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Behaviour/development

Newborn won't let me put her down

20 replies

CupofTeaTime · 01/12/2016 18:50

Any ideas on how we get some sleep on a night?! 15 day old won't stay asleep once put down. I've tried swaddling, not swaddling, swinging crib and Moses basket. I'm exhausted and out of ideas

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Waterlemon · 01/12/2016 19:00

I used to lay DS on one of my worn tee shirts, the smell of your "scent" helps to settle them - apparently. Seemed to work!

Also if you had a difficult birth, cranial osteopathy is meant to calm and settle an unsettled baby!

Enjoy your new little bundle x

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spacefrog35 · 01/12/2016 19:05

A 'nest' made of a rolled up towel inside a pillowcase helped my DD. She wasn't restricted like she was with a swaddle but it seemed to give her the feeling of being cuddled that she needed.

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Cakescakescakes · 01/12/2016 19:06

Make sure her bed is warm before you wet her down eg put a hot water bottle in it for 5 mins first. Good luck - I had terrible sleepers so I feel your pain :)

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Cakescakescakes · 01/12/2016 19:06

Put her down

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Finelinebetweenchaos · 01/12/2016 19:10

Co-sleep?

Both of mine were like this! I didn't do this with DD1 and was a zombie. DD2 did it from day 1 and it was transformational!

I slept in my dressing gown (with cord removed) and blanket on my lower half and she slept next to me with a little sleeping bag. DH buggered off to spare room so we both had lots of room. Worked like a charm and some nights she actually literally slept in my arms while I slept

www.gentleparenting.co.uk/kc/safer-bedsharing-guidelines/

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Bubbinsmakesthree · 01/12/2016 19:10

I know it is desperate when they are tiny and they won't let you put them down - I have no solutions but it WILL get better over the next few weeks! DS slept on my chest for the first month or so, then little-by-little managed to move to him being beside me in the nook of my arm, then into a sleepyhead next to me.

To be honest, I just had to ignore the safe sleeping advice a bit as he slept tummy down on my chest whilst I slept for the first few weeks (I used a V pillow to wedge myself in a slightly upright position). Not ideal but needs must.

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Nineloves1 · 01/12/2016 19:18

A worn t shirt, Dbaby still snuggles one months later.

Warm the cot /Moses basket, but not too much.
Co sleep

If this is your first and you are thinking you will be making a rod for your back, you won't. My first went religiously into his Moses basket and cot from day zero. Slept like a dream during the day and woke umpteen times overnight for months.

Next baby came into bed with me when she woke at night. Evicted her after about six months. Both slept through at the same point.

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ZoeZombie · 01/12/2016 19:21

No advice but sympathy. My 16 week old has never slept anywhere but on me. I hate it and I'm terrified he'll slip off me in the night but he wakes up the second he's put down even next to me with my arms round him.

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Raines100 · 01/12/2016 19:40

We co-slept. I was dead against it before DS was born, but I loved it.

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Aliveinwanderland · 01/12/2016 19:45

I had the same issue. We coslept for first 2 weeks and kept trying the crib. Eventually he got used to it. I found swaddling helped and warming it first.

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awkward91 · 01/12/2016 19:50

I'm in the same boat with my 7 week old DS . I took him for cranial sacral therapy and the practitioner said that there is a lot of tension in DSs neck and upper back so lying flat could cause him discomfort and recommended propping his head higher than his body when laying flat which has worked. I've used a folded up blanket under his Moses basket mattress and he slept for 2 hours! However it did cause him to slightly roll to one side, and I didn't think it was safe to leave him like that unwatched so I've ordered a wedge thing from Amazon which will hopefully be as effective and a bit safer. Maybe this is worth a try for your LO?

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OohNoDooEy · 01/12/2016 19:52

Wait for them to be asleep for 20 minutes before you put them down

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Deadsouls · 01/12/2016 19:52

My DD was like this. Nightmare just trying to have a shower! Ended up carrying her in an ergo baby carrier for much of the time. And then co-sleeping.

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Bubbinsmakesthree · 01/12/2016 20:01

Incidentally my DS is now 2 and generally a great sleeper who won't co-sleep unless he is ill, so I don't subscribe to the 'rod for your own back' thing.

(I actually look forward to him being ill so I can get the night time snuggles Blush )

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DuggeeSchmuggee · 01/12/2016 20:05

I did the same as Bubbins, propped myself up and let DS sleep on me for the first few weeks. Then co slept, and then created a makeshift sleepyhead pod with a blanket rolled up under his bottom sheet in his cot.
It was very gradual and he still has to sleep on me for about 15 mins before I put him down now.

Hang on in there. I know it doesn't seem like it now but it will get easier.

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Haggard1 · 01/12/2016 20:37

I agree with other posters, you just need to find out what works for you and your little one - you're still getting to know one another so don't be tough on yourself!

How's your DC's feeding? Colic and wind can mean it's painful for little ones especially on their back - that's why propping their head up or sleeping tiger hold works well.

Of course, if you'd just spent 9 months in a warm comfortable place and you'd recently been evicted wouldn't you want to be cuddled next to your mummy?

It's hard, but it will get better x

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CupofTeaTime · 01/12/2016 21:14

Thanks so much everyone for the replies and ideas, there's some there I hadn't thought of so I'll give them all a go and hope one works! DD is my second baby but my DS slept like a dream from being born! This is a shock to the system Confused

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MrsGB2015 · 01/12/2016 21:21

Have you also ruled out silent relax? My DS as a newborn would wake up screaming if we tried to put him flat in his snuzpod. We took turns holding him upright while the other one slept until the medicine started to kick in.

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Pidlan · 01/12/2016 21:31

My DC1 was like this and I really stressed myself trying to get him down. Co-slept in the end. With DC2 I did attachment parenting and it was easier for all.

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winewolfhowls · 01/12/2016 22:46

White noise seems to be doing the trick here. look for baby got colic on YouTube and play it when putting baby down

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