2 week old dd won't settle on her own

[nk1605]

Any time my dd is awake she needs to be held. If I try to lay her down she won't settle and cries and screams until I pick her up again. I've tried play mats and bouncer chairs but nothing works! I don't mind holding her but it's hard when she's awake for hours and I can't move from the sofa! will she grow out of this?

[maplebaconchips]

Have you got a sling? You can go about your day, doing everything you need to do, and she will be able to sleep and feed even in there. She is so new, this time goes so quickly. Enjoy and treasure it.

[mommabear12]

She's very young yet so hold her if she needs to be held. As she gets bigger you can try her in a Moses basket and if you leave her for five minutes she will settle if she's comfortable. Some babies do suffer from reflux and find lying down uncomfortable so you may need to invest in a sling if this is the case. She's so little right now though, I would give her all the cuddles she needs. It gives her reassurance and security. Congratulations on your new baby girl xxx

[MrsCakesPrecognitionisSwitched]

Congratulations on the birth of your DD .
Yes, she will grow out of it but maybe not for a couple of months quite a while.
But she is behaving completely normally for just 2 weeks old. So enjoy the cuddles and find some box sets to occupy yourself. Good lick.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

What she's doing is completely normal as pp said.

Have you heard of the fourth trimester?

sarahockwell-smith.com/2012/11/04/the-fourth-trimester-aka-why-your-newborn-baby-is-only-happy-in-your-arms/

[AnythingNotEverything]

This is entirely normal for young babies. Google Fourth Trimester. In two short weeks she's had to learn to deal with feeding and weeing and pooing and breathing and gravity and all sorts of new things, and she's no longer wrapped up warm and cosy inside you with your heartbeat for company.

She won't be like this forever. Enjoy the cuddles. Get a sling.

[nk1605]

Thanks all ill look into a sling - loving the cuddles but need to be a bit more mobile!

[Madamecastafiore]

She's used to being inside you so jumping to expecting her to self settle at 2 weeks is a big ask.

She needs cuddles and reassurance at this age.

[ElleDubloo]

I agree with PP, it's entirely normal. My DD only started playing by herself at around 3-4 months, and only for a few minutes at a time. Now at 5 months she can entertain herself on the playmat for about 15 mins until she gets bored and wants picking up, and she's still not very happy on the bouncer chair unless I'm watching or singing to her.

The sling was a life-saver in the first few months. I seriously wouldn't have managed without it. Did you know, you can breastfeed in a sling? :)

[Roseybee10]

Totally normal. Download the wonder eeek app. It is so accurate and explains why they go through phases like that.
I've been wearing my dd in a sling or just sitting cuddling her.

[m33r]

Could have posted this. My DS is 2weeks and 4 days and I'm thd same: can get nothing done at all! I need to shower when dh is here so that he can take him as there isn't ten minutes I can leave little one. So hard as feel like I wchieve nothing all day!

Re the slings, I'm worried this will result in it taking longer for him to be able to be put down. What do others think / are others' experience?

[AnythingNotEverything]

Your only task at this stage is to keep the baby alive (and older children of you have them). Nothing else matters. Skip the chores. Eat what you can one handed. Shower in the evening. Watch lots of tv.

[CityDweller]

Two things. Two weeks is classic wonder week/growth spurt time. And she's so tiny she doesn't even realise she's not connected to you.

Get a stretchy wrap-type sling (like the Moby or Karri-me) and try to cherish this time. I know it's hard - DD wouldn't be put down for the first 3 months, but I just popped her in a sling and everyone was happy. Although it did make it impossible for me to do the 'nap when baby naps' thing, sadly...

[ApplesTheHare]

As everyone else has said, this is totally normal for her age, not that that makes it less stressful at the time...! If the sling doesn't work (it's not a cure-all, sometimes people just don't get on with them) I found that dp having dd for half an hour each morning just gave me a bit of extra time to have a quick shower, chuck on some clothes and get a few bits set up for the day ahead as I knew I'd be stuck on the sofa most of the time. Other than that, Netflix is your friend and I promise this phase will pass and it will get easier

[noodle8000]

Yes, it's normal. You might feel like you are getting nothing done but it's not true- you are getting the most important thing done-providing affection and security to your new tiny baby! Let everything else go if you can and get as much help as you can from others.

[Honeybear30]

m33r two weeks is so tiny I really don't believe you can be teaching bad habits at this stage. I carried /held my DS and used a sling for the first couple of months and by four/five ish months he was able to self settle. I think this is a relatively common experience, it takes babies a long time to learn to self settle whether they go in a sling or not.

[Luxme]

Awwww she's loving your smell and being near you.

Swaddling worked with my LO at this stage.

[squizita]

Yes she will. As PP say, it's normal.

I found a sleepyhead bed worked well as it "surrounds" the baby somewhat. Or there's a caboo carrier which means by day you have your hands free.
Also moving can calm them - mine grumbled when placed in the pram but fell asleep moments into the walk. If you're bored and need to get out and about!

TBH I watched box sets then did useful stuff when dh came home (he took over cuddle duty) or my mum visited.

[squizita]

...Mine was a different baby by 3 months. Happy to lie on a playmat with me in sight.
She's currently in her 6 month clingy phase but can be distracted with Spotify "nursery rhyme mania" bob the builder ain't a nursery rhymes mania peeps and a soft toy if I need to do a chore (ie get a cuppa).

Still get nothing done though. Spend all the time nurturing pfb with educational play and trips to posh play groups.

[AntiHop]

My dd was the same in her early months. I used a stretchy wrap. Don't worry it won't create bad habits. My dd is 7 months now and not clingy at all.

[Roseybee10]

Tbh she's more likely to be more secure and independent further down the line if she creates strong attachments now and is comforted and has her needs met. Any time I tried to resist what felt 'natural' to me we ended up stressed and upset and regretting trying to fight what she needed at the time.
I know it's hard. My 8 week old is having her second leap and im toilet training my 2 year old so it's damn hard whn they won't be put down but tbe sling is my saviour. X

[LadyCatherineDeTurd]

Yes, she'll grow out of it. Two weeks is still quite young for bouncy chairs and playmats. I sympathise though, it's very hard. My DC2 is nearly 8 weeks and slowly getting better. Sling hasn't yet been an option due to my swollen EMCS belly. I certainly have found it a time to endure rather than treasure. Newborns can be a nightmare. If you can get out for a walk, putting her in the pram and getting some air and exercise might help. Some of them find the motion rocks them off.

[momtothree]

Could be heart burn - dont lie her flat fold a towel under mattress etc- lots of babies have an under developed mussel at the top if their stomach making acid rise - it corrects at 6 months.

[inamaymaybewrong]

She's 2 weeks old....!!
Totally normal.
Read The Gentle Sleep Book for mire info.