Is there more to life...

Is there more to life than continuously trying to get a baby to sleep?

Don't get me wrong, I love my girl to pieces, but it feels like all I do all day is try to get her asleep. It's been going since 7am. Yesterday she woke and fed at 7am and I couldn't get her to sleep till 1pm- and it was only a 40 minute sleep.

she was doing really well a few weeks ago but it has now gone to custard. I have tried wrapping, warming up her bed, rocking, dummy, singing, ignoring the cries, formula top ups, mobiles, vacuum cleaner going....nothing works! I'm stressed and just don't know what else I can do!

she's 9 weeks. I don't know what CIO is?

cio = cry it out .. so basically let her scream her head off till she is too exhausted to scream anymore and falls asleep.

Not everyone's cuppa tea, but some people swear by it.

Have you tried the happiest baby on the block technique? Try searching for it on you tube .. it saved my sanity for the first three months of Isabelle's life!

The only other thing I could do to get her to sleep was wear her in a sling.

Unfortunately the first 12 weeks seem to be the hardest.

We were on a 3 hour feeding routine during the day from 6 weeks. she was doing great, having atleast 1-2 hours sleep between feeds. this lasted until about 10 days ago, I'm trying really hard to get back into it. But when she doesn't sleep, I feed her agian and there goes the 3 hour feeds. Or, she doesn't sleep and then it is feed time agian!

I have looked at the happiest baby on the block, and will try it next time....she fell asleep at midday!

I have been wanting a sling, so will have to emphasise to DF that it is a MUST!

thanks for the advise....I can't beleiev that when people told me babies were hard- I did not believe them!!!!

Kathamill- she doesn't really get grumpy, she's like an energizer bunny. One day she was awake from 8am till 8pm with only one 45minute nap. she sometimes starts to get grumpy in the evening if she hasn't had much sleep.

I just get so confused with MW's and plunket saying she shouldn't be awake for longer than an hour.

I do enjoy playing with her etc, but I feel like i must entertain her for the whole awake time. If I sit back to eat or watch telly, read a book...or whatever, I feel really guilty and lazy for not spending time with her.

She lasted till 12:45- so she slept for 45minutes. I havent yet fed her, she is happily playing...better get back to her.

She just looks so tired...I swear she has constant bags under her eyes...

O gosh, sorry if that came across like you HAD to entertain her every minute! I just read the title and assumed you you were ALWAYS trying to get her to sleep and not doing any playtime... But as lizzle says, you won't be a bad mother if you let them play by themselves.

I think Plunket are great, but what they don't really tell you is that babies will do things at different times. My DH walked at 8 months, I walked at 16 months. By saying "she shouldn't be awake for more than an hour", takes away the bit of parenting about watching your child and reading their signs. If your DD is not showing any tired signs, then you could safely assume that she is not tired.

I have a daughter very similar to yours, and I felt really bad about not "entertaining" her for hours on end... But I came to a nice balance of playing with her, and then doing something for myself if she was still not tired. She is quite happy on the playgym, looking at the toys an mirrors.

If they are in a moby, you can recline and sleep on the couch or in a rocking chair

Hehe lilfatty some babies might let you - I had to be sitting in the bouncy chair so I could bounce when he stirred at the 20/45 minute marks and get him to go back to sleep! (and thank god for the bouncy chair, before that I was using a swiss ball which wasn't quite as relaxing!)

Thanks for all the ideas and info!

Kebakat- I spent the day at plunket when she was 6 weeks- and that got us into a good routine...but that stopped. I might go back to see if they have further ideas etc.

I let her fall asleep on me this afternoon, which I have never done except when she was brand new. She slept for an hour which was great. But I wonder if I am starting bad habits if I let her do that? We have no going to sleep issues at night- so i guess thats the main thing!

well- tomorrow is a new day anyway!!! and I have lots of things to try!