Newbown/Infant Tantrums???---->UPDATED @ bottom

Anybody ever experience this with a newborn?

DD (2 months) doesn't really nap during the day. She generally sleeps 8-9 hours at night and then I can usually get her to take a 2-3 hour nap in the morning. After that, 20 minutes is the most she'll give me.

By 9pm, I can tell she's exhausted, but yet I can't get her down. She still fights the sleep. My DH and I usually spend the next few hours trying to get her down, but this past week has been really rough. She's been throwing what we think are "tantrums" out of frustration/exhaustion. She'll start crying, punching and her head goes from side to side a mile a minute (almost the same way a young child would throw a tantrum on the floor.) I've never seen a baby do this before.

We don't believe she's in any pain b/c once she's worn herself out (usually 2-3 minutes straight of the tantrum), she's out like a light and sleeps through until the morning. And I figured if she was in any kind of discomfort/pain, I would see this kind of behavior during the day. This "tantrum" seems to only come late at night, which is why we believe she's just exhausted.

*Does anybody have any experience with this? What did you do?

*Is it just a phase?

*Are we way off? Could it be something else?

Thanks Girls!
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YOU GIRLS ROCK!!!!

DD went down last night around 6:30pm (she fell asleep in her swing, so we figured it would be best to quick get her in crib, whether it be for a nap or for the night) and slept until 5:30am!!! Ideally we'd like to get her down around 7-8pm, but beggars can't be choosers!

I put a mattress pad on DD's crib mattress and so far so good! SHE'S NAPPED 3Xs TODAY in her crib!!!!

I've also been reading "The Baby Whisper", which has been a big help in helping me understand/read my little girl.

Hopefully that will be the end of the tantrums...for a while.

Thanks again girls!!!!!

Message edited 9/22/2006 2:28:25 PM.

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???

I;ve seen it before. I'm going to take a guess and say she is over tired and that its hard for her to settle down. Maybe try moving the bedtime back an hour or two? I have read, and some ladies here says it works, but if you put them to bed earlier, they sleep longer.

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???

Another vote for overtired. I would try putting her down earlier (maybe 8pm). She'll probably start to nap more during as sleep begets sleep.

Infants are supposed to be getting about 14-16 hours of sleep a day. While not all infants are the same, it sounds like your little one needs more.

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???

Thanks girls.

Hopefully I can try and get her to bed earlier tonight and get her to actually stay asleep.

Wish me luck!

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???

jiavana throws tantrums all the time especially when we put her down and she wants to be held. its amazing that something so small and so young can throw a tantrum.

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???---->UPDATED @ bottom

Bumped for the update...and for MANY THANKS!!!

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???---->UPDATED @ bottom

DS threw some tantrums when he was a newborn until he wore himself out...

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???---->UPDATED @ bottom

THat's great Jenny! I hope she keeps it up for you!

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???---->UPDATED @ bottom

that's great news, earlier bedtimes are so much better for them.

Re: Newbown/Infant Tantrums???---->UPDATED @ bottom

Glad we could help! Keep up the great work!