Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

DD is 8.5 weeks old and still has trouble getting herself to sleep sometimes. Usually the pacifier works but the last two nights, right after her 1am feeding she has been spitting it out and fussing in her crib wide awake. I am totally at my wits end. Last night I was up from 1am to 4am when I finally caved, brought her in bed with me, fed her and we both slept till 6am. Still, that's not enough - I have a toddler to care for and I need my sleep.

I tried rocking her... that worked to get her mostly asleep but as soon as I put her down she was up again.

I just can't understand why she won't go back to sleep after eating. She's not hungry, she has a clean diaper, and it's the middle of the night - she's not confused, just awake. What do I do?

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

This was me ast night. DD usually sleeps through the night. Last night at 2 am she is babbling in her crib WIDE awake!! ***!!
Ddi this till after 3:30..kept going in and giving her the binky but she was totally awake! Weird..

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

she's not hungry? did you try burping her and then try feeding her? I remember DD would be wide awake and then I'd burp her and she'd take a little more and then pass out on the bottle.

Is she crying?

If she is not crying, I would put her back in and let her get herself settled and soothe herself back to sleep.

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

I can share what we do...not sure it will help because DS is a belly sleeper and I am a rocker

This week ( ) Gregory has been waking at 4am for a bottle and DH gets him since I have to pump. I change his diaper and then hand him over to DH. He gives him the bottle and when there is one ounce left and no more burping he swaddles him in a heavy blanket and holds him tight while Gregory finishes the bottle. Rocks for a while and puts him down. He has to hold his hands over Gregory's back (belly sleeping so the back is up) for a minute until he settles. takes 45 minutes from wake to sleep and he stays down until about 8am.

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

She's definitely not hungry - if I try to nurse her she latches for a second, pulls off and then cries.

I nurse her while she is swaddled, so she dozes off sometimes, but always, always wakes up when I put her in the crib. And then won't take the pacifier - or takes it and spits it out and cries.

She's not gassy, just fussy.

Ang, if she would sleep till 4am I would be happy to be up with her then

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

Maybe our newborns were sending each other signals last night to just stay awake
DD had a bad night. Went down at 1130 woke up at 12 and that was it. was up until 230 then up again at445.

DD can never put herself to sleep. I literally have to rock her, walk her, pat her etc. until she passes out and even at that point I cant put her down cause she gets fussy and squirmy.
I hold her for almost 20-30mins and put her in her crib (she's a belly sleeper too). I have to stand there for like 10 mins patting her back otherwise she fusses and wakes up and i have to repeat the whole process again.

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

Did you try white noise? Its the only thing I can use to get DS to nap and sleep. http://simplynoise.com/

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

Posted by dajc23

Maybe our newborns were sending each other signals last night to just stay awake


Imagine that?

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

Ugh Dana I feel your pain!

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

Posted by headoverheels

Ugh Dana I feel your pain!

Posted by Fasc0730

Did you try white noise? Its the only thing I can use to get DS to nap and sleep. http://simplynoise.com/

Yes, we use the fan from her AC as white noise.

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

the only thing that worked for us was co-sleeping from weeks 5-18.....

I remember and feel your pain!

Re: Getting newborn to fall asleep on their own?

I know your reading 5s's right? That not working anymore?

My mother recommended that I play with DS during the day so that he's exhausted by night time. And We "play" a lot. He doesn't nap after every feeding.

We swaddle tight, and if he's fussy, we do the side and swing and sound, sometimes we get the help of the swing.

I now only use it for night sleep and we never could get him to take a pacifier.

Eta: I don't' remember where, but I read that
1-3 month old need at least 15 hours of sleep, if they get it during the day, they'll want it less at night. IDK, but works for us. Watching his hours of sleep during day, assures he wants sleep at night.

Message edited 5/14/2010 11:33:49 AM.