Is it okay to leave my preemie to sleep in the cot?

[StuntNun]

My DS4 was born at 35 weeks and is now nine days old. He spends most of the time sleeping. I have been taking him into bed with me for skin to skin but most of the time he spends asleep in his cot. My other three boys were all term and wanted to be held a lot in the first few weeks. DS4 seems happy to sleep in his cot between feeds but I'm wondering whether that's okay or whether I should hold him more or put him in the sling for a while each day.

[Crazyqueenofthecatladies]

He's still in the sleep mode you'd expect of a baby in late pregnancy. Most prems get more lively around 37-38 weeks or so, and if they're going to begin life as a Velcro baby most are fully awake and screaming by 41-2 weeks or so :)

[juniorcakeoff]

My early baby (similar gestation) basically slept for a month, you could put him anywhere. Then he 'woke up' - and became velcro reflux baby, basically spent next 3 months in a sling. I'd take it while you can :)

[Crazyqueenofthecatladies]

My dd was 13 weeks early so spent most of her zonked phase in the nicu, but oh my yes when she woke it was screamy reflux baby a go go. Still needs to be dairy and soya free and will be four this summer. Sigh.

[StuntNun]

Screamy reflux Velcro babies we've done so that's alright! I was more worried that he needed to be held or carried in the sling more but he was too sleepy to be able to cry for more attention iyswim.

[Crazyqueenofthecatladies]

I was told it was very beneficial and to sling rather than put her in a buggy where possible, because v early prems really do need as much chance to reconnect with mum as possible, plus if you've done kangaroo care, the effect on heart rate, breathing and oxygen saturation is fecking miraculous, so skin to skin is always good.

[minipie]

What everyone else said... DD was 34 weeks, up till about 39 weeks she would sleep anywhere, then she became a mummy's-chest-only sleeper for the next few months as her digestive discomfort began to outweigh her sleepiness. Enjoy the cot sleeping while you can I'd say.

DD2 was born at 36+6, she is 40 weeks today, is still sleeping in her cot (in a Sleepyhead) most of the time and I am waiting with much trepidation for the awake/uncomfortable period to begin. It's probably true that more cuddles/sling time now might be better for her, as catladies says, but I expect she'll demand plenty soon, so I am letting her sleep in the cot while she still will (especially as I also have a toddler).

I have seen early prems screaming in NICU so I think they are able to tell us if they are unhappy even when they are in sleepy mode...

Congratulations, and I hope your DS4 manages to avoid the reflux.