[GingerR]

We took a straight-from-the-hospital newborn baby boy into our home a little over a week ago. He was premature (although not too much) and tested positive for cocaine, but seemed to have no side effects. He eats well, and at first, he was sleeping well too.

He still sleeps exceptionally well during the day, but the last few days, he has developed the all-night screams. Even when he's full, burped, has been held for hours, it seems he is just inconsolable at night.

If anyone has had experience with newborns, particularly with cocaine positive newborns, is this a side effect of that or do you think it may be something as simple as colic? And what did you do? We have a 20-month-old fd too who only takes one short nap during the day and is otherwise on the go, go, go... and I feel like I could just die from fatigue.

Suggestions much much appreciated! We have already tried the route of making lots of noise during the day and keeping things very quiet at night so he doesn't "confuse" the two, but it's just not working.

Zzzzzz,
Ginger

[Mom2threebabes]

We had a baby like this. The ONLY thing that worked is that he slept in a battery operating swing because he craved the stimulation of movement. Some drug babies don't like movement though. Go by what he prefers and fit it to meet his needs. Just a thought for you ...

[lambeausam]

Try swaddling snuggly if you are not already doing so. Also, see if he sleeps better semi-upright, such as in his carseat or swing.

Sam

[StorkWatcher]

Second the swaddling! See the book The Happiest Baby on the BLock for specifics and how to make it easy, plus add some other tips that may save your life (by letting you sleep)!

[twinflana]

I had a newborn that did this but it was from severe colic she spent most nights in the beginning in the swing that was the only way she would sleep, after about 1 1/2 months she would sleep on her tummy only (not on her back) also bathing the baby at night helps some, maybe some soft low music would help some also, but I only did the swing.

Is he tolerating the formula okay? If so I would just try a swing if not take him to the pediatrician and see about switching formulas.

[tpakra]

Our newborn wasn't drug exposed, but he had his days and nights mixed up for a while. He slept most of the day, then was up crying all night. I used to be up at 3:00 in the morning, driving around town because the car was one of the only things that would put him to sleep. Another thing that we figured out that would help him is the vacuum cleaner noise. We actually found a CD that we could play with this noise. Definitely swaddle tightly, and make sure that the arms are tucked into the blanket.

Good luck, I know how hard it is when one baby is up all night, and the other is up all day!

[tinatyme]

Fortunately my babies are pretty good sleepers but my best friends son would only sleep in the bouncy seat for the first two months of his life and she would pick the bouncy up and put it in the crib. She also had a tape of fussbusters like vacuum noise that helped.

Sometimes all it takes is time. Their systems are immature and after they have had time to grow their sleep patterns change.

I currently have 3 under 3 so I can feel your pain and exhaustion. Good luck!

Foster/Adopt Parent since 2004
Foster Mom (soon to be Adoptive Mom) to:
FD - D (22 months old)
Placed 11/18/04 (at 5 weeks old)
TPR granted 06/16/06
Waiting for Adoption date (hopefully soon)

Foster Mom (soon to be Adoptive Mom) to:
FS - J (2 years old)
Placed 06/30/06 (at 14 months old)
Waiting for TPR date

Foster Mom to:
FS - W (6 months old)
Placed 08/04/06 (New baby!)
Plan: Reunification

[Bailey071097]

We had a two month old that came to us that way too. We finally figured out that he needed to sleep on his tummy. As soon as we put him on his tummy, he was sleeping great. I was SUPER nervous about this because of all the info out there about putting them to sleep on their back, but when nothing else works...

If this is a choice you make and it works, you may want to notify the caseworker and the Dr.

[jen1mac]

I would also try the swaddling but also look at switching formula. He could have reflux. Our fd came to us at 5 months old and she did the same thing of screaming for hours at night and nothing we did could help her. We have been going to Occupational therapy for her, and they recommending the brush therapy. It has worked wonders on her. She is completely different and she sleeps at night now! She was also drug affected.

[~*Max*~]

You know what annoys me about THBOTB, Storkwatcher? His secret method that he got paid who knows how much money was already MY way of soothing babies: I would swaddle, do a football hold tummy side down with one hand holding a pacifier in the mouth and the other on top of the head, walking, bouncing, and going shhh-shhh-shhh-shhh-shhh-shhh-shhhhhhhh, over and over. I suspect he stole it from me.

Can babies that small have gripe water?

[Aaronsmommy03]

Hi!! We too are going through the same thing with our 3 week old FS. We did switch his formula to a soy-based formula and bought the Miracle Blanket to swaddle him. So far so good....he also likes to nap in his swing during the day. Hang in there until you find something that works for you. Good luck!!

[kelceesmom]

I don't have any experience with the cocaine part. But when our baby came home with us everything was great for about 1-2 weeks. Then the inconsolable crying started around 7pm until midnight or 1am. We had a terrible case of colic. I changed my formula to Nutramagen and my bottles to Dr. Browns. Huge, huge improvment within 48 hours. After about a week there were no crying fits like that at all. But she didn't even really know who we were or cared less until we changed all that. I also used Gripe Water in her bottles especially at night to help with any gas which goes with colic. It's also good for hiccups and such. I found it on the web for much cheaper. Good luck.

[kelceesmom]

We starte our Gripe Water at about 3 or 4 weeks of age or maybe even less.

[Mommaduracell]

We have fostered 4 babies all tested positive for crack/cocaine.
The best technique we have found is swaddling, using the infant swing, white noise machine, heartbeat noise machine. Once they can turn themselves over, we let them sleep on their bellies. Swaddling seems to work the best at the beginning because it gives them the snugglky feeling. Important for newborn but esp drug exposed babies. If they are spitting up or appear to have stomach distress try switching formulas. 3 out of 4 babies had to switch to soy or neosure.
Lots of love, good formula, they will blossom with smiles soon enough!

Rose
Love that Baby
FD "B" Birth 2/06-Present
FD "L" Birth 12/05-Present
FD "K" Birth 7/05-11/05
FS "D" Birth 9/04-7/05

[GingerR]

Thank you for all of the great advice! I remember reading about Gripe Water, so hopefully between that, swaddling and switching the formula to a soy-based, things will get better. I've also just returned with brand new batteries for the swing.