Please help....Struggling

[NikkiA27]

Hi all,

New to this board and baby whispering so could really do with some help here. Have a 7 week old little girl (Jenni) whose adorable but is very clingy (doesn't like being put down) and also varies sleep wise greatly (she's in her cot in the nursery) - some nights we get 4 hours some night 5 and some nights very little and she ends up sleeping with me (on chest and to the side). I realise after reading the book this is wrong and I'm keen to work hard to correct it.

So tonight started EASY routine properly (Jenni feeds every 3 hours anyway) and its good so far but she only napped for 25 mins - is that ok? Also - just done activity and put her to sleep and she's gone straight out for the count (great) but is this (8pm) too early/late for bedtime? if she wakes now do I just pick up - calm and put down until she goes out again? I know to give her a dream feed around 10am - but what if she's wakes before then? We only giving her small feeds at the mo (90 ml every 3 hours and 120ml for the last feed) as she went through a phase of projectile throwing up all feeds and the hosp reduced the amount and we're just increasing it slowly - so she's always hungry.

Also - how do I know whether she's awake for the day in the morning and not just cranky? Do I try and put her dsown again? When does EASY start in the day?

Last question to you experienced and successful folk, how do you cope when you go out during the day? I'm quite an active person, do you do the pick up put down thing when your out? Does sleep time in cars count as nap or sleep during stroller ride round park? All help would be appreciated...it's all so new to me and its not been easy at all (no pun intended).

With love
Nikki and baby Jenni.

[cambeladamom]

well, i have only been doing this for a few months, so i don't have a lot of advice. but i would encourage you to try easy for several days and watch your lo's patterns. short naps are okay in the last easy cycle before bed, but during the day you want them to be longer. you can pat/shh to help teach her to sleep longer. it sounds like if she is always hungry due to the problems you were having, you are going to just have to go with the flow until she can take full feeds. then you will be able to help her get back to sleep if she wakes up and you know she isn't hungry.
i think if you are out and about it is good to try to do it during activity time. but since she is so little, her activity time is short, so if she will nap in the car or her stoller, go ahead and let her.
this is a great place for advice and encouragement.
good luck!

[lil'monkey]

I think that feeding every 3 hrs is fine for this age and I think that it is great that you can put her down and she goes to sleep right away.  Way to go! 

If you are going to implement EASY, then you need to observe dd for a few days to figure out her pattern so you can decide on when to start the day.  Some moms start at 7-7:30 am, others just start the day earlier/later to fit in with their household routine.  Bedtime at 8 pm is fine and if dd wakes before the df, then just go in and feed her (in the dark) and put her back to bed.  If she wakes before 5-6 am, I would consider it a nightwaking and try to get her back to sleep.  There are some sample schedules posted here that can give you some ideas as to how some moms are doing it.


I agree that the last nap of the day can be short but try to have all other naps longer than 60 min.  To help extend the naps, you should check out the nap board as there are great suggestions for babies this young.  Also, it is recommended that you stay home while training your lo to sleep and head out during the Activity time.  I know that it will be tough but it is well worth in the end. 


Good luck!  And if you have any questions, this forum is great as you get lots of suggestions to help you and your dd.