Fussy! - Orlando,FL

Hello - I feel for you girl - those first couple months are sooo tiring. Ok so I would try to cut out the diet coke for at least a week. Also - make sure you baby is getting enough sleep in the say. Normally when this happened with my son it was because I had not let him sleep enough during the day and overstimulated him. Babies at that young age cannot stay awake for more than 2 hours straight before needing a good need or getting overtired. A good schedule I think will help. Babies this age average between 15-17 hours of sleep a day. Here is what my son's schedule was when he was that little:

up at 7ish feed
nap from 8:30/9 to 10ish and feed
11:30 feed
nap from 12ish to 2:30ish
2:30 feed
nap from 4 to 5ish
5:30 feed
at 6:30 started sleep routine - calming bath, singing, massage, quiet breastfeed and asleep no later than 7pm
10:30/11 feed (the more baby eats here the better!)

At 5 weeks, its normal for babies to wake up in the middle of the night for a feed. Around 2:30ish and then 5:30ish. Some babies though will only wake up once at 3:30ish and then stretch thru till 7am.

Here is an article that might be helpful.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sleep.html

Good Luck!

Poor baby girl has colic it sounds like. She'll grow out of it around 4 months - I know you are groaning right now!! Have you talked to her pediatrician about it? Is she strictly on breast milk? Make sure there is nothing physically wrong with her - but chances are she is just one of those unlucky little baby girls who got colic. Just remember, when you are feeling stressed yourself, she can sense it - take a break - hand her off to your husband, mother, whoever is available, take a bath - relax yourself - because if you are stressed out, uptight, etc - she WILL sense it - and she won't settle down any easier --- have you tried a swing for her? A bouncy seat that has a vibrate button? Just some suggestions... Good lucky and hang in there...

It sounds like the ye old "happy hour". She will get over it. Keep your wits about you. Just prepare yourself for her pattern and brace yourself. Try to create as relaxing an environment as possible. She will get beyond it. The Mylicon is a great addition to your routine. Good luck!

The waking is normal. Many newborn babies have a period of fussiness at the same time each night. I don't think the bedtime bath is recommended for such young babies. It's better to use something without a scent (chemical fragrances can cause allergic reactions on such delicate newborn skin). A bath though is a good idea before bed (even if it's just a sponge bath) and a light massage. Create a routine. Bath, breast feed (I used to do skin to skin at night), swaddle, sleep. I started giving my guy bottle of formula at night and he slept much longer. It just depends on if you want to do this or not. Try reading the book..The Happiest Baby on the Block. It will answer all your questions about a newborn and fussiness. And just remember this will pass usually by 3 months. I would also recommend not drinking the caffeine, it does get through to the baby.

Are you drinking your soda a few hours before her last feeding? I know I've heard of lots of people who had fussy babies after caffeine. I went cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant. I figured I might as well toss that misery in with morning sickness :) Maybe you should try stopping it for a few weeks. It takes that long for anything to completely get out of your system and hers. Good luck!

A.,

I agree with some of the other moms, you have what I use to call the WITCHING HOURS. My twins did this from 5pm until 7pm every night for almost 8 months. The constant crying for no reason, nothing you fed them or did for them made them happy, it seemed like it was impossible to keep them from fussing. That said, Unless you think there is a true medical problem (which I would discuss with your pediatrician) I would just stress to you that it will get better. I know how stressfull this time is. Good Luck & just hug up that sweet tiny baby as much as possible, it does help.

mine did the same thing. a good schedule helps. babys cry when there stressed. she could just be overstimulated from the day. hang in there, she'll outgrow it soon.

A.,

I had the same problem with my baby when she was a newborn-she is 11 months old now-sometimes it was gas but other times I didn't know what was wrong. My mom said that all babies have a fussy time of the day and I found that she was right. There were some weeks when she would cry at the top of her lungs for two hours and nothing would satisfy her. I think that its just stages that they go through and all you can do is comfort them, as in giving warm baths, singing, rocking, etc. Of course if you have any concerns don't hesitate to call the doctor. They are used to new mommies and understand! I know how frustrating and emotionally draining this can be but know that this will pass. In the meantime try to also take care of yourself and you will get through it!

It sounds like "colic". Some doctors do not believe in the old "colic" however I would call the doc. You can try Gripe Water and Hyland's colic pills. You should be able to find both at your baby store, the health food store and Walmart/Target. They also have colic "pillows" that you wrap around baby's tummy. Some moms swear by this. Believe me this will pass.

Give her babies magic tea and also drink yourself to pass it through your milk supply. It'll soothe her from any tummy issue.

I have a 12 week old. She had similar problems, and I hate to tell you it sounds like colic. I also was drinking drinks with caffeine, but I found out that it wasn't the problem, however, I make sure to only drink any (I only have one can a day) only right after I breastfeed. Luckily though, I have been able to get her to sleep at least 7 hours straight at night and she is fussy during the day. This has been for the past 6 weeks. I give her a bath every night (even if it is a quick one), then I rub lavender bedtime lotion on her, and then put her in her feety pjs. I feed her one more time and then she falls a sleep so rapidly and for the night. I was amazed and quite happy about it. I do it nightly as a routine. Hope any of that helps you, too, because I was sleep-deprived, too. Heidi

Hi Angela:

I have a month old baby and breast feed too. Before I became pregnant I did all sorts of research on breastfeeding and what is best for baby. I found out that diet coke and other products that contain Aspartame is harmful. It is recommended not to drink or eat things with aspartame if nursing. Ok, I mentioned I breastfeed, well I also supplement with formula, guess when, at night. It really helps us sleep peacefully. Granted he still wakes up every three hours, but after that bottle feeding he's knocked out. I feed him Enfamil gentlease. It's gentle on the stomach. Most of all consult the baby's doctor on what's going on. Hope this helps, hang in there girl this too shall pass.......

HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD (by Marc Wiesbluth) is a wonderful Sleep book.

And don't beat yourself up. We all have had those helpless nights and even though this is your 2nd child, it is your first time with this one. You'll see as she gets older just how different they really are!

She could be overly tired. Try to put her down about 30 min. earlier than you normally do. This could help a lot. Sometimes when children are overly tired they tend to get fussy and have trouble sleeping. If you drink the diet coke in the morning you should be fine. Each child is different regarding how the breastmilk effects them (I nursed 3 and each reacted differently to regarding the caffine). She might be a little sensative to the caffenie so try to not have any a good 4 hours before you nurse to put her to sleep.

Also try to get a bedtime routine in place for her. Maybe the nursing and sing to her softly, a read a story to her while you nurse her (or before). You don't always have to have a bath before bedtime (I know somedays she isn't so dirty she needs one, and too much bathing can dry their skin out if you use the soap). Also remember that 5 weeks is still little and she is trying to get a routine set, figure out a schedule. The calmer and more quiet you have it the better it will be for her.

All three of my children went to bed at 6:30 p.m. when they were under 1. When they turned 1 they were in bed by 7:30, and now depending on the night it might be 8, but we always aim for 7 or 7:30 p.m. Yet, my youngest who is 8 months old is going to bed around 6:15.

Also look at her naps, if she isn't getting enough sleep during the day that will effect her sleep at night. Good luck and I hope this helped.