First of all I wish I could search the boards b/c I am sure all of my questions would be answered somewhere (will the search feature ever come back?)...so I apologize in advance!
I have a 5 1/2 week old daughter who I am having a lot of trouble with. I need help/advice before I give up. First things first, she was full term, born 8lbs 1oz, but then had jaundice and was down to 7lb 3oz and was not gaining weight so stopped breastfeeding at 2 1/2 weeks and she is strictly on formula now. Also she now has bad reflux and is on Zantac 3Xs a day. With that said I am trying to put her on EASY, I know she won't follow it exactly at this age but I want to get her use to sleeping on her own etc. That is the problem...I cannot get her to sleep on her own. She has gotten better with the reflux, she has not projectile vomited in a week and her screaming after falling asleep for 10 mins has lessened but we still have issues. I know she needs multiple naps at ths point and she is not getting that.
I have a two year old son so my time to spend with her is limited as far as how long I have to try to get her to sleep. (And maybe that is my first issue that I don't spend enough time with her to get her to sleep.) The last few days have been really bad, I try to keep her on a 3 hr schedule so she is typically eating every three hours, as close to 7,10,1,4,7 as we can. Napping though is almost nonexistent at this point. I spend almost my whole day just trying to get her to sleep and she barely does.
I will hold her up close to my chest for 5 mins, her eyes get heavy and start to close so I put her in her bassinet, she jolts and is awake kicking and moving, grunting etc. And this happens every time I try to put her down, so I pat/shush until her eyes start to close again, and then I continue until I think she is asleep. And this is after MANY times of her grunting, kicking etc. When I finally think she is down, I leave and then within 10 mins she is screaming. Oh she also needs to have a pacifier, which I am not a fan of, but without it I wouldn't even get her to sit still on my chest for a minute.
Her last feed of the day is around 7PM and if we are lucky she is asleep by 9, and this is us trying to get her to sleep that entire time. Then we did recently start a dream feed at 10 which actually has her sleeping less in btwn feeds. She use to go from 8 till 3:30 and then up at 6 or so, but now she seems to get up at 2 or so for her first feed instead of 3:30. Argh!! I know to keep trying but we are almost at a week and no change.
As for daytime feeds, I try to let me son be in the room with me, but he doesn't understand he can't scream and play with all of his toys as he normally would b/c she won't fall asleep with that noise. I feel like I am just getting frustrated with him and then with her b/c neither of them is doing what I know they need to do in order for things to go as planned.
My son is a great sleeper and I owe that all to EASY and these forums, I know my daughter will get there as well but right now I can't imagine that happening.
I am very discouraged b/c I thought b/c I did it with my son that it would be easier with her and it has not started out that way.
Bottom line I want to be able to teach her to sleep on her own at a young age so she will get the sleep she needs and I will get the time that I need with my son so he does not become resentful. I hope this makes sense! Any advice would be much appreciated and needed!!
(I am sorry if this post is all over the place, I am a bit frazzled and I have her in my arms, and she isn't very happy, porr girl is over tired!!)
Thanks!!!
