Restless New born - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

PrasannaS · 12-11-2006, 01:55 PM

My new born son 24 days is fine for the most part. However, he tends to get very restless especially after midnight. He doesn't sleep for at least 3 hours (usually from 1 am to 4 or 5 am).

His behavior makes me wonder if he is sick , He starts panting and throws up his little arms and legs in the air as if something is bothering him. He doesn't cry though. He wants to be held and is constantly throwing his arms and legs.

After this he usually falls as asleep early morning and sleeps and feeds well through out the day except for these 3 hours.

I've tried everything like feeding him, changing him, holding him. But he doesn't seem to stop this behavior.

Has anyone else faced similar situation? He has done this for more than 4 days now.

Thanks in advance

sweetea13 · 12-11-2006, 02:14 PM

This is very normal. There nervous system is not fully developed therefore babies arms and legs often jerk while sleeping causing them to wake. Do you swaddle him? That would help alot. You need to make the swaddle tight but obviously not too tight. Maybe even get a swaddle blanket. I think that will help. Don't be alarmed they eventually stop jerking and sleep much more peacefully.

Angellica · 12-11-2006, 02:19 PM

My dd was the SAME way ...up from 11-1 !.......

until I found the 'art of swaddling'!!!!1

Really .....as soon as I swaddled her, she

could not swing her little arms or kick

and she calmed down 'immediately'~

It was amazing!!! I swaddle her and

then I put her in the 'baby papasan'

chair and put the little blanket

that comes with it over her and

tuck in the sides......

-she is now ~3 months and
sleeps 8 hrs a night!

Every baby is different ....so try different things~

~ 'Swaddling' worked wonders for me~***

PrasannaS · 12-11-2006, 02:35 PM

Thanks for responding. I have tried swaddling too, but he gets his hands out. May be I should perfect the art of swaddling.

sweetea13 · 12-11-2006, 02:38 PM

My ds eventually would get his arms out too. After he was a little bit older I got him a sleep postioner and put him on his side. The night I put him on his side was the first night he really slept. The positioner helped keep him in place and off his tummy.