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[Mittens]

Hey everyone! My little guy who is just over 3 weeks old now (man how time flies!) has started sleeping far less during the day. He sleeps quite well through the night so that's pretty awesome, but in the day he doesn't really sleep at all, which is fine hopefully, but he needs to be held the entire time or he screams. And i am talking from 10 am to midnight. I have a toddler, and a house to keep, so i can't exactly carry him every minute of the day. I have an ergo and a sling, but he doesn't like them unless i am exclusively walking, constantly. He doesn't like to be swaddled either. And he hates the bouncy chair. Anybody have any ideas what might be causing him to scream? Could it be that he simply wants to be held, or do you think there is something else underlying that need?

I am guessing a growth spurt, but also wondering if maybe something in my diet is causing him to feel most uncomfortable.....

[Jend1002]

Mittens, I've kind of wondered the same thing about my guy. He HATES the car seat and dislikes the Moby and Bjorn. If he's awake, he wants to be held. If he falls asleep and I put him down, it only lasts a few minutes even propped up. It's pretty exhausting. My left arm is going to be significantly larger! DS also will really only sleep on my chest.

Anyway, all of this to say its not just you and I'll be anxious to hear what others think. I am getting ready to try dairy free I think but dragging my feet because I am already a vegetarian.

[MIrandaM]

Don't know if this will help, but FWIW, our LO wouldn't go in any carrier unless we were literally outside walking but once outside he'd fall asleep quickly but would wake up if I tried to transfer him to bed. Then I realized that if he was deeply asleep in the carrier I could go inside and do chores and cook, moving the whole time but at least getting some stuff done and he would stay asleep in the carrier.

Regarding daytime sleep, we did something similar for a few days and it was awful. For us I found that taking solid measures (walking, bouncing, nursing
, singing, whatever it took and being totally focused on him) to get him to sleep for a stretch in the morning say 9-11am would set us up for an easy afternoon nap and easier night. If he doesn't sleep for 3-4 hours he gets overtired and it's so hard to get him down.

Hopefully it will also improve with age!

[teegan db]

I second what Miranda had to say - both about getting the baby to sleep with an outside walk so you can wear him around inside and also how important the morning nap is for preventing an overtired rest of the day. Good luck!

[Mittens]

Thank you all so much. I have found that being totally focused on him in those moments to be really helpful. I am often distracted with my toddler, so good advice! I think he was also having a growth spurt because he began to sleep in the day again, and he sleeps through the night mostly so i really can't complain! At least i am well rested to hold him all day on those days that he needs it! And being outside with him in the carrier puts him right out and like miranda and teegan said, i can come back inside and get stuff done with him in the carrier. Though, do any of you find that a bit tough, with baby on your front? i find it hard manovering around. but that only means things take a bit longer to accomplish, which isn't so bad.