Newborn Sleep Issues

I've not read any of the other replies, but he may be having silent reflux. Babies cry when flat due to the acid coming up through the esophagus. Try a wedge for him to sleep on, or put blankets under the mattress to prop it. Also, letting him fall asleep completely before laying him to sleep isn't beneficial. He WILL learn to put himself to sleep. It's hard, but all three of mine learned to and are still great sleepers. I wish you the best!!
Have you read "On Becoming Babywise"? I tried it with mine, changing things per child.

Are you nursing him on demand during the day too, and before nap?
3 months is a growth-spurt time... and many babies also do what is called "cluster feeding" in which they even need to feed every single hour.

Maybe he is going to nap, when he is already over-tired. Over-tired babies actually sleep worse, cannot fall asleep, and wake more.

Do NOT extend his 'awake' times. That will make it worse. He will be TOO over-tired.

Babies/newborns, usually get tired and need a nap.... after about 2 hours of 'awake' time. Also, they can't sleep if over-tired.. and/or over-stimulated. At this age, even a bath is an "activity' and can make them tired.

I agree that if your little guy is over-tired, his sleep is likely to be worse. A few tips:

"Wear" him close to your body in a sling or carrier during the day if at all possible. Many babies are able to sleep well that way. And better sleep may result in better sleep. Plus the bonding and added stimulation while awake is wonderful for the baby's overall mental and emotional development.

Putting a sleepy, or just-asleep baby down on a cool surface can wake him. You might try pre-warming his mattress with a heating pad or hot water bottle. Also, let him sleep on you until he's twitching – a somewhat deeper stage of sleep, and remove your arms from under him gradually when you lay him down.

Try the techniques offered in The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. Here's a YouTube video where moms using his approach report improved sleep in their babies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1

Good luck. I know you feel overwhelmed sometimes by your son's demands, so I'm glad you also feel how precious your connection to him is, in spite of that. You'll look back at his first year before you can believe it has already passed, and feel grateful for all the tender memories.

another thought, are you letting him get enough to eat at a time? If you are letting him snack for 5 minutes here and there throughout the day, he may not be getting a full tummy. Try to feed every 3 to 4 hours so that he gets into a better routine, even at night, don't let the baby just snack. They need to eat fully so that they can get full. A full baby sleeps better than a baby that just snacks. So make sure you empty at least one breast for each feeding. This always helped my son. Also, your baby could be teething and is uncomfortable so he could be waking up or could have gas which also wakes up baby. He is more comfortable sleeping with you. Maybe you can lay in bed with him and then not move him. Everything is a phase so he'll probably be back to sleeping better soon. best wishes to you. Also, maybe his crib isn't comfortable. I had to put a baby comforter/blanket under the sheet for my son to sleep in his crib. It was just too hard for him.

One of my three children was like this. He screamed anytime I wasn't holding him for the first year. I had to hold him to get him to sleep and if I ever even leaned forward to lay him down, he would starle and wake up. I tried every method I could think of, had other people come over and try to get him to slepp, but he just wouldn't. In the end, I bought a baby sling and had to wear him so I could care for my other baby, make, meals, clean, etc. On the bright side, he was walking by 9 months and then he wanted to be on his own more. Because I couldn't lay him down to sleep, I ended up putting the crib mattress on the floor and laying next to him to get him to sleep for naps and night time. At about age 2 he got his own big boy bed and he LOVED having his own space. Suddenly all he needed was his stuffed bunny and he could sleep on his own.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, yes it might be hard right now, but some kids just need that extra security of having you close, but eventually they are secure and confident. This stage won't last forever and before long you will be missing that little baby who just wanted to be held all of the time. :)

I read the earlier replies and I do agree with with everyone says. I will say this though up until my daughter with 3 or 4 months of age she slept in a bassinet in my room, we didn't BF but we did notice at that age she had a harder time sleeping. We tried her in a crib in her own room and she started calming down immediately, see if he has enough room to stretch and be comfortable where he is sleeping. Another suggestion is to adjust the light you may want to try and make it brighter if not any better try making it darker. Just like adults each kids wants their room to be a comfortable level of light, not to bright or not to dark. Another suggestion would be to put in his sleeping area some type of music or white noise. My daughter has to have the radio on a classical music station all night long otherwise she wakes up from the silence, but if that doesn't help turn off the radio and see if he likes the quiet better. Good luck.

check out the book "baby wise" lays out step by step instructions for getting your baby to sleep well! Best book ever.

