no sleep

hi again.. you all are probably sick of me by now.. I must ask questions as least 3 x a week.. thanks for everybody's responses. I need all the help I can get..
am I doing somthing wrong at night? my twins are 3 weeks old tomorrow and during the day they are fineI feed them put thme down after they digest a bit and not a peep until there next feeding. once 8 at night hits they become fussy and cant put them down until there next feeding and then it goes to the next feeding the same thing. we are working on like 2 hr sleep if lucky.. sometimes the sleep is chopped up like sleeping with them in your arms..
is this normal for night time? I know babies have there day /night mixed up but we really dont get any sleep and I feel myself start to lose it and want to break down.
any suggestions?
thanks

 

Not sick of you at all! :hug99: I would try to stimulate them more during the day, and also make their feedings during the day closer together, if possible. As far as nighttime goes, yes it is pretty normal, do what works at this point. Do you have a swing or vibrating bouncy? If they will sleep in that, put them in there! Emma slept in her swing for the first 3 months! You can worry about breaking those habits when you are getting more sleep! Have you tried swaddling? Noise machine?

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Apr 22 2007, 12:38 PM) [snapback]229826[/snapback]
Not sick of you at all! :hug99: I would try to stimulate them more during the day, and also make their feedings during the day closer together, if possible. As far as nighttime goes, yes it is pretty normal, do what works at this point. Do you have a swing or vibrating bouncy? If they will sleep in that, put them in there! Emma slept in her swing for the first 3 months! You can worry about breaking those habits when you are getting more sleep! Have you tried swaddling? Noise machine?

how can you stimulate during the day? I have a 3 yr old and she is active all day and I keep them in the living room where all teh action is and they are sound asleep. so when you say feedings closer together ? how many ounces of formula are they getting so I dont overstuff them.. I was doing every 3hrs. I do have a bouncy and swings. I have used the bouncys.. its works sometimes.. can you put htem in the swing this little?
thanks so much for helping. i so appreciate it.. its really been hard.. we are not getting sleep even my 3 yr old. so we are all cranky..

 

If you are feeding them every 3 hours, the feedings are close enough together. *TRY* to keep them awake a little at each feeding(I know it's hard)by changing their diaper, talking to them, massaging them. Most babies tend to like the constant noise, and sleep right through it. In the evening, I would always bathe my babies about an hour before "bedtime" aka, that "last" bottle before you go to bed, and they would stay awake for awhile, I would feed them, and they would tend to sleep for a little bit longer. I know it's soooo hard in the beginning when noone is getting any sleep. You can absolutely put them in the swing, I would just use the lowest setting.

Another thing you might want to try is cluster feeding them in the evenings...during their fussy times, feed them every 2 hours instead of 3.

They are still so young, it will take awhile to figure out what works for them.

 

Hello! I am new to this forum, and I as well feel like I have already asked a million questions. I am a first time mom with twins girls born early at 33 1/2 weeks. They are now 5 weeks old and I am also seeing this same sleep pattern, sleep during the day, and up at night. However, over the last few days, my one daughter especially, seems to be up quite a bit more during the day. After I feed her, she usually lays awake for an hour. Am I supposed to be playing with her during this time or let her lay in the pack n' play till she falls asleep? If they are up during the day, are you to stimulate them or let them sleep. because technically my due date wasn't until May 1st?

Thanks for your help,
Jen

 

QUOTE(stanley @ Apr 22 2007, 09:56 AM) [snapback]229877[/snapback]
Hello! I am new to this forum, and I as well feel like I have already asked a million questions. I am a first time mom with twins girls born early at 33 1/2 weeks. They are now 5 weeks old and I am also seeing this same sleep pattern, sleep during the day, and up at night. However, over the last few days, my one daughter especially, seems to be up quite a bit more during the day. After I feed her, she usually lays awake for an hour. Am I supposed to be playing with her during this time or let her lay in the pack n' play till she falls asleep? If they are up during the day, are you to stimulate them or let them sleep. because technically my due date wasn't until May 1st?

Thanks for your help,
Jen


You can never ask too many questions here! At that age, when they were awake, I would talk to them a lot, holding them close to my face, also, put them under the little gym so they have something colorful to look at. Do you have a bouncy with a toy bar? A swing with lights? Shake rattles in front of them. I think it's great though, to put them in the packnplay awake, to get them used to falling asleep on their own.

 

we are not sick of you!!! we are all here to ask questions and to learn!! that's what friends are for - so
keep asking!!! my girls are 3 months old and have just now started sleeping from 10p - 4a but they have decided that they are big girls now and no longer need naps!!! so I am still exhausted!! they cat nap 10 minutes here 15 there but that's it!!! and never at the same time!!

 

QUOTE(Heathermomof5 @ Apr 22 2007, 02:16 PM) [snapback]229891[/snapback]
we are not sick of you!!! we are all here to ask questions and to learn!! that's what friends are for - so
keep asking!!! my girls are 3 months old and have just now started sleeping from 10p - 4a but they have decided that they are big girls now and no longer need naps!!! so I am still exhausted!! they cat nap 10 minutes here 15 there but that's it!!! and never at the same time!!

thank you.. I feel like that is all I do is bug people on this site.. I know you are great.. When I nursed my daughter I dont remember this up all night stuff, I think because we fell asleep together at times.. wow 10-4 that seems like a vacation to me rigth now.. looking forward to that..
thanks again!
Maria

 

Babies are born with a time clock that says sleep during hte day and be awake at night -- this is cause of mom's activity during pregnancy. it takes some time to get a baby to switch this internal clock. I've read that being very deliberate with a newborn re: what is day and what is night is key -- at night, dream feed them, don't speak loudly if at all, and don't turn lights on when you change diapers. In the morning at wake up time, make a big ordeal out of waking up and letting sunshine in. over a short time, they will get the hint.

As for nighttime fussiness, this is also nature at it best. It's called cluster feeding if you breastfeed -- most of us call it the meltdown time. you gotta just deal with it. it's too early to establish sleeping routines (regular naps, bedtimes, etc.) so you gotta figure out what works. Over time, around 3 mos, you'll see that the babies will thrive with a little more structure around naps and bedtime. for now, it's just do whatever works. Don't forget to swaddle -- it really helps. it also helps to get rolled up blankets around the kiddos to give them a little snuggle nest. it makes them feel safe -- hats are good too.

Good luck, this does pass.

Teri D

 

You are no bother at all, how boring this site would be if nobody asked any questions. I agree to previous post, that you have to be very "unstimulating" (is that even a word???) during the night. Keep everything dark , I did'nt even talk to them, changed no diapers, unless they were poopy. And during the day be very stimulating. Hope that will help, and it will pass