I need some help with the end of the day for my 7 week old. I can't figure out if he's hungry or ot at bedtime. It's probably both but I can't seem to fix it. Maybe it's a case of riding it out as my daughter was the same at this age but if anyone could take a look at our day and let me know if you have any suggestions that'd be great. Our main issue is getting him to bed. He hasn't fallen asleep for the night before 8pm ever, no matter what we do at night or when his cat nap is or when his last feed starts. But now it's becoming 9 or 9.30 before he'll settle which I'm not very happy about cos that's my bedtime!
Here's his day today. We were running a little late today (normally run about half an hour earlier than this) but otherwise it's a fairly typical day.
Woke him for the day at 7.45
E:7.50 - 8.55
A: Nappy change mid feed. Fell asleep on breast so no real A time. This is unusual - A time is usually 1 hr 20 ish here.
S: 8 55 - 10.40 (I woke him for feed)
E: 10.45 - 11.30
A: 11.30 - 12ish. Fell asleep at 11.55 initially but seemed to wake up then go to sleep again on and off til 12.15ish.
S: 12ish - 1.45 (I woke him for feed)
E: 1.45 - 2.40
A: 2.40 - 3.15. In sling from 2.45ish but took a while to drop off.
S: 3.15 - 4.45 (I woke him for feed)
E: 4.50 - 5.20
A: 5.20 - 6. In sling from 5.40. Cried to sleep.
S: 6 - 6.35
A: 6.35 - 6 45
E: 6.45 -
? He finished at 7.30ish or earlier, but would not go to sleep. Swaddled him, white noise on in darkened room with my boobs out and he just quietly lies there looking around. Gave him 20 minutes to switch off and start dozing but no luck so put him down at 8ish. He had a bit more milk in that time but both boobs drained by this point so i don't know think he had much. By 8.15 / 8 20 (I think - didn't see the time) he was crying, so went up and offered breast. Took it, switched sides and when he'd had more fell asleep. Put him down again. 5 / 10 minutes later he's crying again. Go back up, offer more milk. As soon as he's had some he falls asleep again. It's now 9.50 and he's dropping off for a few minutes then waking.
We've had this before and if we offer a bottle (I know, bad plan supply wise but I was desperate) he'll go down awake and willssettle himself to sleep. When I've tried sshh pat he's cried for 40 minutes then slept for half an hour then woken at which point I've fed him and he's settled. I just can't work out if he won't settle cos he's falling asleep before he's had a full feed or is just overtired and the hunger cues he gives when he's crying are misleading and actually just about comfort?
What do you think? How can i get him to sleep? I literally don't care how i do it at this point, I just want him in bed at a reasonable time so i can eat dinner and go to bed.
