was broke when he wouldn't stay asleep through the night anymore. With my youngest, she co-slept and she had her own space. If I could get her to stay in her crib for even a couple hours it was a blessing on me. I would try to put a bassinet or crib close to you bed to start with and see how it fairs out. If this works, gradually move the crib/bassinet across the room. You can still bring the baby in the bed during times when he wont sleep in his own space, and gradually it will be easier to put him in his own bed one day.

If this doesn't help talk to his doctor before you give him any medicine. So many parents over medicate these days, without seeking advice from their doctor first, and I wouldn't want you to hurt your child.

Hi J.,

My best advice is, as long as he's not crying, to put him in his own bed, preferably in his own room, so that you don't hear and feel the wiggling and can get some rest. He'll eventually realize that daytime is for playing and getting attention and nighttime is for sleeping! Good luck!

HI J. TRY TO BUY THE BOOK OF tracy hogg is called the secrets of the baby whispers is a great resource about sleeping and schedules for the baby, i got mine at barnes and nobles

May have to change his feeding schedule. Try to put him to sleep earlier, and feed him before that time. so if he wakes up hungry it will be about the time he used to go to sleep. Your going to have to use trial and error to get him on a timed feeding and sleeping schedule, and may have to extend the time that he is hungry, until it starts to become a normal pattern for you both. Hope this helps.

I think all babies do this, mine did too. At 6 weeks, he was in his room already, so we just turned down the monitor so we couldn't here that noise, just if he needed us. At this age, there is nothing you can DO about it, they are way too young. You just have to opt for ear plugs or maybe put him just outside of you room??

check out Dr. Weissbluth's, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". It might give you suggestions for the future. At 6 weeks, your baby is going through a growth spurt.

Co-sleeping is great....but unless you are breast feeding I'd say your little sweetie needs to go in his own bed, in his own room. I know how hard it is, but remember..you cannot take care of your son if you don,t take care yourself! Sleep depravation was a form of torture during many wars!!!And there is no need to suffer!! Try and get him on a feeding schedule as well. I had twinn boys and believe me this was one of the keys to my survival!! It will be rough the first few days(usually takes about three) but it will be well worth it. Good luck sleepy one, and God Bless!

My advice is put him in his own bed!! Not just for his safety but for your sanity. You don't want him sleeping with you when he's 1 so you should stop it now. Feed him and return him to his crib. You are starting something you will regret in the future. When will you and your hubby have your time if the baby is in the bed between you?? As I said it's not a good idea for many reasons and you should nip it in the bud now since he is only 6 weeks. He will begin falling asleep after the feedings. It may take a little while and you may be worrying about him from the other room but trust me it will be easier now rather than later.

He sounds like a totally new baby. Both of my children slept in crazy places. My daughter slept in her bouncy seat for awhile & my son now 19 mths slept in his papasaan swing. It's all about them feelin secure & safe. Don't worry about having them in there crib they will get into a routine in there own time. My sisters daughter slept in her car seat carrier. maybe you can roll up some bath towles & set them next to him on both sides, they showed me that in the hospital when I had my daughter. I hope I helped a little, it's hard enough being a new mom. Good luck!!

Hi, I am not trying to be rude but you and your husband should let him sleep alone, and you and your husband sleep at night. Keep him in your room but seperate or put him in his own room and use the baby monitor. I feel that if you start with him sleeping with you, you and your husband are going to have to break a habit that is going to be hard to break. I have to tell you when you keep doing a regular routine every night he will get used to it and he will start to sleep. I have been doing that with my son for 2 1/2 years and I have NO problems putting him to bed. He doesn't get angry and he doesn't give us a hard time. Babies love to be on a routine so start his bedtime routine and let him sleep on his own but in your room or his and let that go for a few and see what happens. He will cry but it's not wrong to let him cry to sleep. It is hard but it is good for him. So don't give in. You and your husband need sleep too. Don't let your little one take control of the situation. You take control. Trust me its hard but at the end you will be so glad you did. When he wakes up in the middle of the night to eat give him the bottle and then lay him down in his own bed and let him be. I hope this worked for you. Good luck

No one else has asked....but how does he sleep during the day? Is there a chance he has his nights and days backwards??

And for me what worked with both of my boys was to always make the night as uninteresting as possible. No conversation, no smiles, no eye contact, very dim lighting or no lights at all so I can barely see and soon they catch on that night time is for sleeping. Consistency is the key.

I co-slept with my son for the first 6 weeks too. I loved being able to breast feed in bed and fall asleep but at the 6 week mark I moved him into his own crib. When I did it I wondered if I had made a big mistake because he did not like it one bit. I also really wanted my sleep and didn't want him to get too used to being in my bed. I was nervous about all those stories from my friends that their 4 yr old still sleeps in their bed - no way!
I like the ideas that the other moms had about using the bassinet or getting a loud fan (a box fan works well for that). I did have a playpen thing next to the bed but the crib worked best for us. We also had some really desperate nights where he slept in the swing (6 hrs straight).
He will probably work through it eventually since the other moms agreed that this is something that most babies do. Good luck!