Non-sleeping 6-Week Old

The Happiest Baby on the Block is another great read. You might also try wearing her in a sling. At this age, they just want to be close to you - they soon outgrow it so enjoy it while you can. Every baby is different and has his/her own sleep patterns. My daughter slept in long stretches and was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. My son takes cat naps and at 9 months still isn't sleeping through the night. They're only little for so long - when they're all 18, we'll be longing for these days, ha ha! Just try and get some rest when you can! Good luck!

She may just be adjusting to her own sleep pattern...I don't think the diaper rash is really a factor, unless it seems to irritate her in some way to prevent her from sleeping.

I agree with some others. Let her sleep in the car seat. She still may need that swaddling/cozy feeling in order to sleep good. The larger the baby/smaller the mom the less room they had inside of you. She just may need to feel more confined. I have even let one of my girls sleep in the car seat all night when she had a bad congestion (works great). The only other reason I can think of that she might not be sleeping would be that maybe she is hungry? So long as she is getting enough to eat & she's burped, try the car seat.

Diaper rash. Not sure what kind of cream you are using, but I always used A&D lotion. A&D makes two types, I always preferred the white cream over the yellow gel type. I did in-home daycare and I had one little boy that would have blisters sometimes from his diaper rash. I would cake on the lotion and then put baby powder on top of that. The baby powder was the trick to keeping the cream on and even after they wet, the lotion would still be there. Make sure when they have a diaper rash that you change them EVERY hour. If you go to change her and she is not really wet, add more lotion and baby powder on top of the lotion and baby powder that are already there, it adds protection. I have cleared up some bad diaper rashes in 24 hours doing this. I will tell you that it is a pain to wipe it all off but just wipe as much as you can off and add more to the top. Keep the rash covered with the cream and powder. Works like a charm.

You have a 6 week old. This is what they do.

Newborns do not play people. There's a lot that goes on around 6 weeks. It's the peak of fussiness and things usually get better after it. There is a great book called The Wonder Weeks. It tells you when your baby is going through mental developments. During them, babies are fussy and often sleep less. There's one at 5 weeks. I found the book helpful in that I could easily match my daughter up to when a leap occurred. So I knew if I hung tight, we'd get through it.

You can read a little about it here:
http://www.livingcontrolsystems.com/wonder_weeks/content_...

And here is the webpage for the book:
http://www.thewonderweeks.com/

Don't worry. It will blow over!

It's so hard to say for sure... With four kiddos, I remember dealing with all sorts of sleep issues. :) There is one book that was an absolute LIFE SAVER for me. It really saved my sanity. It's called Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Traci Hogg. I strongly recommend it. It will answer all kinds of questions from newborn through toddler-hood.

~ Ann

I'm so sorry! This is something that I unfortunately can relate with. When this was happening with my son, several people told me that twleve weeks is typically a milestone as far as sleep habits changing for the better. In other words, the trend might be poor sleeping leading up to that followed by a gradual improvement in the spans between feedings, fusiness, etc.
Whether this is medically founded or not, my best friend and I (our babies are ten days apart) both found this to be true. As a matter of fact, her daughter's behavior was very similar to your daughter's, and all of a sudden she started sleeping basically through the night at eleven weeks (til nine a.m. might I add)!
You should try your hardest to get some relief in the meantime if at all possible and get a nap in! I truly hope that things get better fast for you and your daughter.

Both of my kids (and all my nieces and nephews) went through this. Around the 6-7week mark it's like they turn into this fussy, non-sleeping baby. Dr weissbluth talks about it in his book and I've also read a book that talks about the "4th trimester". It says babies need a "4th trimester" to adjust t life outside the womb. Seems to make sense but it doesn't make it easier! Babies at that stage still need closness and swaddling. Just keep doing what you're doing and it will soon pass

your baby is way too young to be manipulating you. If she's crying or fussy, it's because she needs something (what that something is, of course, is the hard part to figure out!). I bet you are so sleep deprived right now that everything is a little foggy. Do you have one of those front pack carriers? It's like a backpack, only you wear it on your chest with the baby facing you. We had to use one of them with one of my sons because that was the only way he would chill out and rest. I could rest my eyes sitting up on the couch with him nestled against my chest. We used vibrating bouncy chairs all the time and a swing is almost always a good option (though they can get very expensive). Make sure to keep those diapers dry (change her right away) and hopefully that rash will clear up soon and she'll be able to get some rest (and so will you!).

Maybe she's cold. Or maybe she's just more comfortable in your arms or in the car seat. Mine would not sleep anywhere for any length of time unless she was being held or in her car seat. So I let her sleep in her car seat until she was about 5 months old. My pediatrician had no problem with it.
You daughter is only six weeks old. She could be going through a growth spurt and needs to eat more often. She is not 'playing' you at this age there is no way they would even understand how to manipulate someone else. And definitly don't let her CIO she is really not ready for that. Kids sleep patterns change rapidly she will probably change again next week.

