My baby is overtired. I don't know what to do about it though! She rarely sleeps more than 30 minutes at a time during the day, and usually will only take two or three of those short naps. I've tried nursing, rocking, letting her cry to sleep, etc. but she always wakes up after half an hour or less. Because of this, we put her to bed between 6 and 6:30 at night, but she wakes up every 3-4 hours throughout the night, so I feed her and lay her back down. For the most part, she's so exhausted that she doesn't eat too much before she falls back asleep. She's up for the day around 7am. My two-year-old sleeps more than she does! Help!
I've been told that the method of eat, play and sleep works wonders. Perhaps she just needs some more stimulation to tire her out. Every baby is different...my son started sleeping thru the night at three months but I know others who had issues. Once they worked on the eat, play and sleep schedule and had a nighttime routine things seemed to get better!
I also have a 3 mos old baby. Every baby is different, but I have created a routine for my daughter that is starting to work. In the evening, I give her a warm bath around 7:00 p.m. and then feed her a bottle. She then starts to get sleepy around 8:30 and will sleep until about 3:00 a.m., which is a long time for a baby. If it seems like your baby can't get to sleep, try swaddling her, that may help. I have also, put a teaspoon of rice cereal in her bottle at her 3 a.m. feeding and she then goes back to sleep until 6 a.m. I know it's frustrating when you can't figure out what's wrong and why they won't sleep. Try creating a routine and see if that works. I also have a 2 year old and he sleeps all night. Just remember, your new baby will sleep all night, too.....one day.
J.,
I have a 4 mo old and two older kids. Here's my advice...it worked for us recently...
Spend one full day, just relax at home and let her tell you when she's tired. Don't clock watch or try to put her down at all. Tune into her "tired" cues - listen to her cry, watch how she acts before getting upset, pick up on what she's telling you.
When she first wakes in the morning feed her immediately. Do it every time she wakes to 'rule out' hunger later. Then change her. Play and wait for the tired cues. As soon as you know she's tired, get her to bed. Keep doing this over and over again.
Don't stress out. Don't worry about the clock. Just mill about your day with your two yr old and the baby. I think she may surprise you. If you stop 'fighting' her, maybe she'll normalize out.
I know this sounds simplistic, but it worked for us. I've been fighting with DS trying to 'get him on a schedule' and nothing seemed to be working. This past week I did what I recommended to you and it's amazing. He only woke ONCE last night. I'm not stressed, he's not crying and I don't care how often or how much he naps during the day, because I'm up anyway! He started HIS routine right away and has slept more every night since I backed off.
Good luck! Let me know how it goes.
Sara
Thank you for your post today. I really needed it. I spent almost an hour today crying to my husband about the EXACT same thing. My daughter is 5 months old though, but i too, have a 2yr old. I thought I was doing something wrong or that something was wrong with her. It's so hard to figure out a routine with her when my 2 yr old is running around. Mine goes to bed at 6pm too but has been sleeping like 5-7 hrs at a time(but at 3 months she too was at 3-4) So don't worry the nighttime stretch will get longer. I don't know how practical it is for you, but I get in the car on the really bad days. She falls asleep almost immediately and so does my 2 yr old. It's not a permenent solution by any means but I know she needs her sleep. Good luck and thanks again for helping me feel like I'm not alone.
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.
As far as the short naps, have music on continous play, a fan on and a DARK room. To do this I use black felt that is 12 inches wider and longer then the window and attach it to the window frame using the scratchy side of velcro on the frame. Also when she wakes, don't go to her right away, wait 5 to 10 minutes.. Almost always they will go back to sleep in that amount of time.
Other than what's already been said, the only thing I can think is do you give her a few minutes when she starts waking up from those short naps? Sometimes we think they're waking up, but given a few minutes without attention they'll fall right back to sleep.
Hang in there! I'm sure you're quite exhausted too!
3 to 4 hours is EXCELLENT! it is common for little ones to "nap nurse" when they are that little. Go to drsears.com for more info on sleep . He even has a boook called The Baby Sleep Book. But please dont let your 3 month old CIO. Its OK if you are frustrated and need a break, but for a child this young it is inappropriate. Good luck. My daughter did the same but she NEVER slept that long at night. Good luck, and this too wil pass
I don't know if you have one but sometimes it might take a nightlight. Or just an animal that plays a nice song or rain or outdoor noises that can help them go to sleep sometimes. And if you are finally so exhausted just let her lay in your bed and sleep. When she gets older she will sleep in her own bed and not have a problem transitioning also maybe this will make her start to feel comfortable with sleeping and maybe taking naps during the day. You can also try to swaddle her with a blanket in bed because she might be waking up if she moves to much and wants to feel cuddled.
