Getting 7 Week Old to Stop Waking So Much in the Night

My second son was exactly the same way. He wanted to be swaddled, yet didn't. He wouldn't go to sleep without the swaddle, but would fight his way out and wake up over and over throughout the night. I thought that, maybe, he was super particular about where and how he slept and that I just hadn't found that perfect combination. After explaining this to his pediatrician, she informed me that he was colicky. I was pretty stunned because he wasn't the textbook definition. I didn't realize that his restlessness at night was a major symptom. We started him on Enfamil "Nutramigen" formula (recommended by the pediatrician) and we noticed a significant difference in 2 days. It is expensive, but totally worth it. He is such a happy baby now. He is 6 months old now, but has basically been sleeping through the night since he started on the formula. He still prefers to be swaddled.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl!

There is another post regarding a 7 week old waking, you should go read those responses. My first was 2ish when I had my second so I recall being in the same boat. However, I nursed on demand - whenever he wanted. Both of mine woke every hour or so, hungry or not they nursed, it can be very comforting. It's tough to say this early that your baby isn't hungry - she might be! She might be cold? Maybe she moves and unswaddles herself and then wakes? Or she just may want to be held, she just spent 9 mos inside your warm, comfortable womb. I don't recommend having her cry it out, some may disagree, but at this age? She is just so new! Hold her, feed her, whatever she wants!
Good luck and enjoy your new baby!
M.

Dearest H.!
What a joy to have those darling little ones. I must tell you it is the naturalest thing in the world for your little one to desire to be near you. It is natural for a young one to nurse often. I am grateful for their sake you are nursing. Don't wean yet with that pacifier. It's the beginning of the end! And--the beginning of germs introduced into her mouth! Your breast milk is the best choice, and way for you to keep her developing the bones in her mouth, and the pronunciation skills, etc....and your nursing all night can be accomplished by having her closer to you at night---she'll sleep better--Guaranteed. Too soon they grow old and want to be completely independent. They would never need much besides breast milk for a year--enjoy it and continue "building" that beautiful strong girl. You'll have less crazy trips to the doctor's if you do. They want cuddling, suckling, and that's just normal. Many people successfully sleep with their tiny infant in the bed---at least for a few months...and they sleep way more that way. Just have the diaper on tight---and sleep away---just be sure to give your husband plenty of that access too, if you excuse me for including him---you two are the center of the family---and let the children know they are welcome additions---but that you two are the leaders and decision makers of the family. Make sure your husband is at the top of the food chain...but you'll all sleep better this way for a few months in the beginning...try it??

Around that time my son was starting to wake up one time a night . I found that keeping him awake for 5 hours in a row before bed kept him asleep longer.

Also, if you are breastfeeding, try pumping and feeding her a 5oz bottle before bed (I found that my son ate more at one time with a bottle because he fell asleep at the breast so was ALWAYS hungry). The books say that kids will get "nipple confused" or "lazy" so will stop taking the breast... but I found that not to be true. Connor took food no matter what form it was given to him. Including a spoon.

Hopefully this helps.

At 7 weeks, it's too young to have them "cry it out." She's just an infant... just out of your womb. Infants go through LOTS of changes once they are in "our world." Their temperature gage so to speak is STILL developing, their internal organs are STILL developing etc. They don't come fully developed physically once born, their bodies are still forming.. thus, they go through many sleep changes as well. If you are nursing, nurse on demand. Breast fed babies often feed more often.. and yes, it can indeed be every hour. For formula babies, typically, every 3 hours at this age. Sometimes, yes, infants can be hungry a LOT and cry a LOT... especially if they are not getting enough intake. Crying is their only form of "communication" as a baby and a survival instinct. Best to be sure about this. This has happened to several people I know, where their baby was not getting enough intake. Swaddling can help.... we did that with my first child. BUt, they can also over-heat or get too hot.. yet they like the "snug" feeling. They can't regulate themselves, biologically, thus they get uncomfortable. A really good book is: "Secrets of The Baby Whisperer: how to calm, connect, and communicate with your baby" by Tracy Hogg. It is a GREAT book and can be found anywhere or online. It really helped with my first baby. I would recommend it. Take heart, they are only babies for a little while.... and they will go through lot of other phases and changes and different sleep patterns. Just cuddle and love them, sometimes that's all they need. With my youngest boy, all it took was singing him a couple of songs while hugging him. That is what "soothed" him the best. I know it's not easy, if anything ask your Pediatrician. Good luck and take care.
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

I also have a 7 week old, she wakes up, but she is not "really" awake. Last night we gave her a bath right before bed with that Johnsons lavender stuff and it worked like a charm. She slept from 11 to almost 6 a.m.
In your case, is she coming out of the swaddle? If so, I would say try one of those kiddopotamus wraps. We use to swaddle with a blanket, but she always managed to get her arms up and out and would wake up. This thing, I believe called a swaddle me blanket, works so great, she can't get out. They will always wake up when they come unwrapped, at least that has been the case for us. Try the bath as well, it worked great. Good luck to you.

