Tired First Time Mom

Hi, J.! My baby will be 10 weeks tomorrow. But I also have a 3 year old little girl. Listen, try this: make sure that your baby is dressed warm enough, like put a blanket sleeper on him if you house is on the cooler side, and maybe a receiving blanket wrapped below the underarms and under his feet. Then, when he doesn't want to sleep, but you do, put him in his swing. I did this with both of my kids and it works! You can get a little more sleep. The baby may not like it at first, but you have to realize that his body is trying to learn how to stay awake for longer periods. He just doesn't know that 1am is not a great time for you! My swing has 6 speeds with ongoing music. So I put the swing on high and let the music play. They fussed at times, but it got better after a few times. Give him a pacifier if he uses one, too. Recline the swing all the way back so he is laying, because hopefully he will fall asleep. If he does, leave him there. I even set the swing up next to me in my bed. That way I could take care of him if I needed to do anything for him. I'm not saying let the swing "babysit" your baby, but it helps when you are delirious from sleep deprivation. In a few more weeks, he should sleep better during the night. My son now sleeps for about 4 hours, wakes and eats, then goes right back to sleep. Good luck!

Hi J.,

I think five weeks is too early to let him cry it out. Chances are, he needs something from you--maybe just comfort if he is fed, burped, changed like you said. I know how difficult the sleep deprivation is--my second child was often up for the day at 3:00 a.m.!

Our saving grace was the Miracle Blanket (www.miracleblanket.org). The first night we used it, she slept for seven hours at six weeks. Prior to that, she was up every one to two hours. It was worth every penny! Some babies just need the extra comfort of being swaddled. A pacifier helped us too. Good luck!

Someone said he might have his days and nights confused...try keeping things bright and relatively noisy during the day, even if your son is sleeping, and making sure its dark in his room and quiet at nite (i'm sure it is). This might take a while, but it should really help him differentiate between day and nite. Next, the swaddling should help him feel cozy. Also, I wanted to ask where he sleeps. Does he sleep in his crib? Both day and nite? Sometimes parents have babies sleep in a bassinet or playpen during the day, which feels smaller and safer, and the crib at nite, which is much bigger and less cozy, and the child isnt as comfortable. Look at all the variables. And good luck. My son is two, and still goes through periods when he is up for a few nights in a row and wants Mama.

I totaly understand, mu son (now 9 mos) had his days and nights confused. Try keeping him awake longer during the day, if he has napped for two hours, then go pick him up and play with him, sing and talk. Try to do this later in the day so when it gets closer to his bed time he will be sleepy.

I agree 5 weeks is two young to let him cry it out, I still can not do it. I also let my son sleep on his belly. I KNOW that is a big no no, but he refused to sleep on his back after the first month or so. May if you co-sleep with the baby. I know, another no no. But lack of sleep is so dangerous, and it mentally and physically drains you to the core. Just make sure you don't have alot of blankets and pillows on the bed, they also sell things for co-sleeping that keeps the baby safe.

My 9 month son still does not sleep through, my husband and I take turns during the week with who sleeps with him, this way not the same parent is drained all week long. Good luck going back to work, I know it sucks, I was able to take some vacationa and then a little time off not paid, in total I was out 11 weeks.