Please help with baby blues and sleeping

listerofsmeg_2

Just wanted to say you're not alone! This is VERY normal!

My girl is 2 now but I remember those early days. I'd like to say that it's harder at first, and even if your baby doesn't get into a good sleep routine (for some reason mine was still waking like a newborn at 20 months old!) you do get used to it and it doesn't bother you as much because it becomes 'normal' to you.

I remember being in tears in those early weeks 'I haven't had a good night's sleep for 2 weeks!' but it does get better.

I found co-sleeping very helpful, as I didn't physically have to get out of bed to feed.

Try to sleep in the day when your baby sleeps. We used to have a couple of hours every day where I took her nappy off (she had nappy rash) and laid her on a towel, on her changing mat in the bed. She'd kick around/sleep and I would sleep too, occasionally changing the towel when she did a wee. I was a very restful time. We had to stop when she learnt to roll over though.

galvanizersbaby

sooz wrote: »

I think it's one of the Tiny Love symphony in motion ones. I don't think they still do the one just with the black & white patterns, but they now do ones with furry animals & a black & white swirly pattern (very trippy ).
They are expensive (c. £50 I think), but you can normally find loads at posher NCT sales for about £5

Yes, that's it Sooz, shame they don't do the black and white patterns anymore - don't new babies see in black and white at first? - can't remember (though I recall a couple of dangly animals)
I sold mine on ebay if I remember correctly but I couldn't have done without it for my 2 - gave me time to do a few housework jobs when mine were tiny - they seemed fascinated by it and the music was lovely too - like you say very trippy!

purply

hi OP,
My baby is 2 wks old today and he's my first. Been reading all the advice so far and its great advice!

Not much i can add apart from go with your instincts. I didnt read any books (have never heard of Gina Ford and I think I'm glad!). You're tailermade for your child and alot of it is instinctive.


Dont know if it will help but this is what i do-
I put my baby in the moses basket for the first part of the night where he sleeps for about 3 hours. After that, he is in my bed and feeding on and off for the rest of the night. I feed lying down which is great for both of us as i can dose and he can dose and feed!
We usually get up about 10.30am which ensures Ive slept reasonably well.

The first few days, I slept in my bed with my husband-this was a nightmare really. Couldnt do the co-sleeping and both of us were getting up and stressing. As soon as i moved to the nursery (where we have put a single bed), it just got so much easier and it means hubby sleeps well (he's back at work so needs to) and he will take baby in the evenings-give him a bath etc.

Another thing i do is top up with formula at night-only a couple of oz's but that really settles baby and he sleeps for a few hours. I love breastfeeding but at the end of the day, it makes things a bit easier and I don't intend to do it forever, just until i get used to things. You have to think about yourself too and you need to rest and for me the top up works and i get 3 hours of good sleep followed by the dosing for the rest of the night. BUt those 3 hours are lovely!

Hope things are getting easier for you, take each day as it comes.

HTH