Hi,
If your baby is breast feed it might be worth knowing that they go through feeding peaks at 6-7 weeks and again at 10-12 weeks. The best way to get through these is to feed through them. Also if she is waking a lot at night - she may need more milk during the day. Have a look at your schedule. If she feeds every three hours try offering her milk every two hours, if she feeds every four try offering her milk every three hours (you get the idea). Also if it helps ask your two year old if he hears the baby at night and/or check on him - you will probably find he sleeps on regardless and it's one less thing you need to worry about. Sound like you're doing a great job as a Mum of two little ones. If you need some guidance on comforting and sleep patterns I do know a great book that talks about both and all advice depends on the age of the baby - it's called 'Sleep Right, Sleep Tight', by Cummings, Houghton and Williams.

Definitely get the Miracle Blanket! At 7 weeks we started using it and it made a world of difference...she went from waking every 45-60 minutes to sleeping for 4-6 hour increments. One word of caution is that they don't recommend using it after 14 weeks (it likely won't fit anymore anyway) and then it's tough weaning them off of it. But it definitely will help you get some much needed rest. Also, having been through all this recently...my baby girl got to a point that even co-sleeping she was waking every 45 minutes throughout the whole night and I nursed her every time. She woke crying every time and was VERY gassy. After trying elimination diets and everything under the sun, I realized with the help of our Pediatrician that she was sucking in so much air every time she ate throughout the night, that nursing her that often was actually hurting her. I tried cutting back the feedings to every couple hours and her gas stopped immediately. Hang in there, it will get better...mine is just 5 months and is finally starting to sleep better at night!

When my daughter was first born and for many weeks later, she would sleep in 5-10 minute increments DAY and NIGHT and cry when she woke. My husband had to sleep in the guest room and I was so sleep deprived. She, too, did not seem to want to be fed. I finally discovered that she did not like to be wet AT ALL. Her diapers did not appear to be wet but if she wet them even a little (drops), I had to change them. I tried every brand made to no avail. I am convinced she filled up one landfill all by herself the first year; we went through so many diapers. She still woke up a lot for a while, but after being changed, she would go right back to sleep until she wet again or was hungry. As she grew, she slept longer and didn't wet as often. We found out when she was older that she was tactilely sensitive.

She is so young. Of course she wakes up at night alot. Her sleep pattern will change. if she is waking up at night she probably is hungry or wet. i would feed her everytime she wakes up. Maybe she will sleep better with a full tummy.

Dear H.,

Maybe she doesn't like the swaddling. You need to buck up and not be so sad when she cries. She is a baby, babies cry. Of course, make sure that she is comfy, then leave . You just need to be 'on duty' and listen when she is crying so that you can 'save her' ....those are my words.

I had to listen to my son cry for 5 days at naptime - and he really let it goooo. for hours ! But on the fifth day, he cried for 15 minutes, then went to sleep and napped everyday after that. I am so grateful that I had the guts to do that.

I would try experimenting with the swaddling a bit - both arms tucked in, left arm out, right arm out, maybe some different ways of wrapping her.

Please buy The Ultimate Swaddle Blanket. It is very big and it will be hard for your daughter to get out of it

I agree- swaddling blanket! And at this age if the paci doesn't work your baby does need to eat- it's funny at this age. Try reading the Happiest Baby on the Block and The Baby Whisperer- they both helped me a ton! And believe me, it is just a stage!

Also, if you are breast feeding (or bottle, I guess) make sure she is not feeding to sleep- I got into that habit and it was awful- at the worst she was waking every 45 min and needing to eat to go back to sleep, and it was no fun to break the habit! That is how the baby whisperer helped me a ton.

We co-slept. I've had plenty of sleep since Rachel was 5 weeks old.

She sounds like she wants to co-sleep. Unless your totally against it try to have her near you. Dr. Sears book "nightime Parenting" is wonderful, you should check it out.

If your daughter likes to be swaddled, but is breaking out of it at night, try the Miracle Blanket. It is a true miracle and worked wonders for my little girl until she was 7 months old and didn't need it anymore.

Good luck!

Try The Miracle Blanket. She wont be able to wriggle out of it so you won't have to re-wrap her allowing her to sleep better. It has worked wonders for my tiniest and she sleeps through the night with it. The website is www.themiracleblanket.com. Good luck!

P.S. Having white noise also helps. A humidifier or ocean waves cd works great!