My two month old has colic from 3:30 am. until 6:30 am. and doesn't sleep until 8:00 am. When she goes to sleep at eight, she sleeps for five hours straight. She wakes up to feed once and goes back to sleep for another three hours. This means that she gets the majority of her sleep during the day. How can I get her to sleep at night instead of the day.
I'd like to thank everyone for their advice. I am happy to report that Shayla no longer suffers from colic and goes to sleep at a reasonable hour. I followed the advice of waking her up earlier and keeping her occupied during the day between small naps. It appears that she outgrew the colic, and the advice I got helped her find her natural bedtime. Thank you all for your advice and concern! Now if I could just get her to sleep in her crib and not in our bed.... :)
About the Mylicon drops, they are only for gas. And should only be given with feedings. They are 8.49 for a small bottle, and 14.69 for a larger bottle. We had to use them on my son every day until they switched his formula. It is not good for them to be given for any other reason besides gas!
Hello J.! I would try to do activties w/ her during the day and try to keep her up as much as possible. The more you try to keep her awake during the day then she'll soon start sleeping at night. It will take some time for her to get her days and nights straighten out.
I had this with all three of my girls and this is the best way to fix it. the problem is she has her days and nights mixed up. When laying her down at night make sure it is dark and soothing, when she wakes up try not to talk to her cuz it only stimulates them and then they think it's time to get up and play. During the day make noise I know it sounds weird but this helps them tell that during the day things are going on even when they are sleeping. Making the room bright, don't give her all of the soothing things you would normally do at night. hope this helps and let me know how it goes.
Congratulations!! Here is the secret: Schedule her day and let her sleep as long as she will at night. Probably a flexible 3 hour schedule is good for 8 weeks. During the day stick to feeding, wake time, and then nap. Feed her the first time in the morning...say 7am (whatever you choose), then keep her awake for a bit. Then put her down for a nap so she is sleeping about 1 1/2 hours or so. WAKE HER UP to eat three hours later if she doesn't wake up on her own....that would be 10am. Keep that routine up...waking her to eat if you have to every 3 hours and then keep her awake after she eats for a little bit. When you get to the late night feeding - 10 or 11pm - let her sleep as long as she will after that. Hopefully you're only feeding once or maybe twice during the night. This really will help switch her nights and days. You have to help her switch them because she is use to being rocked to sleep in your tummy during the day. It'll take some effort, but this really will work and she'll be sleeping like a champ very soon!!! Good luck!
My older son had the same problem. We kept him up an hour later each day until his sleep schedule had settled into night. For example, at 8:00 a.m. stimulate her with massage and sound (music, singing, talking) and keep her awake as until 9:00 a.m. if you can. I even resorted to bathing my son when he was ready to fall asleep which kept him awake for about an hour after. Then the next day try to keep her up until 10:00 a.m. I think it took about two weeks to get him where he needed to be but it was worth it. Those colicky months were awful! Good Luck!
C.
This is the best sleep book I have read so far, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. I suggest you read it, it has made my 3rd baby a great sleeper.
Michelle- Mother of 4
Hello... I don't have an answer for you, but I also had a baby girl in July. Just wanted to introduce myself.
Congratulations on your new baby!!! We also had a baby girl in July. It sounds like she has her days and nights mixed up (you are probably saying DUH!! lol) anyways, I wish I had the magic answer but instead I have a suggested book that I love. My mother-in-law got it for us. It is called Secrets of The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. She has a plan that works great called E.A.S.Y- Eat, Activity, Sleep, and You. There is also a whole lot more advice in there that works great. So hopefully you get a chance to check it out. Good Luck with your little one.
When she starts to get colic give her mylacone drops I think I spelled that right. You can get it over the counter and it was the answer to my prayers. when my daughter was first born up to about 3 months she did the same thing and my mother told me to get this stuff. It is for gas and colic its about 2 or 3 dollars. I would also try to get her on a four hour feeding schedule as long as she can handle waiting longer for feedings. Start at 8am feed, change, dress, play and then around 10am change then nap for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours then about 12 start over I did this schedule with both children and I broke them from a bottle really easy and between the schedule and the mylocone drops I got my much needed sleep. CONGRATULATIONS on the new baby and good luck if you need any more help just send me a message
J.,
Its going to take a bit of work, but it is possible to change their sleep schedules. Right now she is confusing her days and nights. When you get her up in the morning do you get her dressed for the day? Set up a routine to help her distinguish day from night. Like turn on more lights during the day, getting her dressed, only having her in pjs at bed time. Also setting up a bed time routine, start turning down lights about an hour before bedtime, bathtime, read her a book, make her bed room darker at night. Keeping her roob brighter during daytime naps with also help. You could also talk to her doc about other solutions. As for the 3am wake up, vibrating bouncy seats are a blessing.
yes you will eventually get to sleep more than 2 hours at a time. and congradulation.
M. A
