Newborn won’t sleep, screams nonstop—am I failing as a first-time dad?

SleepyScreamerDad · 2025-09-18T16:15:09+00:00

First‑time dad here, my little guy is turning two weeks tomorrow. Any advice on dealing with the frustration? He won’t sleep—just keeps screaming, and a bottle doesn’t even fix it. He’ll eat nonstop if you let him (we don’t, but even a full 2‑ounce bottle has him screaming between burp breaks). Comforting him doesn’t help. If we can get him to sleep, he’s up before the usual night feed, which should be every 4‑5 hours. We’re lucky if it’s only 2 hours before the next one. I can’t shake the feeling I’m not doing enough for him.

Frozenstorm4

So, newborns only manage about two to three hours. After a couple of months, it’ll likely stretch to four or five hours, and by the time they’re nine to twelve months old, you’ll be sleeping through the whole night without interruption.

NeonKnight

Trust me, you’ll get the hang of it, and you’ll definitely miss this when they’re off to kindergarten or strolling through the front doors of high school 😭

QuantumLlama

Our little one’s on a 2‑week routine, getting 4 oz every 2–4 hours. We’re gearing up to jump to 5 oz soon maybe he just needs a little extra! We’ve switched over to gentle‑ease formula.

RiffRaconteur

You may need to consult the doctor and mention his constant desire to eat; they might suggest options such as adding a small amount of baby rice to the bottle. Nevertheless, return to his doctor. He could also be experiencing gas in his stomach, given the frequent crying. I would schedule an appointment and consider trying gas drops in the meantime, but it is essential to discuss this with the pediatrician.

GalacticGopher

Babies don't overfeed; they eat until they're full. Some babies drink 1 oz, others 2 oz, and some 5 oz. If I let you eat only half your sandwich, you'd be mad too.

SleepyScreamerDad

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone! We’re seeing the pediatrician again tomorrow. I bumped him up to 4 ounces and it looks like that did the trick for now. Lots of love to the group 💙

QuantumFizz21

It’s roughly every 2–3 hours, bubba. Two ounces may no longer be enough. My youngest now six weeks old started drinking four ounces at about three to four weeks. We’ve begun letting her tell us when she wants to eat. Sometimes that’s a five‑hour gap; other times, just an hour and a half.

MeatLucid829

2 3 hours should be the feeding interval at that point. Just let the little one eat. How does this schedule work for you?

EchoVortex89

You learn to get used to it! First‑time dad here, and my daughter is fussy but she’s gotten better. It took me about 3‑4 months to get the hang of it. Sometimes she’s just pissy and throws fits, but I’m handling it way better now than my lady does.

glimmer7wave

With my eighth child my second boy I endured exactly the same struggle. Our baby boy, just 12 weeks old, suffered from silent reflux and needed baby Gaviscon to settle him. He’s finally settling at night now, requiring his Gaviscon only once a day instead of the six times he needed before. Perseverance is!the answer you need, along with a good GP who truly listens, because many just say “colic.” If you feel it’s more than standard colic, keep speaking to doctors; they will try everything they can to help.

MoodMosaic777

You cannot follow that feeding schedule; every child is different. I have three children, and they all ate more than that chart or schedule indicates. You are doing well, and you will have the various cries down in time. At that age they still benefit from hearing a heartbeat and having skin‑to‑skin contact.

MiraByte42

Try a sensitive stomach formula. I use Enfamil NeroPro + rice. btw, they also sell drops that calm them down at any baby dept.

NebulaNoodle

Try a fan, could be colic or your baby might just want some white noise

ZiggyNova7Spark

No one's perfect.
Don't think the worst of yourself because of emotions, brother.
Having kids is a job and a lifelong task.
Stress is inevitable; don't let it consume you. Find a way and keep going.

PhantomGear99

It might be acid reflux my son went through it and screamed all night. The doctors put him on Pepcid, and he started sleeping like a newborn!

NebulaNomad9

Ear plugs cut down the frustration of Junior’s howls. You’ll still hear them, just softer. Get a pair for your wife, too.

NimbusNoodle

Hang in there, brother those first weeks are brutal, and no one feels like they’re crushing it. Babies cry a lot, sometimes for reasons we can’t figure out, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Keep feeding, burping, and comforting as best you can, and don’t be afraid to ask the pediatrician if you’re worried. You’re showing up, and that’s what matters most; the rest gets better with time.

« Previous Page