[PolkaDots]

Hi Everyone,

The last few nights my DD2 who is now 6 days old starts to get very unsettled at about 10pm. The only way she will sleep is if she is being held. During the day she is a dream, does nothing but eats and sleeps but at night she won't sleep when she's put down in her cradle or on the floor couch or even in my arms (anyway that has her lying on her back).

Any advice?

[lucky 2]

Hi, it's usual newborn behaviour (less likely to settle after night feeds often from 11-12mn to 4-5 am, having a good sleep in the morning, settling close to dawn), it goes like this for about 2-3 weeks but it is variable. Then the unsettledness moves usually to the evenings. This unsettled behaviour usually peaks at 6-8 weeks.
Ideally consider you are on night duty atm so try and get some naps in the day, you will need to do this as needed to get through this challenging time (a shock to the system for most of us).
The website below is about this behaviour, I hope it helps.
All the best and congratulations.
http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets...settled_babies/
There is also a link to the purple crying website which is very informative.
All the best.

[axiomae]

Oh I remember this! So normal. Try to expose her to a lot of light in the daytime - don't darker her room etc. Helps to regulate the body's rhythms. Rest when you can. Get someone to give you a hand overnight if you have anyone (partner, mum, sister etc). It does pass though. Congratulations

[PolkaDots]

Thanks. We're slowly getting there. DD2 is now sleeping in her own cot overnight. I think she still has her days/ nights mixed up as her day sleeps are a lot deeper than her night ones but at least I'm not sleeping sitting upright on the couch anymore!

[libbylu]

It's too soon to tell really. Newborns are all over the place, changing from day to day.
It took DS about 3 to 4 weeks to get to the point where he would sleep most of the night except when he was feeding and being changed. Before that he was awake at night as much as during the day. He did a few stints of being awake and unsettled from about 2am to 6am - joy oh joy!
We camped out in the lounge and put on movies if we got desperate.

[PushieParent]

DD2 was exactly like this in her first couple of weeks, she's much better now she's in a routine. Like a PP suggested, don't put bubs in a dark room for day sleeps. This seemed to work for DD2