So tired

[winterbabies3]

Dd wants nothing but to be held 24/7. I'll put her down after nursing her and her being asleep for at least 20 minutes to her wide awake after I put her down. I'll leave her in her swing or playpen for a bit but she starts crying and only wants the comfort of nursing to fall asleep again. I'm exhausted and need opinions. I'm not big on cry it out.

 

[MindUtopia]

Would she be happy to be in a wrap? Obviously, you couldn't sleep, but it would give you a break for things like eating and not having her on the breast for a bit. If you don't have your older children home with you, what about lying down with her in the bed (made safe for sleeping with her), let her feed and get yourself some rest. I spent many a naptime sleeping next to my daughter so I could get caught up on sleep. Or what about going to bed early? Up until my daughter was about 6 weeks old, I went to sleep at about 7-8pm every night after her early evening feed. My husband would stay up with her (wore her in a wrap so she would sleep on him) and I got some sleep until the next feed. It was enough to make the rest of the night more doable. Hang in there. I'm sure you know already, but it does get easier. It's just those first weeks are so hard and you can't imagine it ever getting easier.

 

[happynewmom1]

I was having this problem and still kind of am. Never liked cry it put myself but especially not this young. What is saving me a little is a pacifier. I never wanted to start the habit with the others but this time is different lol she wants to nurse all day long but is fussy on it so I can usually tell when she is done eating and get her to burp and then she has been happily taking a pacifier. She stays down for me longer this way. Also have a carrier I put her in. She used to cry if I put her in awake but now she does great with a pacifier lol so at least using this, I'm not doing everything one handed and my boobs aren't so sore lol

This surprised me because I was always told 3rd Babies tend to do better being set down.. Something about them getting used to it because we have other kids to take care of but I've tried this every day and she just screams until I get her again so holding her most of the day.

Another idea is I've been pumping a few ounces a day and having my dh feed her in the evening.. Gives me a break. Good luck! Hope you manage some rest. I know how it exhausting it gets.

 

[winterbabies3]

Good advice girls. I have a wrap so I'll keep trying that (last couple times she screamed.) I have tried 3 different types of pacifier with no successe..she gags and spits it out. I have started pumping yet but I should think about introducing a bottle so 4th can do it.

 

[Willow82]

My baby was like this, still is to an extent. She would only sleep on me or in the sling apart from after her last feed around 3am when she would finally go in the Moses basket for a few hours.

We've starting to turn the corner with her at 12 weeks in that she is now tolerating her Moses basket after the 10.30pm feed and staying in it all night. It has made a huge difference in that I no longer feel like a zombie! She will still only nap in the sling during the day but I'm fine with that as long as she sleeps independently at night!

I think it's largely developmental. Have you heard of the 4th trimester? The theory is that babies want to still be in the womb for the first 3 months and that they don't want to be put down. After this point, they are more willing to be independent. It's certainly been the case for my daughter.

 

[winterbabies3]

Willow that's so interesting! I def believe it. She was evicted early too so I'm wondering if that has something to do w it

 

[embeth]

My little one is exactly like this!! Falls asleep on me I put her down 10-20 mins later she's screaming again!!tried the dummy/pacifier she ll sometimes suck it for a bit then gag then spit it out! She sleeps well at night but only if I co sleep.. No advice really just wanted to say you're not alone!! Xx

 

[winterbabies3]

Thanks Beth. That's exactly how our life is going right now. I'm so tired but I know I'll miss this time with her later so I'm trying to enjoy it.

 

[rebeccalouise]

You're not alone! Our 2 week old is like this, she always wants to be on me or DH. Our nearly 4 year old was such a content baby, never clingy, slept well etc.. so it's a massive shock for me. She really hates her moses basket, so I'm currently finding the only way for us to get some sleep, is to co-sleep with her. It's nice to feel so needed, but it's also incredibly draining! As soon as I put her down, she'll start moaning.. I'm just hoping she'll grow out of it eventually, as we've tried everything (swaddling, dummies, rocking her to sleep etc..) Although, today I told my Mum that we were co-sleeping, and she told me that it increases the risk of cot death! So as if it wasn't hard enough, I'm now worrying like mad about that! xx

 

[winterbabies3]

It's always something Rebecca haha. We have been co sleeping since 2 weeks and I just have to make sure dh is on my side not hers (he wakes for nothing)

 

[stormcloud96]

You're not alone! Our 2 week old is like this, she always wants to be on me or DH. Our nearly 4 year old was such a content baby, never clingy, slept well etc.. so it's a massive shock for me. She really hates her moses basket, so I'm currently finding the only way for us to get some sleep, is to co-sleep with her. It's nice to feel so needed, but it's also incredibly draining! As soon as I put her down, she'll start moaning.. I'm just hoping she'll grow out of it eventually, as we've tried everything (swaddling, dummies, rocking her to sleep etc..) Although, today I told my Mum that we were co-sleeping, and she told me that it increases the risk of cot death! So as if it wasn't hard enough, I'm now worrying like mad about that! xx

I'm sure you can google away, but just a head's up there is now other research to say it's not so dangerous to bedshare. There are safe ways to do it, and the original research didn't include other factors that can increase those risks, like if anyone in the bed had consumed alcohol or other sleep inducing drugs, obesity, etc. SIDS is still incredibly low risk, just look into it, and I'm sure you'll find a way to be comfortable with it.