5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

Hi everyone, this is my first post on the parenting board. I gave birth to my Reagan 5 weeks ago.

So up until this weekend we have been doing pretty well through the middle of the night. Somewhere between 2 and 3 hours between middle of the night feedings and most of the time she was going back to sleep relatively quickly (at most it took an hour to put her back to sleep). Well this weekend she woke up at 4am, wide eyed and ready to party. She has been doing this every night since. I walk around wearing her, I put her in the swing, I try rocking her to sleep, all of these things have worked until now.

Anyone have any suggestions? Do I just have to suck it up because she's only 5 weeks old?

I know it will get better one day. I have to believe it, after all the advice I have heard that is the only thing that is consistent from everyone.

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

First off... Welcome and Congrats on your adorable little girl!!


Yup, sounds like you gotta suck it up. They're sooo unpredictable that young. Heck, my son is 15 months and still once in a while throws us a curve.

There's growth spurts, teething, changes in schedules to their eating, etc. Yes, it will get better. Just got to go with the flow and when she takes a nap later try and get rest for yourself

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

at that age they pretty much do what they want without rhyme or reason. you need to give it some time. my kids woke at night or really early like that for at least the first 5-6 months of their life. it' normal and its one of the more unpleasant realities of the newborn stage. hang in there and try to ride it out for now.
good luck and congrats!

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

Unfortunately, its just par for the course.

I hope it gets better! DS woke at that time until he was like 1 and is now 3 and still gets up at 5:30.....Ive just got an early riser which S-UCKS bc Im NOT a morning person.

Good luck!!

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

What happens when you leave her in the crib?

I would try and keep it as quiet time.. no eye contact.. very calm and quiet.. keeping the room dark...

My kids all slept through the night pretty much right away and I just had to trick them to get into sleeping at night and not during the day..

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

If I leave her in her crib, she will hang out for about 10 minutes quietly. That leads to fussing, then crying or screaming.

We do keep her room dark, her lights are on a dimmer and we keep it at the lowest setting. I try not to make eye contact, and if I speak it's usually whispering.

I figured it was normal, but sometimes it's nice to hear it from other moms.

And thank you for the congratulations and welcome messages!

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

When DD gets up too early, I just keep us both in PJs and then hop back into bed when she takes her first morning nap!

Good Luck! And remember, when you are up at the buttcrack of dawn, you are up with millions of other very tired mommies!

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!

Congrats on your first off.

Second, yeah unfortunately at 5 weeks, they are so tiny and new that there is not much you can do. Once you think that is it and you get used to it, everything will change.

The best thing you can probably do is limit interaction at that time. Don't say anything, no eye contact, just feed her and rock her. See if that helps.

I remember at that time finding all of the channels that had actual shows, not paid programming at 4 am because I was dealing with the same thing with DD. It doesn't last too long!

Re: 5 weeks old and wide awake at 5am, why?!