[aarafko]

This is going on my third night of no sleep. In total I have gotten less than 5 hours. I don't know how I'm going to do this. She never wants to be put down especially at night. My husband has to work during the day so I don't have any one to share the load with. I'm so frustrated! It really is the lack of sleep. Is there anything I could do to get her to sleep just a few hours in her bed???

[aubers68]

I wish I had some advice for you! However, we're going through a similar situation. Summer sleeps all day and hardly any at night. I should be sleeping when she sleeps like everyone recommends, but we've had a visitor about everyday and it's hard to sleep when company is over. (I know they wouldn't mind, but I like to visit as well ) Oh, and the only place she will sleep is in her swing or on her boppy. She refuses to go in her crib or pack n play

[Hopefulpinkangel]

At the beginning with DS I just let him sleep wherever he would sleep the best. For him that was the swing. Later down the road I moved him to his crib once we got past the first couple of no sleep weeks. Hang in there!

[newmommysarah]

Dont focus too much on getting her to sleep in her crib at this stage - let her sleep wherever she wants for the first few weeks. A bouncy chair or swing can be very helpful in the beginning - my niece practically lived in hers until she was 4 months old as it was the only thing that would keep her quiet, she has now been happily sleeping in her crib from 5/6 months.
Do whats easiest for you. good luck hun x x

[1fabulousfem]

April, we are going nuts too. We haven't slept because if it isn't a feeding it's a diaper change. LOL!
The good news is, ours sleeps. We just have to get him to sleep at the right times. Are you breastfeeding? I had a nurse here on Wednesday who gave us some great tips....

[Mountain~Mama]

I agree, let her sleep where ever she sleeps best for now and nap during the day when you can. Hugs Mama, remember, this too shall pass.

[aubers68]

Originally Posted by 1fabulousfem

April, we are going nuts too. We haven't slept because if it isn't a feeding it's a diaper change. LOL!
The good news is, ours sleeps. We just have to get him to sleep at the right times. Are you breastfeeding? I had a nurse here on Wednesday who gave us some great tips....

I'd love to hear the tips!!!

[2pinks&ablue]

I agree with the others on just letting her sleep where she wants! And taking naps whenever you can. When your DH is home, I would sleep as much as possible while he is there to help.

[mama4life]

Are you swaddling? I am telling you...we would be doing the same night routine if it weren't for the swaddle.

[~~Que~~]

This is why I sleep with my babies, so I can sleep. Among many other reasons...

[alicenwonderland]

Sorry mama... I don't think i got more than 4 hours of sleep a night for a few month. I tried to take naps during the day with baby though. Unfortunately the nature of newborns. they need to eat all the time.

[mzshell13]

I'm doing what Que does. I'm sleeping with her at night. I just started 2 nights ago and it's so much better. She seems to sleep for longer spurts (3-4 hrs instead of 1-2) when she's next to me.

And my hubs has tried the "I have to work" thing to. My response- so do I, lol. I was exhausted and resentful with my first child and I refuse to do that again. We worked out a compromise- He gets a full nights sleep every other night. Otherwise, he helps me out by burping her after a feed or changing a diaper.

[aarafko]

The only place that she's willing to sleep is on me or on the boppy, but I don't think it would be a good idea to keep that in her playpen. It'll get better. I hope. I do swaddle but allow her arms out. She cries if they are tucked in.

Melanie I would love to hear the tips the nurse gave you!

[one.juniper]

I wish I had some advice for you as well. I remember on the 2nd night he was really fussy and didn't want to be put down to sleep but only held and I remember praying it wasn't always going to be that way or I'd just die...

Just keep trying different things, something will have to work eventually. I found that swaddling really is extrememly helpful, have you tried it??????

Edit: I just saw your post above about swaddling. I don't know what to tell you about the arms and crying but if I don't swaddle Oz's arms in its like I may as well have not swaddled him at all - its completely useless.

[irunpink]

I can tell you that this too shall pass . I know it's super hard. The first three months were so tough, and I was alone too since my husband was working. My daughter liked to nurse so sometimes if I was that tired I would nurse her lying down on my side and we'd fall asleep together. Maybe that closeness will work since she likes to be held? Hang in there!

[nrsmomof2boys]

Rose got used to her newborn napper that comes in the pack n play. At times she fusses cause its too warm in there so I have her only in a diaper and swaddle her and she loves it. Sometimes even swaddling doesn't do the trick. She squirms and grunts to get loosen up. We have to play with different ideas because just one thing will not work We rock her in our arms and she falls asleep and then put her down, we give her baths late at night, warming up her milk, let her stay up a few hours so she tires herself out. The one thing I won't do is co-sleep with her at this time. She's too tiny and I'm too tired and sleep deprived right now. I had a similar situation with DS2 and I ended up co-sleeping and I freaked out because I thought I had suffocated him. Scary!

[mtsskgs]

My first would not sleep. I noticed that during the day he did great in his car seat. sooo.. I sleep him at night in his car seat for the first 3 months. I also would sleep him on my chest if he woke up to early in the morning so I could catch a little more sleep.

[AllyssaM]

Then let her sleep on/with you for now. You HAVE to take care of yourself right now, too. Your lack of sleep can affect milk supply, your recovery, ect. . . At this age, they cannot get "spoiled" or use to doing things one way or the other. Remember - Right now, all she knows is to be 'held' by you because she was in your belly being held, rocked, swayed, ect for the past 9+ months.

This too shall [and will] pass. But for now - You have got to do what you gotta do so everybody gets rest, yourself included.

My cousin had a baby in June - For the first few weeks, she wouldn't sleep much anywhere but on mommah or daddy. So they rolled with it. Now she's 6 weeks and my cousin goes back to work sometime next month and they're working on getting her on a little bit of a routine and sleeping in her crib and it has gone GREAT. A few bumps in the road - Which is to be expected - But it's getting done.

So again - I have to echo most the ladies who posted perviously: Let her sleep on/with you or wherever she is content sleeping.

I must say - I do not suggest letting her sleep in the boppy when you're sleeping/can't watch her. There's a reason there's a big tag on there that says "No sleeping".

[K.A.T]

I'm right there with you. Ask I type this Ethan is on my chest cause he refuses to be almost anywhere else right now. I've ended up co-sleeping at night cause that's the only way I'll get some real sleep. If not, he crying every hour to be held. I swaddle him too but he fusses when his arms are swaddled and always manages to pull them free. He will only be in the newborn napper during the day and for a short while in the bassinet portion at night. Hopefully, this will pass shortly for all of us.

[Ever]

It's difficult while the baby is getting used to life outside of you. Up until recently their whole life is spent in your comfy warm tummy with no need to tell you what they need because their needs are all met in there. They don't realize that they're separate from you yet so they really do need you.

With DD I just did what she "told" me she needed. If she needed to sleep on my chest or in my arms, she did. I curled up with her on my bed and rested while she slept after nursing, and I swaddled her when I put her in her crib if I had to step away for a minute. She insisted on the swaddling!

I know it's rough right now but trust me, it's not forever!