Baby never sleeps

[Js32313]

I have a 3 week old baby. He will be three weeks tomorrow. He never really sleeps. I read newborns are supposed to sleep 16-20 hrs a day. If he sleeps 10 that is a sleepy day. When he gets up in the morning he is awake most of the day. Might take a nap in the afternoon if we can get to to stay asleep. In the evening he might sleep in your arms for 10-15 mins at a time possibly after be eats. He will be up until super late at night before goes to sleep. I do all kinds of things to get him sleepy and he will fall asleep in my arms but as soon as you put him down he wakes up. Once he does finally stay asleep he will most likely be up in an hour or so. This happens a few times during the night. I think if you added what he slept it would definitely be under 10 hours. He always fights sleep too. Don't they need sleep to grow? Plus I'm just exhausted. My husband works 10 hours a day so alone a lot. Any suggestions.

 

[donnarobinson]

It defo sounds like he's not getting enough to sleep and sleep breeds sleep
He will no doubt be over tired and can't settle of x
Have u tried having him a wrap so he's close to u and MYbe lying down with him in a day time ? It's not for everyone but some times co sleeping really helps u thru those first few weeks x

 

[MindUtopia]

What happens if you don't try to put him down? My daughter never would have slept if I'd tried to put her down to sleep. She slept in my arms or in a wrap during the day and we co-slept at night. I think I managed to get her to sleep in her moses basket once for 20 minutes otherwise and that was it. If you feed him and then just sit and hold him after, would be sleep an hour or more? That's what we did. And actually, at 3 weeks, one of us was awake holding our daughter during the night so she'd sleep still too. We did it in shifts so we both got some sleep (yes, dads can lose sleep too - my husband was working a full-time job at that point, plus we were in the process of starting our own business so he was working evenings and weekends on top of that - he still got up all night to help). But basically for daytime sleep, I plopped myself down in front of the tv with snacks and a drink, and I fed her and she slept and I just sat there with her. When I needed to eat or do things around the house, she went in the wrap to sleep so I'd have my hands free. That worked well. She got lots of sleep and I could relax and not stress about trying to get her to sleep.

 

[Wugz22]

My first newborn never slept either until I started wearing him in a carrier, then he napped most of the day! Surprisingly that helped with night sleep too, because sleep begets sleep. Some babies just won't sleep if you put them down, so you have to hold them to get them to nap. Also, I used a Fisher-Price Rock N Play for night sleep. It makes them feel snug and cozy, like someone is still holding them. Also, really loud white noise - like if you turned a radio to a static station - works every time to get my newest baby sleepy. That and a tight swaddle.

 

[Js32313]

I am going to try the baby wearing. It's hard at night because my husband works 4-2:30am. He is gone 3-3. Sometimes later if they get out late so no option to have him help until he gets home. He did last night and got him to sleep alittle. I'm afraid of co sleeping. So afraid to drop or roll on if he is in bed with me. I move a lot in sleep. I do have a rock n play sleeper. Just have to make sure he is out cold to put in or he wakes up right away. I am going to for sure start with baby wearing. I have a Chico one. I tried it and he didn't seem happy but I will try agian. If it doesn't work I'll get a different type.

 

[greats]

Baby wear definitely! Or let baby nap on you during the day. Baby is still so little and just wants warmth from momma and daddy.

We also swaddle and use the rock n play for night sleep. It'll get better!