8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

My DD is up pretty much from about 11am until 2am every day. She gets a couple of catnaps in that last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours each after feedings. (most of the time, it's about 40 minutes) When she's up, she's happy for a little bit but then it's full-on crying and doesn't stop until I put a breast in her mouth. She falls asleep after feeding, then the cycle begins again.

I need her to take longer and/or more naps so I can get a break. The ped suggested FF at night so that she'll sleep more soundly. That's been working. She'll sleep 4-6 hours at a stretch. Could it be that she's not getting enough to eat by BF-ing during the day?

I've tried everything it seems. Pacifiers don't work (we've tried 5 different kinds). I don't think it's gas and even if it is, we've been adding gas drops to her formula bottle.

I can't have her attached to me all day long. I only have 1 month left to straighten this out before I go back to work. Please help!

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

Have you tried the swing? My DD slept like a champ in there and it was nice because she didn't get used to sleeping on us or having to be rocked by us. Did you try the methods in the Happiest Baby on the Block book? They are Swaddling, Shushing, Side lying, Sucking and Swinging (or some other word like that). Will she sleep if you rock her and then put her down? I would give the idea of trying to feed her a bit more a try. Maybe she is still hungry. Also, I had to hold the pacifier in DD's mouth until she was probably 4 months old. Maybe that will help.

ETA: does she have gas? Maybe try giving her some Mylicon drops.

Message edited 2/15/2007 8:21:16 AM.

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

She is still so young.

My daughter didn't take naps longer than 40 minutes until she was walking. You can't change that until she is ready.

You say some are 40 minutes, some are 2 hours --- that isn't a cat nap. 10 minutes is a cat nap.

I'm sorry to say, but I think you may have unfair expectations for the age.

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

Ryan only took 30 minute naps at that age and very few if at all. He woudl sleep best in his swing at that age. I think taht's normal, and if you're getting 2 hour naps you are very lucky!! You might want to wake her before 11am so she is tired before 2am, if that's too late of a bedtime for you. But otherwise I have no advice as Ryan is 6 months and still doing the 40 min naps w/the occassional 2 hour nap (still very rare).

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

It sounds like she is napping to me?

Sleeping after every feeding? I don't understand.

I think that is what most babies at at that age do.

Message edited 2/15/2007 8:55:54 AM.

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

If that's what babies do at this age, then I'm happy. I am glad to know that my baby is no exception from the norm. And I want to think that I'm giving her enough to eat.

Any tips on transitioning to a schedule?

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

the only way DD sleeps lmore than a half hour nap during the day is if we are driving in the car

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

My son didn't have a nap until he was 10 months old. He would have a few winks while on my chest for 10-15 minutes...but nothing until he could walk.

You just have to go with the flow.

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

Sounds like a normal BF baby's schedule Your doing great

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

mine will only nap on me. I can put him down, but he will be up again in 15 minutes. If he stays in my arms, he will sleep for 2 hours twice a day. So its either I get nothing done in my day or he is up and grouchy, being held anyway.

Re: 8 week old doesn't sleep during day..need help!

Oh thank God that others are in the same boat! I'm hearing from people that she's colicky, she needs a schedule, I'm holding her too much, she's not getting enough to eat (thanks Dad...), etc, etc. I guess this is where I put the blinders on and keep going with what we are doing!

I should add that when I said 2 hours, that's only if we are in the car. And that's only like 2x a week.

Thanks!