Won't go back down after night feeding :/

[janaprestidge]

So - this is my second DD.  I did EASY with my first and so I had an idea of what to expect.  So far, it's going great!  She sleeps approx six hours during the day, and goes 12 hours at night with a couple night wakings.  I can even put her down semi awake earlier in the day, which NEVER worked with my first - spirited.  Really she is sort of an angel baby.  I do have one question - when I try to dream feed (which hasn't really worked yet as she wakes up between 12 and 1 anyway with a dream feed at 10) or during the night wakings, she doesn't go back down to sleep easily.  It takes anywhere from one hour to two hours to get her back down, which is frustrating for both of us.  I only change her diaper if it's dirty.  But even when I don't she won't go back down.  I keep the lights really low, white noise, swaddle. I do burp her bc she gets gassy if I don't, and I have a strong letdown so I have to stop her when she gets "behind".  But I don't do anything quickly/vigorously - after all I'm half asleep myself. UPDATE: Last night she fussed from 7-10pm (she normally goes to sleep earlier but my husband was on duty) and she slept a full 9 hours - I know they can't get "too much sleep" but maybe she isn't having enough awake time during the day Any ideas?  She is 7.5 weeks old.  Thanks mamas!

How old is your child? 7.5 weeks
What’s his/her daily routine? See EASY below
What’s nap routine? Swaddle, rock, put down drowsy or rock in rock n play
How long are naps? Range from one hour to 2 hours
What's bedtime routine? Time? Medicine, warm bath, PJs swaddle, nurse, rock, white noise
Do you bottle or breastfed?? Breastfeed
How much? or how long?  She is a very fast eater and I have a fast letdown - 15 mins - 30 mins
If breastfed.. one side or both?? (at each feed) Sometimes one, sometimes both
How many wakes per night? Two
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up? 2 hours
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? Crying - hungry cry
What have you tried to settle?? Swaddle, rocking, singing, white noise, pacifier, nursing to sleep, etc.
What do you do for A time and how long is it? Ranges from 15 - 20 mins.  Staring at me, swing, floor time, tummy time.
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones? None but she is medicated for reflux
Have you introduced cereal? Why, how much, and how many times a day? (for LO’s under 6 months) No
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? Sleep sheep and swaddle
Do they have a love? Not yet

Typical EASY:

8am wake up
Eat  8:15 - 8:40
Activity 8:40 to 9:00 Looking at mommy, watching mommy get dressed
Sleep 9:15 - 11:00 (I can even put her down drowsy and she goes to sleep

Eat: 11:00 - 11:20
Activity: Tummy time or play gym
Sleep: 12:30 - 2:00

Eat: 2:00
Activity: Running errands/Swing/HOlding
Sleep: 3:30 - 4:30 or 5

Eat 5:00
Activity: Medicine (Reflux), Bath, Rocking
Eat: 6:30 Sometimes
Sleep: 7:00 - 12am

DF 10pm

Eat: between 12 AM and 2
Up until 2

Eat Between 4am and 6am Sometimes goes down, sometimes does't

Wake up between 7am and 8am

[katie80]

Hi there, sorry you haven't gotten a reply yet.

So, when I read through your first paragraph, I thought that she could be getting too much sleep. It is possible, especially at this age when they start to wake up and come out of that sleepy baby phase. However, looking at your EASY, it seems that her A times are right on target, if not a little high sometimes. In your first paragraph you said she sleeps 6hr during the day and 12 at night, but in your EASY it's more like 4.5 and 13 (not counting the NW). I'm mentioning this to make sure we're on the same page.

If your EASY is correct as posted, I'm thinking it might be best to try a CN at 6 or 6:30pm for 30-45min and then BT at 8pm. That makes for a 12hr day, which is usually what you want to shoot for and it keeps her last A time of the day from being too long (as it currently stands at 2-2.5hr), which would make her OT at BT. The OT could be contributing to the long NW.

The other thing that sticks out at me is the reflux. Long NW are often associated with pain, so it's possible that is playing a part as well. I'm assuming you use all of the natural remedies (holding upright after a feed, inclined sleeping surface, etc) along with meds to help that. Does it seem like she's uncomfortable at those wakings?

Also, if the DF doesn't seem to be working, I'd just drop it for now. It doesn't work for all babies and it could cause undue unsettledness. You can try it again in a month or two and it may work better then, but for now I'd be tempted to just grab a bit more sleep. Totally up to you, though!