Getting baby to sleep at night

I have to be doing something wrong but I don't know what. DD has such a hard time falling asleep after eating at night. It's been really bad the past 3 nights.

During the day it's not an issue - she eats, is up for a bit, and gets fussy when she's tired. Swaddling her usually gets her to sleep the fastest, so does putting her on my shoulder and walking her or holding her and giving her a pacifier.

I BF her, so at night I feed her on one side, change her diaper to wake her up a bit, and feed her on the other side. (I have to do it this way because otherwise she wakes up hungry). She never seems to fall asleep after eating on the 2nd side and the swaddling/walking/bouncing/pacifier method doesn't work.

We use white noise and that didn't help either. She sleeps in a rocker so she's elevated and not flat on her back.

What am I doing wrong?

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

I think it's just a phase...nothing that you are doing wrong. My DS is 2 months old and he completely hates going to sleep for the night. His naps are easy...I do what you listed, and he's usually out for a few hours. But at night...even after his bath every other day, he still just cannot go to sleep. I can tell that he's tired, but he just fights it. I think he doesn't want to miss anything LOL. I try getting him to sleep in his room on the glider...and he falls asleep in my arms, but once I get up to put him in his crib, he's wide awake again. For right now, the only thing I have found to work, is lay, or sit, on the couch with him on my chest... he'll cry for about 3 mins, and then eveually gives up and falls asleep. This way I am not in a rush to put him down in his crib for I can watch a bit of TV. Once he's sleeping for a good 20 mins or so, then I'll put him in his crib and he's good till the morning. That's the only thing that worked for me...and I try everything!

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

honestly, I don't think you are doing anything wrong. I don't think there is much else you can do.


Dark room?
Maybe she doesn't like the white noise?
Maybe she doesn't want to be in the rocker anymore?

Have you tried just placing her down right after you BF even if she's semi-awake? I did this with DS, he never cried but got himself to sleep within 10 minutes or so. (obviously if he cried, I'd pick him up)

Message edited 4/15/2010 1:44:34 PM.

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

I am recently having this issue too, and I've been scratching my head for days trying to figure it out. DS could sleep through the night up to 3 weeks old.

I think now that he nurses more effectively he doesn't need his 2-3 hour nursing sessions. I pull him off after about an hour and put him to sleep. I use 5's and works like a charm, albeit I don't do the last S. I actually put him in the swing to wait for him to pass out then after 20 min move him to crib.

This is the problem, I think, when he's not sleeping he's eating, now that he's eating quicker he's sleeping more. During the day he gains his strength and is fussy and bored all night.

So today I started something different. I wake him up every 1-1.5 hours nap and talk to him, sing to him, feed him (more like snack than meal) carry him around, etc. When he start to look drowsy, put him down. I'm aiming 7 hours total sleep during the day as recommend by

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-child-need_7645.bc

I've narrowed down that's its not how much he eats or breast vs. bottle vs. formula. Baths can help or not. And what occurred to me is that he's nursing much quicker, so it must be related to how much time he's asleep.

Well, this is what I'm trying.

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

ugh, I responded on my Itouch and it didn't go through for some reason.

Try using a sleep positioner. Tyler liked to be snug.

Also, don't worry about her waking up DS, Tyler and Jack share a wall and Tyler hasn't woken Jack up yet with all of his yelling.

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

I have a sleep positioner if you want?

this one (I got it from Wendy on here)



It's all yours if you want to try that!

I'm sure you've tried but mylicon? maybe she's a bit gassy.





ETA: Joey liked to be snugg too. The open bassinet he didn't like at first. So he was swaddled, put in the moses basket IN the bassinet (I have a moses basket too if you want to borrow. the sleep positioner you can have)

Message edited 4/15/2010 2:57:49 PM.

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

Thank you so much Devon, that is the exact one we have, I tried it once but she cried and I gave up.

She spit up again today, that is twice in 12 hours. I hope it's not reflux

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

Posted by headoverheels

Thank you so much Devon, that is the exact one we have, I tried it once but she cried and I gave up.

She spit up again today, that is twice in 12 hours. I hope it's not reflux

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

LB, I was totally in your place not that long ago! Riley used to do the same thing- you can search for my many old posts about it! Riley would be up for HOURS in the middle of the night for no reason...would also some nights not go down to sleep until after midnight. I particularly remember watching a west coast game vs. the Angels and thinking ironically I should be happy she's keeping me up so I can actually watch a game.

Definitely a phase and NOTHING you're doing wrong. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what I was doing wrong...but eventually she just got better. Hang in there honey!!

Re: Getting baby to sleep at night

I am having the exact same problem! Last night, dd slept for 3 hours!! I only slept for 2. Thankfully, my mom came over today, so I handed the baby over and got some sleep today.
I've tried different sleep positions, the positioner, the boppy, open cradle, we have the lamb that sounds like the heartbeat, everything. I guess it's a phase...I'm hoping it will get better over the next few weeks.