Awake for most of the day - 6 weeks old

[Cass72]

Just wondering if anyone has any tips in convincing a 6 week old that a sleep during the day longer than 20 minutes is a good idea!

The past few days we have had 2 hourly feeds (I'm presuming it's a growth spurt). During the night he settles (mostly) and goes back to sleep. During the day I give him a feed, burp and change, then offer the other breast (or the rest of the first one). This is then followed by 2 hours of cuddles, lullabys, rocking (in arms and the pram), putting him in the cot to drop off.... by which time he's hungry again and we start all over. Nothing seems to work, well except laying on my chest.

How much are babies supposed to sleep during the day?

[Sterla]

Not sure about how much sleep newborns need, but do you have a sling or carrier? When my DS was that little putting him in the carrier would send him off to sleep every time.

[littlebear]

Does he seem happy and content? My bub stopped sleeping around 4 and 5 weeks because he was in pain with reflux. That was accompanied by lots of screaming and crying though!

How long does he sleep at night? I think I read somewhere that babies generally have a 90 minute awake cycle including feeding and changing. This is roughly what my 9 week old bub does.
Have you tried going for a walk around the block in your pram? Going for a drive? Second the sling, that works wonders.

Can't think of anything else hopefully others will have more ideas for you! HTH

[Cass72]

He's happy enough, he just likes to be "up". I've got him in his bouncer at the moment which he seems to like - I have it on vibrate and he is yawning like crazy. We do normally go for a walk but the weather is a bit yuck today and I didn't want to take him out. We are going sling shopping tomorrow!

[littlebear]

Have fun sling shopping at let us know how you go! Hope he manages to get a bit more sleep in for you xx

[Cass72]

I went sling shopping today and was dismayed at the quality of slings and how overpriced they are. I ended up at Spotlight and bought some lovely fabric to make my own - I also bought some fabric to make a sleeping bag for bubs.

[studymum]

Newborns shouldnt be awake for more than an hour and half, usually the hour, and this includes the feed. Having said that some bubs are different. Its okay for him to stay awake after feeds now.

Watching for tired signs is probably the most important thing to do, they can be really subtle in some. Clenched fists, Jerking movements of the arms, legs or head, Rubbing eyes, Scratching eyes or face, Grimacing, Yawning, Crying or grizzling, Twisting movement of the head, Darting eye contact, Finger sucking, Ear pulling, Arching of back. As soon as they display any of these signs, wrap them tightly in a swaddle and put them in their sleep spot. Its important to put them down where they will wake. Some babies like to sleep where the action is as a newborn, so try a bassinette out with you, and as they get older start to move them to where their cot is. It may appear that they are happy and awake, but getting overstimulated and overtired can make it near impossible to put them to sleep, and it can cause them to wake constantly to. You should aim for a pattern of sleep, feed, play. So they wake up hungry, have a play and go back to sleep until their next feed.

And I agree, slings are overpriced, I was lucky enough to be given them otherwise I would have sewn them myself to.

[HotI]

Newborns shouldnt be awake for more than an hour and half, usually the hour, and this includes the feed.

ha ha someone forgot to tell my little one!