Tips to stop a baby waking up every 1/2 hours through the night?

smartpicture

My brother's just had his first baby (yay!), she's 2 weeks old and they're struggling! They say she wakes up every 1/2 hours through the night wanting to feed, and as it's soooo long since I had a baby not sure what to advise, so any tips?

I do remember my oldest screaming and keeping me awake for most of the first 6 months, but somehow I don't think that telling them it will all go away in 6 months is going to help...

ginvzt

Is she breastfed or formula? If the first one, could it be that she doesn't get enough and keeps waking up hungry?

3onitsway

She's only got a tiny tummy, so can only hold a little bit of milk which needs topping up regularly.

My LO woke every two hours - but probably only for the first month. Then every three, four etc, and now at 8 months, she's sleeping (usually) 9 or 10 hours at night!

If she's BF, would they consider co-sleeping?
It worked for us, to get us through that first month.
I'd lay on my side, with baby laying next to me - pop her on, and we'd both go back to sleep.
It was still broken sleep, but much easier to handle than actually getting out of bed, getting baby out of basket, feeding her, trying to settle her again, putting her back, and getting back off to sleep myself, for 90 minutes, before it started again! :eek:

floss2

Does she sleep during the day? It may be that her body clock is the wrong way round!

I can only agree with Ginvzt that she may be either hungry or thirsty - if breastfed, is her mum relaxing enough during the day to ensure her milk is coming through? If bottle, have they tried a different milk?

Also, speak to the midwife or health visitor for more advice.

floss2

3onitsway wrote: »

....If she's BF, would they consider co-sleeping?
It worked for us, to get us through that first month.
I'd lay on my side, with baby laying next to me - pop her on, and we'd both go back to sleep.....

Please do not consider this

I would advise that no parent considers this as an option - the risk of layover is very high, especially with newborn or small babies who don't move very much.

candice56

My LO has always been a great sleeper and now 4 months but he did wake more frequently when he had wind.

Worth reminding them that sucking is their only comfort and she may be feeding to comfort which could make the wind worse??

my LO just fed both boobs and is now sucking my arm!!

candice56

floss2 wrote: »

Please do not consider this

I would advise that no parent considers this as an option - the risk of layover is very high, especially with newborn or small babies who don't move very much.

When I was in the hospital thw mw actually suggested this to help me get some sleep- it was great but i'm not a heavy sleeeper

pinkpig08

Me and my baby co-sleep. She's 12 weeks old now and I have had a good nights sleep every night. You can buy sort of bolster type things for the baby to lay in so they have their own little space.

smartpicture

She is breastfed, but I thought your body was supposed to produce as much milk as necessary so surely she must be getting enough?

What are these bolster type things you can use when co-sleeping? Can't believe how many new things have been invented since I had babies!

I think part of the problem is they're both nearly 40 and reckon they don't have as much energy as a 20-year-old. My brother is also generally clueless, a sort of absent-minded professor type, whilst mum is a neat freak perfectionist, and sadly babies don't tend to fit into that mould!

deedee71

If the baby is waking up every 1/2 hour I think the problem could also be wind. I kept making the mistake of feeding my baby to sleep but 10 minutes later he would wake because he hadn't been winded properly.

ginvzt

My cousins had to be moved onto formula, as my aunt didn't have enough milk, so it can happen. My cousin was crying a lot, and was hungry all the time. When my aunt tried to express, she could see that there was definitely not enough milk.

My mum did not have enough milk and I was given a milk from another woman, who had too much.