   
 |
|
 Ask Dr. Jana
Infant Crying before Falling Asleep | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Jana,
My baby is seven weeks old, and he is breastfed. He usually takes feedings every two to three hours, sometimes at shorter intervals. He takes a couple of long (two-hour) naps and a few short naps during the day. I am trying to get him on a bedtime schedule. Between 9 and 11p.m. he starts crying. Although he is fed and changed, he begins to cry and there is nothing I can do to pacify him. Do you think it is colic? Do you think I should change his nap schedule? Recently I have been giving him a bath at night, and it calms him somewhat, but he still could end up crying for an hour before falling asleep. During the night he gets up for regular feedings and goes directly back to sleep. Could you please give me some advice?— Sabrina in New York, NY | | | ANSWER |
July 2, 2001 | | | Dear Sabrina,
While I'm sorry to hear that your son cries each night when you put him to bed, I can assure you that this is quite common. I think the idea of giving your son an evening bath to calm him is a very good one--especially because, from what you say, it seems to help.
When it comes to establishing a sleeping and feeding schedule, it sounds like your son is doing a good job for his age, having learned to cluster his sleep into several-hour stretches and eat on a somewhat predictable schedule. Some variability (eating more than every two hours at times) is perfectly acceptable, with the most important determinant being how well he is growing and gaining weight.
As for his nightly crying episodes, some might say he is acting colicky. That said, many infants do not have true colic, but have a fussy period each evening--especially if they have been over stimulated during the day. I like to think of it as when you lay down to sleep exhausted and your brain won't shut off right away and let you fall asleep. For most adults, this scenario would be enough to make them cry too! Fortunately, as babies grow older, they typically grow out of the scream-yourself-to-sleep habit, at least until they're old enough for the sleep-refusal and tantrums to set in!
As for additional advice, I think you'll find articles of interest in our sections on crying, colic, infant sleep habits, and breastfeeding.— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
|
| | 
|