Help! My three babies (BBG) are 11 weeks old (2 weeks adjusted). They came home from the NICU on a 4 hour schedule. They are up to 6 1/2oz at each feeding (3:00, 7:00 & 11:00) and seem to be doing very well with that. They also came home on monitors, so we have 3 bassinets in our bedroom to keep them as close as possible. At first they were perfect! Sleeping/waking right on time (I didn't even have to wake them). My problem is one of my little guys, Dominic, suddenly will not sleep in the bassinet. He falls asleep right after the bottle while I'm still holding him, but as soon as I put him in the bassinet after the 11:00pm feeding, he wakes up - WIDE awake. Not only that, but he's crabby at that point and stays up until the next feeding at 3:00am. I try to break up the day by putting all three together in the crib, laying in the swings, tummy time. Usually he wakes up the other two, so I've given up and put Dominic back in the swing at that point and I've been sleeping on the couch for the past 4 nights. He's in the swing for much of the day so could he maybe just not like the bassinet? Is there anyone who's had anything like this happen and does anyone have any advise? I feel like such a moron because I don't know what to do. Also, where should they be as far as wake time/nap time? I have an older son (much older) and he was a very easy baby, but being that their preemies I'm afraid I might be doing something wrong.

Could he possibly have reflux? Are there any other symptoms? Reflux babies don't typically like laying flat because it makes the reflux worse. I have one on reflux meds that work pretty good and he still isn't fond of laying flat. There were many nights in the beginning that I slept downstairs and had him sleep in his bouncy seat. We never used bassinets ours went right into their cribs, bu they didn't come on monitors. We also tried putting him in his car seat and placing the car seat in the crib. At the age your are right now IMO it is just survival mode, what ever works to get them to sleep. They are only 2 weeks old (adjusted) and newborns are suppose to sleep most of the day so I would let them sleep as much as they want and not really wory yet about set wake/nap times. Ours were much older when we even started a nap time. Good luck and hang in there, it does get easier

JILL MOM TO
KOURTNEY 3 LBS 1 OZ
KEEGAN 2 LBS 1 OZ
KARVER 1 LB 10 OZ
10/4/08 @ 29 weeks

Nancy,

Our trio are two months old today (less than 2 weeks adjusted, the same as yours are).

We found after just a few days that they didn't sleep well in the bassinets. The best thing for us that helps the babies to sleep like charms, is when I went out and purchased brand new towels.... the very soft towels like you'd use in the bathroom, just the medium-sized ones.

They are so soft, and the babies love sleeping on them. During the summertime, the traditional baby blankets are very uncomfortable if it is warm in the room. At least for our babies they are, as they kick them off immediately even if it isn't really warm inside.

Also, we make sure the babies go outside every evening.... they need to see sunlight during the daytime (not directly of course), but to allow their senses to know when is daytime and when is nighttime. One of ours was extremely nocturnal until we started doing this. Now he sleeps great, and often goes way past his 4 hour feeding schedule before wanting to eat again during the night.

Best of luck to you. Hope little Dominic starts sleeping (and letting mom sleep!) again soon.

Rick

BBG - 2 years and counting

Two of mine came home on monitors and I let them sleep on their tummies. In the beginning I was afraid that if I let them sleep on their tummies that they would not go back on their back if the doctor took them off the monitors. But after a few visits to the doctor it was clear that he had no intentions of taking them off anytime soon. They are 6 months and still on them (only at night), they no longer have episodes but I keep asking the doctor to keep them on and he has no problem with that. Anyway…as soon as I started putting them on their tummies they starting sleeping better and longer.

Also Jill mentioned reflux. One of mine had reflux and laying flat was a problem. I bought the crib wedge and it works great. She sleeps on her tummy with the wedge and we were able to take her off her reflux meds.

Good Luck.

Hi,

Is it possible that they are going through their first growth spurt that happens to full term babies at around 6-8 weeks? In the Sleep Solution book it is referred to as 'the storm', so I knew it was coming!

Our babies were fabulous, on 4 hour cycles and needing to be woken up to feed, until they went through maybe 2-3 weeks of being very unsettled. It was pretty bad, but they did go back to a 3-ish hourly routine afterwards. It was not a nice time and we were completely exhausted.

Maybe infant wind drops would help a little?

Hopefully it sorts itself out soon. But if you do feel something is wrong, then talk to your specialist. I'm a big believer in relying on your instincts.

Carol
Mum to Alex, Victoria and Lucy born 05 Feb 2009 and Emma born 20 March 2007

Thank you everyone for your replies. I love this website! Jill, you had mentioned reflux and, yes, Dominic has reflux and so does Julianna. Didn't actually occur to me at the time, but you're probably right. It is a problem for him, but she doesn't seem as bothered by it. I do have a crib wedge in there, but still no luck. It doesn't seem to make a difference as far as sleeping on their tummies either. Also, as Rick suggested, I've been taking them outside, day and night. Since the weather in NJ is nice now, we have our lunch outside. Needless to say, we've given up on the bassinets for the time being and keep them in their swings. They'll probably outgrow the bassinets in no time anyway(they were all over 10 lbs at the last Dr. apptmt!) I've also changed their eating times, so now they eat at 8:00pm and, so far, Dominic sleeps through his midnight feeding and now his brother and sister have followed! Jason woke up the other night for about 5 minutes and went back to sleep until 8:00 am!! If only that would last! It could be they're going through their growth spurt also, because now, the 4:00pm feeding is monstrous. No one sleeps much, but that ok - mom is awake anyway!