5 week old - “power-napping”

[suzanasjoqvist]

Hi there, as many babies my 5 week old was a great sleeper in the first weeks – in fact I wrote on this board with almost the opposite problem a few weeks ago. So far she still sleeps well at night but the last 10 days or so we are having some problems in the day time.

I get her to sleep with more or less effort. Sometimes she’s nearly asleep when I put her in her cot, other times it takes a lot of shh-patting. The problem is that she then has a 5-15 minute nap, and seems right awake – ready for the world. So we start a circle of a couple of looong shh-patting sessions followed by tiny naps. By which point it’s time for her next feed and she has had at the most half an hour sleep in total, counting all the tiny naps. It’s just like she doesn’t want to miss out – like she just really does not want to sleep.  But I’m sure she must be tired and needs some sleep. She gets about 9-10 hours at night (in two sessions) and I suppose all her “power-naps” might add up to another 1-2 hours a day but surely that’s not enough sleep for a little baby?

I’ve been thinking of trying a pacifier – but am concerned that it’s going to cause problems with her so far good night time sleeps – and although I’m happy to go and put it in every ten minutes when she wakes up in the day time – I’d really prefer not to have to do this at night.

I’m thinking should I have to black out the room? But the thing is I often try to put her to bed around 7PM and then it’s dark and we are still having problems – on the other hand there has been a fair few times when she’s napped really well, out and about – so I’m thinking the light issue is not the main problem. And yes there is a selfish reason as well – my car-less situation would make it impossible to get anything done (shopping, appointments etc) in the small time she is awake – so I do need to be able to bring her with me – so am reluctant to make he rely on a darkened room, so far she is pretty portable.

I’ve been reading about various possible discomforts, reflux, gas etc. But again thinking that’s not it – just because her cry really doesn’t sound like a painful cry. She did get gassy a couple of times a few weeks ago – and it was so obvious by her cry that she was in pain – and this sounds nothing like it – it starts like just a fuzzy sort of cry.

Sorry this got long – but what can I try to get her to sleep more then 10 minutes at the time?

[jenandben]

I don't have an answer for you but thought we could commiserate.  My 6 week old is doing the same thing but at night.  Looking forward to hearing some suggestions!

[suzanasjoqvist]

So does your one sleep well in the daytime? If so have you tried the most obvious thing of reducing her sleep in the daytime?

What puzzles me a bit about the baby whisperer methods is the 20 minute winding down session vs putting them down awake. Thing is if I sit and cuddle her for 20 minutes she'd most of the time fall a sleep - should I then try to wake her up before putting her in the cot so she knows what's happening? I have tried doing this. I have also tried not waking her. And i have tried shortening the winding down session so she is just awake when I put her down - in either case she wakes up after 10 mins unable to resettle. At this point - when she wakes up - should I go for another 20 minute wind down session or shh-pat her?

Any other ideas?

[Jocasta]

Sounds like you've got a "new soul" there - she doesn't want to miss out on any of what's going on - she's seeing it for the first time! 

Hugs honey!

I tried to implement EASY from day one in this house but it just didn't work for us.  I'd let (actually, I didn't really have a choice) Sophie fall asleep at the breast and put her straight down.  She was impossible to wake in those early months.  TBH, she's always been an excellent napper and now goes down without any fuss - I put her down wide awake and she just drifts off. She's been like that since about 8-10 week (prior to that she'd always fall asleep during a feed). 

I'm not suggesting that you give up on BW completely - we all know that BW ROCKS!!!  I just think that perhaps it can be tweaked a little to fit in with your lo who doesn't sound like she want's to conform.  - Sophie always did a ESYA if that makes sense?

[jenandben]

My lo sometimes wouldn't even get the 15 minute power nap during the night.  He's just wide awake not wanting to miss thing...indicative of his being spirited.  Yesterday I tried helping him sleep more consistently throughout the day thinking he was just overtired by the time night came, and that worked better.  I also think he's easily over stimulated, so sitting quietly rather than bouncing him made a big difference.  What type of personality does your lo have?

[~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~]

suzanasjoqvist - re: the 20 minute wind down - it is ok to cuddle your lo but what BW suggests is you put dd down before she falls asleep, so if that means only cuddling for 15 minutes, then only cuddle for 15 minutes.  You wind down does not need to be 20 minutes long.  My ds doesn't want a long wind down - he'll get cranky if it lasts too long.  And as Jocasta says, it is harder in the earlier weeks to get babies on a solid EASY.  I started my ds at 5 weeks but I think it would have been tough any earlier than that.  At this point, just concentrate on some activity after a feed and put her down right before she falls asleep.  You can work your way into putting her down completely awake. It does take time   Just stick with it!!!

[jenandben]

Jocasta- With ESA, did you have problems with letting your lo fall asleep on the bottle/breast?

[Jocasta]

Jocasta- With ESA, did you have problems with letting your lo fall asleep on the bottle/breast?

Not at all - TBH, I didn't have a choice.  Sophie always fell asleep mid feed and NOTHING would wake her!  After a couple of unsuccessful attempts at trying to wake her, I just gave up and put her down straight after a feed.  And as I said, with us, it didn't promote any issues with independent sleep when she got older and her feeds no longer coincided with a nap if that makes sense?  She's been able to get herself to sleep pretty much since day one. 

[suzanasjoqvist]

Apart from this little problem she is a very easy baby - between Angel and Textbook. Considering she must have been seriously sleep deprived in the past two weeks she is still surprisingly pleasant to have around.

I think what I need to do is resist putting her to bed too soon – and hopefully that way avoid a bad circle of power naps – cause it does seem like these short naps do perk her up just enough so that she can then resist sleep for another couple of hours. Suppose sleeping well at night, probably means she can manage longer activity periods then most – especially in the mornings. I suppose I tend to be a bit eager to get her sleeping so that I can finally have a shower and some brekkie and get myself ready for the day.


I’ve usually started to wind her down after she’s yawned 3-4 times but maybe I just need to try and keep her awake for as long as I can. Being an otherwise easy baby I suppose if she gets a bit over tired it’s not going to be the end of the world.  Not sure just how long to push her to stay awake though?

Another question is with the shh-patting. Until what point do you keep going?
A) As short as possible, Just until she calms down so she doesn’t get any undue attention at bed time.
B) Until just a couple of seconds or so before she drifts off?
C) Until she falls asleep?
 
I guess A/B would be better in the long-run, promoting more independent behavior, but not sure she’d ever get to sleep that way at the moment – or do I just need to be more patient?

I have basically ended up on an E.A.E.S(if I'm lucky).Y(I wish ) plan in the daytime – since it takes her so long to go to sleep I feel It’s better to give her a second feed before bed so at least she doesn’t wake up again because she’s hungry.
 

[jenandben]

I sh/p intermittently (only when he's working up to a fuss- stop when he's calm) until his eyes get too heavy to hold open.  I try to lay him down when his eyes are still opening and closing.  Never thought he'd handle it well, but he drifts off to sleep pretty easily.

[~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~]

Another question is with the shh-patting. Until what point do you keep going?
A) As short as possible, Just until she calms down so she doesn’t get any undue attention at bed time.
B) Until just a couple of seconds or so before she drifts off?
C) Until she falls asleep?
 
I guess A/B would be better in the long-run, promoting more independent behavior, but not sure she’d ever get to sleep that way at the moment – or do I just need to be more patient?

In the beginning, you will probably have to do shh/pat until she falls asleep, then gradually stop earlier and earlier until you only have to shh/pat until she calms down.