https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 07 Jun 2026 22:32:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971371 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:39:23 +0000 Chuckles 1971371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep in mind that preemies are really sleepy at first as they catch up developmentally. My son was only 3 weeks early, but he slept so much the first couple weeks that we thought we were super parents :happy: Then he woke up a bit and sleep got harder. I also suggest baby wearing. I used to wear him in the moby while I bounced on an exercise ball. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971367 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:35:12 +0000 Grace 1971367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine did this until 5-6 months. I just accepted that that was how long her naps were going to be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971360 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 17:30:39 +0000 Ms. Lilbunny 1971360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: It was around 6wks. That's when I started a night sleep routine (bath, PJs, swaddle, lullaby and white noise). I first had him in bed by 8-830pm, now it's between 7-7:15pm. I also make sure that he has a full belly. I BF during the day and FF before bed and night wakeups. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971309 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:47:02 +0000 Meridian 1971309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumpkin Pie: Ooh, 12 pounds, I hadn't heard of that benchmark!! He's only about 8 lbs, so quite a few more to go... isn't it funny how everyday we're hopeful that THIS will be the day it gets better?!? He eats about 3 oz (90 - 100 mL) for every feeding, he gets expressed breast milk. Maybe for his 9/10PM feeding, I'll try adding a bit more tonight! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971296 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:38:17 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1971296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meridian: our babies sound alike. I had to pull out all the strings and the common ones like swing and baby wearing don't work for us. Make sure your baby is fed well. Or pediatrician told us that once the baby reaches about 12 pounds sleep should get better, and it had at least for nights. Naps are still 30 mins for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971288 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:35:16 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1971288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. Lilbunny: when did your baby start sleeping the long stretches at night? My LO is 11 weeks and we've had only 2 6 hour night stretches. I keep hoping every. single. day. that it'll be the day she sleeps longer at night. But for the past couple days she has been asking earlier and earlier for the night freeding and for the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971281 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:32:52 +0000 Meridian 1971281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Yes, we swaddle him anytime we put him in the crib, so typically at night. During the day he's usually in the swing. We have a Rock n Play, but he doesn't love it!</p> <p>@Pumpkin Pie: His sleep cycle issues are the same for both day and night sleep!</p> <p>@littlejoy: I feel like we're pulling out all the stops too! gripe water, probiotics, gas drops... multiple different brands of swaddles, swing, RnP, baby wearing (he didn't like that one, haha) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971279 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:32:22 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1971279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also wanted to say make sure your LO has a full belly. I was underfeeding for the first couple weeks. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971271 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:29:31 +0000 Ms. Lilbunny 1971271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meridian: My LO is 12 weeks old now. On a very few occasions he has been able to sleep past his first sleep cycle. Weeks 9-10 were even worst, he couldn't sleep past 20 mins unless I held him for naps.<br /> What some other mothers are saying on other posts is that 40-45 mins is typical. Babies this young will/should start consolidating their sleep cycles around 6 months. It's a long time to wait. But, it gives me hope. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971262 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:26:01 +0000 littlejoy 1971262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meridian: I don't think you're expecting too much!! :) Sleep is so hard, and I know it's a really hard road to navigate. I just think that the patting back to sleep, etc. are methods for gentle sleep training, and expecting that to work isn't feasible at this point. I think you're hopeful, and you WILL get there. </p> <p>My 11 month old slept through the night last night for the first time in a month. Even that one little reward is so wonderful! </p> <p>Gripe water helped a bit for us. Swaddling. Probiotics (a really good one with at least 10 billion cultures, should be kept cold. Try Klaire Labs Infant Probiotics). Skin on skin. Baby wearing. A full belly. Our baby is a light sleeper, so we had to pull out all the stops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971259 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:24:19 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 1971259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meridian: is this for night time and day time sleep? My LO was like that and I think the stretches for nighttime got better when she was about 8 weeks? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971242 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:18:26 +0000 winniebee 1971242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried swaddling? Putting him in a rock n play or swing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971236 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:17:43 +0000 Meridian 1971236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the feedback! </p> <p>@Mrs. Bum: He can definitely be fussy, and we do think it's sometimes related to gas! We were using gripe water for a week but switched to gas drops and probiotics... just started both recently and haven't seen a huge improvement, but we'll keep at it. </p> <p>@ShootingStar: Just got a swing on Monday, and he seems to like it, although he'll start crying at the same 45 mins - 1 hr mark, similar to what he does in the crib! But he can last a bit longer in the swing. </p> <p>@littlejoy: Maybe we're expecting too much of him, too early :sad: We're not trying to train him yet, but you're right, we're hoping for a bit of regularity and that's probably not going to happen yet, haha.</p> <p>@Ms. Lilbunny: How old is your DS now, and have you been able to cross the 1st sleep cycle hurdle yet? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971081 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:54:12 +0000 Ms. Lilbunny 1971081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meridian: Your LO sounds just like my DS. He can't get past his first sleep cycle since he was about 6 weeks old. The only solution for me was to hold him for naps, otherwise he would get really tired and cranky. My LO did not have any tummy issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971023 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:32:02 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1971023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to suggest reflux like @Mrs. Bum: . My LO would be the same way when she was sleeping. Can you let her sleep elevated in the swing or rock n play to see if that helps? Also, around 2-3 weeks old, they go through a pretty fussy/bad sleep time, so that might also be it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971022 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:31:41 +0000 littlejoy 1971022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry you're going through this. Sleep issues are so hard! IMO, it sounds like you're trying to sleep train, and baby is really too young for that. The first few months, babies will have a hard time sleeping alone. Baby wearing and safe co-sleeping are options. Sorry if I missed this, but have you tried a tight swaddle? There's no way our LO could sleep long stretches without. If you do fear it's reflux or tummy trouble, you could try tummy sleeping like PP mentioned, but I would only do for naps when baby can be closely monitored. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971012 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:28:30 +0000 ShootingStar 1971012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could try swing naps or babywearing. Or just letting him sleep on you. I co-slept for the first few months because DS couldn't stand to sleep on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971010 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:28:21 +0000 Mrs. Bum 1971010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is he fussy most of the time.? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1971007 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:26:48 +0000 Mrs. Bum 1971007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Think it 's anything else aside from just wanting to cuddle? Like acid reflux or upset belly? My lo was extremely fussy and slept at all different times of the day for the first 4 to 8 weeks. Our doctor told us that she most likely had mild acid reflux. It wasn't bad enough for medication but he suggested gripe water and gas drops and they helped a TON. Eventually she started sleeping 45 minutes+.....I also ended up laying her on her belly and she started sleeping soOo much better. I know they don't really recommend it but in my opinion some are just better belly sleepers, especially the ones with belly issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-cant-get-past-1st-sleep-cycle#post-1970982 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:18:09 +0000 Meridian 1970982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help! Baby C is now 7 weeks old (but he was 4.5 weeks early). His sleep is all over the place, and we're having a really hard time getting him past his first sleep cycle which lasts about 45 mins - 1 hr. After that stretch of time, we can always count on him to start crying. We used to be able to pat/shush him back to sleep without picking him up from the crib, but for the past 2 -3 weeks, it's been practically impossible to do that. His cries will start escalating and there's no calming him anymore. Then we have to hold/rock him back to sleep, and sometimes put him back in the crib or just hold him. Then his next sleep cycle is really restless. So much whining and whimpering, unless we're holding him :(</p> <p>We're so tired! Did anyone else's LO have this problem, and was there anything that helped? I know "it will pass", but this feels like an eternity, so any suggestions appreciated! </p>