Conflicting advice and getting frustrated!!!! *rant*

[kirsty_lee]

Hun.. bugger routine I reckon shes 2 weeks old!! My DD is 5 weeks old and not in a routine I just go with it. She usually wakes every 2-3 hours herself for a feed. And all she does is feed/sleep/poo. I don't wake her up for play. There are moments where she wakes up has a feed and is content and stays awake afterwards and we have cuddles etc. But I dont have "designated play time" cause well.. shes a new born. They sleep, that's what they do. Your not going to ruin your child hun! Just go with the flow and for a while she will pretty much call the shots. I wouldn't be waking her for a feed unless its like during the day and she's going hours and hours without a feed. kwim? Most important thing I learnt is NEVER wake a sleeping baby. And I mean really 2 week olds don't need "playtime" .. well I don't think so anyway. Your not a bad mother and there isn't just one way to raise a child. The only time I have a routine with Paige is at night time. Bout 6-6.30pm I give her a bath and give her a feed in the quiet of her room and put her to bed. Just to get her use to day/night. But every baby is different ok.. take a breath and not stress. Do what YOUR comfortable with. Your not going to screw your baby up ok. Just take her lead for a bit... shes only new. and the BEST advice... heaps of people will give you pointers/advice on what to do... you dont have to take every single bit of advice, just take the pieces that you find are helpful

[MrsBexie]

Thanks ladies! I'm just so confused, frustrated, tired, want to cry...

See even as I sit here I feel bad because she went down for a sleep at 9:10am... and it's not 11:30am and she's still sleeping... should I go wake her to feed or should I let her wake herself??? If I wake her will that make her cranky or get her into a habit of feeding more often or if I let her sleep will it mean she will be awake for ages and stuck to me like a leech?? What do I do? Wake or sleep?!?!

[Little Chicken]

Is she has plenty of wet nappies and poos, leave her be and have a rest yourself. She'll let you know when she needs a feed. And she may be awake for longer, or she may not be no-one knows not even her. Sit down, put your feet up and have something to drink and eat.

[MrsBexie]

She definitely has lots of wet and pooey nappies! she is a machine! And she gained 1kg in the first 2 weeks, she feeds like a champ and feeds a lot, So maybe I will let her sleep... I'll go check she is ok and leave her if she is happy.

It's weird, I want her to sleep when she is awake and when she is sleeping I miss her.

[~StarBright~]

It's weird, I want her to sleep when she is awake and when she is sleeping I miss her.

Soooooooo true lol!!!!!!

[MrsBexie]

Well she woke herself Right after I posted last so now she is happily on the boob...
So tummy time doesn't matter at this stage? And I felt bad for not stimulating her!! She doesn't have any toys above her carseat, no mobile to look at in her bassinet, nothing but sleep boobies and hugs. Oh well.

Thank you all so much for reassuring me. It's what I need right now. It's so hard because I was so confident at first, so relaxed and knew what we wanted but now, not so sure... I just want the best for her...

[~StarBright~]

Tummy time is importnant to help stengthen their neck muscels (sp) etc- but it doesnt have to be on the floor- just holding her on your chest on her belly (while you lay flat-ish) and her lifting her head is fine. I may be a "bad" m,um but i never put my kids on the floor for the 10-15 minutes a day as recomended, or if i did it wasnt in one block, more like a minute at a time a few times a day, just for as long as they were happy. On your chest is great too coz she can see your face!

Its a tough job hey!!!!!!! And parenting is such an important job that you want to do sooo right!!! But everything you hear is different!!!!!!

[Snowy Love]

You are the stimulation she needs - looking at your face & expresions.

[ss_storm]

it is tough, but I bet you are a great mum, and will be no matter what you do or don't do. Personally, i would do what you feel comfortable with, if you don't want to leave her crying then by all means comfort her. every baby is different and IMO you can't "create" a clingy baby or any other kind of baby, they are what they are! She is only 2 weeks old, this world outside your uterus is completely different to what she has been used to for the last 9 months and it will take her a little while to work things out. Right now, all she knows is her mummy and cuddles, and that's all she needs. Don't worry about stimulating her with toys or anything, for the moment YOU are the centre of her whole world.

[misty]

Well she woke herself Right after I posted last so now she is happily on the boob...
So tummy time doesn't matter at this stage? And I felt bad for not stimulating her!! She doesn't have any toys above her carseat, no mobile to look at in her bassinet, nothing but sleep boobies and hugs. Oh well.

Thank you all so much for reassuring me. It's what I need right now. It's so hard because I was so confident at first, so relaxed and knew what we wanted but now, not so sure... I just want the best for her...

At this age, the world itself is stimulating. As for tummy time - my DD never liked tummy time; so we didn't force her. My boys on the other hand loved it from about 4mths.

[MrsBexie]

And thank you ladies... I really appreciate it!!

[kirsty_lee]

i'd leave her a bit longer...she should be feeding every 2-3 hours so give it another half an hour i'd say

[Feijoa Mum]

Leave her. If she is gaining weight and is feeding well then go with your gut.
She is soooo little and what ever works this week will bound to change next week and the week after so do what works for both of you at the time.

As a rule of mine I kinda demand fed but also followed a 3-4 hourly pattern during the day. At night I would leave them be and let them sleep for however long they wanted too because I knew they had had lots of feeds during the day.

If you want to hold her or feed her to sleep then do it. You cannot possibly spoil or ruin her by doing this. She has been so close to you for 9 months of course it is going to take her a little time to realise she will be ok without you right there.

Good luck and keep up the good work. Oh and congratulations