23-day-old not napping during daytime

[2labs]

The last 4 days my ds seems to have forgotten how to fall asleep during the day. He sleeps really well at night and often doesn't wake between midnight and 6am , but today for example he was awake between 10am and 6pm, despite my best efforts to get him to nap. I am breastfeeding on demand and the past few days almost the only times he hasn't been crying have been when he is feeding. It always calms him, but a lot of the time I think he's just suckling as in between proper feeds he'll do it for 10 mins and fall asleep with my nipple in his mouth (he rarely comes off on his own - think he would stay there all day!). He'll wake up anywhere between 1 and 10 mins after I take him off. Occasionally he'll be placated by being held/rocked, but not for long. Mostly he's crying, but when he does have quiet periods he's still awake and looking around with glazed eyes - he must be massively overtired.

Things I've tried: putting him in his cot in the dark (worked for 5 mins), holding him, making reassuring noises, patting/stroking, jiggling him about, taking him out in the pram, skin-to-skin (this finally worked at 6pm today and he slept for 1.5 hours).

I know these early weeks are supposed to be hard, but it worries me that he's not getting anywhere near enough sleep. What else can
I do?

[fussymummy]

Give him a bath and then a feed.
Tends to make baby relax a bit.
It doesn't matter what time of day you bath them, if it works!!!

Try to get rest yourself when baby sleeps or you'll be the one whos over tired.

Maybe he's not getting enough from your milk.

Breast feeding is fantastic for babies, but you never know how much milk they're getting.

Are you winding him properly? as he'll cry if he has wind or is uncomfortable in any way.

He is however getting a good sleep at night.

Maybe he is just suckling for comfort and if that is the case have you thought about trying a dummy.

Not all mums like them, but when you have a baby who crys they can be a godsend.

If it continues then you can always call your health visitor or doctor.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Try going for long walks with him in the buggy. How about you both laying down whilst you feed him. When he goes to sleep you can just roll away and leave him there.

Bath times can be soothing too.

I also gather that slings are highly recommended.

He probably is sleeping more than you realise, just in fits and spurts.

B/feeding to sleep is not a bad thing btw. These early weeks, just sit with him, feed him as and when, and try not to worry about catching up with washing, housework etc etc.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

you also dont have to roll away if he goes to sleep when you are laying down!!!

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Some people swear by swaddling also, makes them feel secure. Babies have a startle reflex for a while after birth, and when they go through different stages of going to sleep their startle reflex can kick in. If they are swaddled then that can help make them feel "secure".

[throckenholt]

DS1 was like this (I spent hours rocking him in a pram in the living room, and sometimes Status Quo was the only thing that would settle him ) - I discovered the 2 hour rule with DS2/3. Basically awake for no longer than 2 hour stretches, sometimes much less. If they got to the yawning stage they were overtired. Put him down for a sleep before he seems tired.