Unfortunately there is no easy answer here as every baby has there own way of sleeping. The best we mama's can do is offer advice and you use some trial and error. It seems as if he does well at night. Try making the room he sleeps in dark. He may do better if the room is as dark as you can get it. I have also found that a white-noise machine helps to calm a baby. It worked great with my kiddos--we all use them. Here is a link to a white noise machine just in case you haven't heard of one before: http://www.soundmachinesdirect.com/white-noise-sound-mach...

Hope this helps!

I have 3 kids and there were all different, but here are some things to try. At 3 months, he should start to settle into some sort of schedule. Like up at about the same time each day and then ready to nap at around the same time. I never had any that only slept for 45 minutes at a time forever, but it seems like at around 3 months, that might be more of the normal type pattern and it gets longer as they get older. I always tried to notice when they were sleepy, then try to put them down. Again, at 3 months it may just be too soon for him to totally settle into a routine, but try putting him in his bed with the mobile on and sit with him for a bit. If he's fine, walk out of the room for a few minutes. If he fusses, come back in and start the mobile again. Keep going out and in and starting the mobile for as long as he is basically happy. You said you are BF, is he co sleeping at night? If so, it may be that he's not used to his crib and these short times in his crib may help solve that. I've also heard to put a hot water bottle or heating pad in the crib and remove it when you put the baby in...that way it's warm when you lay them down. Another idea is just to hold him in a chair/couch where you can also sleep. 45 minutes isn't that long, but it might be just what you need to recharge your batteries. I definately remember doing this with my last. There was a time around 3-4 months where the only way I could get him to nap was to sit in the chair and hold him. He'd nap, I'd rest or nap, and everyone was happy. I didn't do it for every nap, and I didn't do it for the rest of his life, but I did do it for a while, it really helped me rest. So, maybe try that. You AND he napping for 45 minutes.

I just read through the posts and have to second the thought that he's possibly not eating enough. Babies need the hind milk that comes after about 5 minutes (I think) that is thicker, richer, and stays with them longer. If he's eating 5 minutes each time, he may never really be full and thus wants to nurse again after a few minutes. Try making him go longer between feedings with either a pacifier, or rocking, etc. You can also encourage him to eat more by trying to keep him awake while he eats so he doesn't just fall back asleep. I know you said nighttime isn't a problem, but it will become a problem. Sleep deprivation is really hard! If you are trying to nurse him several times during the night, but for only 5 minutes, it will catch up with you in a few months.

This is most likely not the answer you are looking for but I held my daughter while she took naps at that age. This allowed me to pat her back when she started to rustle around after 30 minutes and keep her asleep for longer. After a while I started nursing her laying down on my bed and when she fell asleep I was able to slide away slowly. I decided it was more important for her to be happy and rested than to have my free time during naps. I'll give you a fair warning that once you start this it is hard to break but it sounds like you are already at this point anyways. My daughter slept in her crib at night but would not do so for naps.

I have a little one in my home day care that at one was only sleeping 35 min twice a day. Now she is walking and 18 mos is sleeping about 1 hr morning and 2 1/2 afternoons. It will change over and over but all the children I have had younger then 18-2 yrs old take two naps morning some and afternoon more. It gives me a chance to make their lunches. I let her stay up longer then the rest after lunch until about 1:30 so that she will sleep longer and not cry and wake up the rest. She then will wake about 2:45-3:30. Getting better and better and she is very good natured. Plays independently and very mild mannered. Good luck Contrats on being a mom with the most precious life has for us. Our children. G. W

I just saw this part of your question: but I just want him to stay asleep when I lay him in his crib.
Does he still have that moro reflex? I do remember when my 9 mon old was this young, he slept better in the swing or a bucket seat that cradled him. I was not swaddling him and the swing was not in motion. I think there is something that he liked about not being flat on his back. Is that the difference between you holding him and laying in his crib?
Yes, we transitioned him to his crib around 5 months.

It was about this age that my kids really started needing "regular" naps. Before then I was able to let them sleep wherever and whenever, but about then I had to start putting them in their crib and then leaving. I would suggest nursing him and then putting him down and letting him go to sleep. This way he can start learning how to self soothe and you won't disturb him when you move. If that doesn't work...at least he's sleeping (mostly!) at night! Some days that was the only thing that kept me going!