Questions About 4 Week Old Behavior

Definitley cannot spoil the baby by holding too much, especially at this age. And I hate to tell you to do it, but my babys both had to lay on their tummys, i fought it and fought it, but if i ever wanted rest i had to do it. Just make sure the crib sheets are TIGHT! and no blankies etc. just dress him warm enough. And the crying is probably his formula, if youre breast-feeding, WATCH YOUR DIET! no broccoli, coffee, beans, alcohol, etc. Try the gasdrops, you can find them anywhere! It might take time, my second daughter cried alot at first.
Good luck!

Congrats to you! I think giving advise on this subject can be scarry; no one wants to give you inappropriate advice and I think advice from your doctor is very good. I also think it is important to listen to your instincts as well and while I think you should be cautious you and your baby need to sleep. You have been given some great tips about swaddling, swings, bouncers all great tools you should try. My son once slept strapped in his car seat on top of the dryer with the dryer running while I slept on the couch where I could see him. My daughter slept many nights next to my bed swaddled in her councer seat set on vibrate. The things you will try! White noise like a vaccume can be helpful - but may make it difficult for you to sleep,there are others like static on the radio, there is a bear that has a womb like heart beat; we used that too. In the end my baby girl was a tummy sleeper and like you I tried to fight it and when I finaly gave in and allowed her to sleep on her belly I was up every 30 minutes checking to see if she was still breathing, I'd blast her monitor so I could hear each breath some night. But at 10 1/2 weeks she began to sleep through the night in her crib and now at the age of 2- once she is good and a sleep she rolls to her belly; butt up. If your child is healthy and you are comfortable giving it a try, talk to your husband and if you are both on the same page, relax - your the mommy and that means making some dificult choices for you and your baby. This is only the beginnig. By the way for day time - my daughter LIVED in her Baby Bijorn carrier, she just had to be held and had to be upright. Like the other responce said - it does get better. God bless, K.

Hi J.,

When my daughter was born, all she did was cry, we found out later that she had colic. We tried everything to get her to stop crying. For some reason the vacuum works wonders. She would just sit there and listen to it. Also try playing music or singing. It soothes them.

As for the sleeping on their stomach, I was really iffy about it, but my daughter slept on her stomach from the moment we brought her home from the hospital. She prefers sleeping that way. Just make sure there is nothing in the crib that your son can suffocate on. No blankets, no bumper pads, stuffed animals, pillows, etc..

Good luck.

My dd did this and it turned out she had acid reflux that required medication. I think you should let your pediatrician know what's happening because he may be in discomfort that can be helped.
Good luck!

Hi J.,

Congrats on your new baby. I think at 4 weeks they are too little to manipulate mommy by crying too much. He is probably crying because of discomfort or something he needs. I was told not to worry when they are this little about "spoiling" because they need to have their needs met at such a tender age and feel secure, and actually in the end result they usually wind up crying less as they get more mature because they feel secure. Have you tried swaddling, then lay him in his crib swaddled but slighty turned to his side using the support of a wedge positioner when he sleeps? Also, I found that swaddling and putting him in his swing on a low rythmic setting helped with my little one. Swaddling usually mimics the womb or being held which helps alot because some babies cry and feel insecure by just being put down on a blanket, swing, bouncy..etc.I hope this helps, and hang in there! It always gets better! :)

Someone here mentioned white noise- that was a life saver in getting our little guy to calm down...White noise and swaddling- they made special swaddling blankets that have velcro to keep them from unwrapping...that way they feel like they are being hugged/held like when they were in utero...
We have a white noise machine/alarm clock thing but this cd is great:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/fussbuster
(not affiliated with them- just love the CD! It has knocked me out a couple of times...)