Midnight Tantrums..... Help

Hi all

New dad to a beautiful 2 week old girl. Just one thing I don't understand is I can settle her for the majority of the times but it seems she turns into a gremlin ( a really cute one I might add) during the late night.

It's like a flick of a switch and she goes super unsettled.

Could this be she is in higher demand for food at night and my wifes milk supply is not enough? We were considering giving her formula at night to keep her happy.

Any thoughts?

Personally I wouldn't be giving a two week old formula. But that's just one opinion. Your wife needs to keep feeding (or expressing) in order to build up her milk supply to keep up with your little ones needs as they will only get greater and greater. I would also advise against introducing a bottle at such an early age too as it can create a bit of nipple confusion and cause your little one to reject the breast altogether.

I think most babies have a 'witching hour' when the turn from a beautiful, content child into a little monster. My DD used to do it from 5.30pm to 6.30pm on the dot until she was about 4 month. But hang in there, it' sounds all normal.

Hi all

New dad to a beautiful 2 week old girl. Just one thing I don't understand is I can settle her for the majority of the times but it seems she turns into a gremlin ( a really cute one I might add) during the late night.

It's like a flick of a switch and she goes super unsettled.

Could this be she is in higher demand for food at night and my wifes milk supply is not enough? We were considering giving her formula at night to keep her happy.

Any thoughts?

Hi, congrats on your little one. My little girl did this, too. I think all babies have an unsettled period through the day, which is completely normal. Ours just choose to have theirs through the late hours of the night, lol. When they're this young they don't know night from day yet, but that will eventually change,just try and catch up on your sleep through the day. As for the extra demand for food- if your wife is breastfeeding and it's going well, her supply will be enough to meet your babies needs. It often feels like you don't have enough during the fussy periods because baby wants to constantly feed, but this is also natures way of making sure Mum's milk supply is kept up, and increased to meet babies needs. If you introduce formula you do run the risk of messing with the supply/demand nature of breastfeeding. If your wife is planning on continuing breast feeding, you don't want to introduce bottles until at least 6 weeks as baby can become confused between nipple and bottle, which can lead to breast refusal

It all sounds like normal newborn behavior to me. My little girl is nearly seven weeks now and she still has her unsettled periods, but she now has them in the early evening- yay!

Good luck with your little one, it does get better with time smile

two week olds don't have tantrums.... they do however are unsettled at night. i used to rock the bassinet most of the night in my sleep to keep him asleep..... going passed the 6-8 week stage she should settle down...

I wouldn't be giving formula just keep breast feeding...

Hi all

New dad to a beautiful 2 week old girl. Just one thing I don't understand is I can settle her for the majority of the times but it seems she turns into a gremlin ( a really cute one I might add) during the late night.

It's like a flick of a switch and she goes super unsettled.

Could this be she is in higher demand for food at night and my wifes milk supply is not enough? We were considering giving her formula at night to keep her happy.

Any thoughts?

How are things? I have only just read your post so sorry for being so late.

Like others have said I would introduce formula either. Keep breastfeeding. Try to keep her calm during the day as well with the TV turned down low and the house quiet and calm.

Try giving her a relaxing bath at 5pm to start the night and stick to a routine it will fall into place eventually smile

two week olds don't have tantrums.... they do however are unsettled at night. i used to rock the bassinet most of the night in my sleep to keep him asleep..... going passed the 6-8 week stage she should settle down...

I wouldn't be giving formula just keep breast feeding...

i agree! DD used to be constantly attached to me between 7-10 every night, nad formula made zero difference to her sleep.

Only go to the formula if she is not putting weight on and is screaming continuously if it is only one peroid of unseltness then it is normal
But if you go on to formula dont let anyway tell you your bad parent .Hang in there it gets better

Most newborns are cute little monsters at night, but sleep during the day. When they are in the womb, their body clocks are backwards - Mummy's movement rocks bubs to sleep during the day, and bubs is active at night. This carries on as newborns too. With DS, I would let him sleep in a noisy room with sunlight during the day, and would only turn his nightlight on when he was crying at night. It really helped reset his bodyclock!

Personally I wouldn't be giving a two week old formula. But that's just one opinion. Your wife needs to keep feeding (or expressing) in order to build up her milk supply to keep up with your little ones needs as they will only get greater and greater. I would also advise against introducing a bottle at such an early age too as it can create a bit of nipple confusion and cause your little one to reject the breast altogether.

I think most babies have a 'witching hour' when the turn from a beautiful, content child into a little monster. My DD used to do it from 5.30pm to 6.30pm on the dot until she was about 4 month. But hang in there, it' sounds all normal.

I agree. My DS would feed hourly from 5pm till 11pm every night till he was 6 weeks old. Its just there way of increase the milk suppy. Keep going with it!

Good luck!

Congrats on your little one!!


Sorry but there is nothing wrong with giving formula to a baby..

What are you supposed to do let the baby starve?

Anyway My daughter would be screaming mostly about 4am. or she would play (Cant remember which) and i said something to the midwife and she asked me was she moving in my stomach around that time i said yeah she was...really weird.

Also maybe your little one isnt feeding enough from your wifes supply isnt enough? Cos really you dont know how much your baby is drinking be breastfed.
Maybe talk to your maternal nurse about it?

Good luck with it!!

yeah sounds like that could be her witching hour, my DS would be a grizzle bum from 5-9 every night for 6weeks or so and would cluster feed ever 1.5hours, its just their way of establishing the milk supply as it takes awhile to adjust and settle down.
My DS wouldn't let hubby near him when it was witching time, he would only come to me. I would say keep going with bf and like a PP said so long as she is putting on weight I wouldn't worry to much, but def talk to your health nurse as she may have some tips for you.
But it all sounds like standard newborn stuff.