My baby doesn't sleep during the day!! Help please...

[nickle730]

So, my gorgeous bub is 8 weeks old today. We are co-sleeping and she sleeps well overnight, waking once or twice for a BF and settling straight back to sleep. But we're having a few issues during the day... Miss P does not sleep during the day! She has not slept during the day since she was born. She will settle on my chest (or in the sling) but she wakes up as soon as I put her down. She can be in what appears to be the deepest sleep but put her down and her little eyes pop open... and she SCREECHES!

I have tried settling her all over the place - her cot, her pram, my bed, the couch... As much as I would like to sit on the couch with her all day, I have two other kids to care for as well as other jobs to do - like shower and use the toilet!! I can't wear the sling constantly as I have a bad back and it is simply not practical (hmmm... the sling in the shower?).

I don't want to let her CIO, she is too little and it would break my heart!! Any suggestions... please??!!

[Taurean]

Hi hon. I only just re-read I posted about my DD when she was roughly the same age!! I'll post a link as the thoughts and advice from other members was great I'm a useless mum

My DD ended up being diagnosed with silent reflux. Medication did help a lot but I found she didn't cope well with developmental leaps well at all in the first 6 months (are you aware of The Wonder Weeks?). She became a brilliant day sleeper around 6 months.

Some things that helped were a hammock for day sleeps, medication for silent reflux, a baby chiropractor and her fave - wearing her in the sling.

Good luck, it sure is tough and even tougher with other kids to look after too! I hope my old post helps in some way

[HotI]

Can you feed her on your bed and then leave her there to sleep?

My little one was the same and i still struggle with it.

[onthefly]

The only way my DS would sleep during the day at that age was in the hug a bub.
It's great she'll sleep at night - suggests that she really just needs you close by to fell comfortable right now. It is likely to improve with a bit of time (hopefully). Kate's suggestion is good - have you tried that? Maybe a bit hard with the other kids.
DS had silent reflux and he couldn't sleep lying down day or night until around 10-11 weeks.

[nickle730]

It's interesting that silent reflux has been mentioned as I began to suspect it a couple of weeks ago. I discussed it with our MCHN who agreed it's likely Miss P is suffering from it. I started her on Gaviscon a few days ago and she is a bit more settled after a feed but she still screeches if I put her down, even though I am careful not to lie her flat.

I have a close carrier and Miss P loves being in there and will sleep. She will fall asleep on my chest as well, but as soon as I put her down she pops awake. I think she just wants to be attached to me and can smell when I'm not in contact! I tried snuggling her in bed and then carefully getting up when she was fast asleep but as soon as my feet hit the floor she is awake and crying! I put her on my pillow so it would smell like our night sleep but still no good.

I know she is only tiny and she needs her mum but I'm finding it difficult to do the basics such as shower, go to the loo and look after the other kids. It breaks my heart to hear her cry... there must be some way to settle her to sleep (I know she must need some sleep!).

Thank you all for your replies. I will go and check out that thread now Taurean...

[BabyWrangler]

HI Sweets

Congratulations on your new bundle! So exciting!

With the silent reflux (if the mchn agreed its probably that, thats good enough for me), you may find it will take a little while (as in up to a week) to see a real improvement with the gaviscon, because what may have happened (it happened to both of mine, who are both 'fluxies) is the acid going up and down will have burnt her throat a little bit, so whilst the gaviscon is helping now, she still needs to heal a bit first.

Since you co sleep at night, you could try having a t-shirt you've worn close by to bub during the day when down for naps so that her "area" smells like you even when you're not there....when I worked in long day care I suggested this to a couple of parents who co-slept at night, but bubs were with us during the day and it worked a treat!

And (whilst I'm sure theres a forum for it) feel free to pm me re: silent reflux if you want!