My son was a terrible sleeper as a newborn and still his not a great sleeper for his age. 5 months and just slept through the night for the first time lastnight! My advice is to keep trying different things, Try putting him in a bouncer to sleep or a swing or the soothing glider is where mine went to bed at night, even a carseat. You can also try feeding her more. Good luck.

At this age, a baby doesn't know how to manipulate or play you. And a baby this age should definitely not be left to CIO.

Do you have a swing or bouncy seat? Some babies prefer to be semi-upright to sleep. Also, are you still swaddling? Swaddling provides a sense of security and can often help a baby sleep deeper and longer.

Tracy Hogg "The Baby Whisperer" and Weissenbleuth "Heathly Sleep Habits Happy Baby" are excellent books.

Have you tried swaddling her? Both my kids napped and slept sooo much better when they were all wrapped up. I really like the Swaddle Me at Babies R Us.

For the diaper rash try Triple Paste. You can get it at Target. It is expensive but my son sometimes gets a diaper rash so bad it is blistery and it usually clears up in a day with the Triple Paste after every changing.

Good luck!

C.

Yes...it will blow over soon...and then it will happen again at some time in the future...lol. She could also be having a growth spurt...it is time for one. A baby this age can't "play you". They lack the cognitive ability to KNOW that if they cry something will come to soothe them...it is purely instinctual. They can't logically calm down until they get what they need.

If she is more comfortable sleeping upright, then reflux is a possibility. If you formula feed, try cutting back each bottle just 1/4-1/2 an ounce to avoid being overfull. If you are breastfeeding, try single-side nursing to ensure that she is completly empyting the breast and getting plenty of hindmilk.

My tip for diaper rash: use a hair dryer on low to completely dry the area before any ointment or diapering. I probably did this for the first year of diapering and then just when there was some sort of breakout after that. We had very little diaper rash in 2.5 years. It is also great for soothing a colicky baby.

6 weeks is usually the first growth spurt and peak of colic. FWIW if she sleeps better in the car seat let her sleep in the carseat. right now she just needs sleep, it doesn't matter where. she won't be sleeping in a car seat when she goes to kindergarten. i have to make sure my 9 weeks old is in a deep sleep before putting her down - generally 20 minutes of holding after she falls asleep. not easy with an older one I know!

As others have intimated, 6-9 weeks is the period of peak fussiness for newborns. You two will make it through this time. Do pay attention to her sleep queus, and set the stage for a nap immediately to take advantage of her natural down times. Wait too long and a hormone is released which actually winds your babe up again and keeps her awake.

try using the Baby Whisperer's EASY method for a schedule, and the Happiest Baby on the Block 5 s's method. Those two combined will make cio not be a needed thing (at that age)
EASY - when the baby wakes up it Eats. After you feed it, then it has Activity - bouncy seat, tummy time, sitting up and playing with toys, swing, exersaucer, etc. When the baby gets fussy check the B's - boredom, butt or burp. If it's none of those then off to Sleep. Don't wait for the baby to do more than get the tiniest bit fussy, then see what is causing the fusses - if it's just that they needed their diaper change do that, but if it's not the activity is boring, the butt is dirty or they have to burp, then put them down. This may happen after as short as 45 minutes, don't freak, it really means they are tired.
Now, to get them to sleep use the 5 s's. Swaddle the baby, hold the baby on their side and sway as they suck on something (paci, your knuckle or their finger/thumb) and make a shush noise. This will calm your baby. When the baby is calm, but not asleep yet, keeping them swaddled lay them in the bed. I like to pat them instead of sway after a minute or two cause you can still pat after they are put down but you can't sway, so pat the baby and continue patting gradually decreasing it as you put them in the bed. Also continue the shushing as you put them down, again gradually getting quieter.
If you do these two you will find a well rested, easily managed baby in no time.

for the diaper rash to disaper very quikly use BEPANTHENE UNGUENT,and it goes in 2-3 days, you must leave your baby sleeps on his own pattern,that's her body needs ,and you need to ajust your sleep...................not easy ,if not impossible ,try ''micro sleep'',every time
you can.........best wishes
think that it exists a lot worse to freak out ( it helps )
sorry my bad english
M.

Going by experience of 3 out of 4 of mine having it..... have you considered she may have silent reflux. Sleeping while being held or in the car seat is logical as she is in a more upright position and the burning is not so severe. I have used losec capsules successfully for many years. Even when breastfeeding I just break the capsule, tip the granules into babys mouth and for use a shringe full of water to wash down or put straight on the breast. Ask your doctor if you can try the treatment and you will know within days if it is working. No harm done if you treat for reflux and it is not this.
I know the sleepless nights and screaming kids well. Good luck and hope you get some sleep.

your 6 week old is not playing you. its an infant. they dont sleep well for quite some time. Please dont let anyone trick you into thinking your INFANT is getting spoiled . It is impossible to spoil an INFANT.

Just a thought have you tried Ovol it's actually for gas...but it helped my daughter, I was going through the same thing. If your nursing your little girl she might not be getting enough milk, try feeding her some formula nice and warm after you've nursed her...good luck:)