4 week old DS cries/wakes up as soon as he is put in his Moses basket

[edwfaith]

After he is bf, changed nappy, winded, talked to, and he starts yawning we try and convince him to go to sleep... We either put him in his Moses basket, and it takes about 60 seconds for him to start crying, or we'll try and rock him or feed him to sleep and then put him down asleep his eyes will ping and he'll start crying... It is the same during day time naps or night time sleeps... The only way I am coping is by co sleeping or keeping him in the sling which he loves and will sleep in... But I've heard horror stories about how other people's kids still want to co sleep at 6 months, or 1 year +.... I don't want to make things difficult for me in the future... Please can someone make some suggestions as to how I can get my DS to sleep happily in his Moses basket?

[BrucieTheShark]

Just keep co-sleeping and ignore the 'rod for your own back' merchants.

I know some people have these mythical babies who sleep but I never did. What you describe = baby to me.

Just get through it! It is hopefully easier to phase co-sleeping out when they are bigger.

[goodbyeyellowbrickroad]

I'd also just go with co sleeping. However if you want to try with the Moses basket a couple of things that helped me was putting a hot water bottle in there to warm it up a bit before putting the baby in and putting something in there that smells of you. I used to roll up a t shirt or vest that I'd been wearing and pop it in at the head end.

[BrucieTheShark]

I remember envying the mother who would put her baby in the cot at the same time every day, give a little pat and they would drift off for their nap.

Spent pointless hours trying to achieve the same.

Then I found out she couldn't get out in the day because the baby would sleep NOWHERE else. She was a virtual prisoner and broke down in floods of tears about it.

Swings and roundabouts!

[stellak9]

When he falls asleep, try holding him for 20-30' and then put him down. The first part of their sleep is light, it takes about 20' to reach deep sleep. I had the same problem with my now 12 week old and it has helped for nighttime. During the day he will only nap in my arms and only for 30'. Whoever said "sleeps like a baby" hadn't met mine.

[Touchacat]

One tip that worked for us is when the baby has drifted off in your arms, bring him to a more upright position as if you were burping him. Hold him there awhile and allow him to resettle. Then go to the end of the Moses basket and bend at the waist so your body goes down with baby and there is no gap between baby and your chest. If your back can hold up, once he is in the basket, stay bent as much as possible (I used to cradle by forearms around my baby) and once he has resettled again come away slowly.....

Sounds bonkers, I know! But I was crazy through sleep deprivation and needed anything that would give me a break!

[Tatie3]

DS2 was exactly the same until eventually we created a little "nest" inside his moses basket to help him feel more secure. Maybe try a Sleepyhead Pod or similar? I'm expecting DS3 in May and bought one for £50 from eBay as they've been recommended to me.

[Zebrasinpyjamas]

My DS was the same. I echo pp that say ignore the "rod for your back" doomsayers. Around the same age as your DC, We put DS in a sleepyhead in his cot with one side off next to our bed. This made a big difference as he slept better and I didn't spend the whole night worried about squashing him!

[Lindy2]

Cosleeping and slings all the way here. Baby was happy and I was happy. Now they are older they go to sleep in their own beds and stay there all night quite happily.

[SchnitzelvonKrummsverylowtum]

DS was exactly the same. We had a snuzpod attached to our bed for in the nights, and he slept on me in the day. At around 6 months he just came into bed with me. It is hard, but as pp have said, don't worry about all the 'rod for your own back' stuff - just get as much sleep as you can however you can for now. He will sleep on his own eventually. DS is now 19 mo and has been sleeping in his own bed since he turned one. Sometimes I have to settle him in the nights, sometimes he sleeps through.

[magpie17]

It sounds simple but just don't put him in the Moses basket! My DS hated his so I just let him nap with me. We had a small crib, the type with bars for night time and he didn't mind that, I think he preferred it because he could see out. Would something like that be an option? I never wanted to co-sleep at night so it worked for us.

[Xmasbaby11]

Have you tried

Hot water bottle to warm mattress
Your clothing over the mattress where lo puts his head
Swaddling

[NellysKnickers]

Ds2 used to do this. Try warming up moses basket first and leaving a muslin cloth in with him with your scent on

[PurplePotatoes]

White noise worked for us when DD wouldn't settle in her moses basket

[WheresMyCow]

Same as a couple of PP have said...warm up the moses basket, and have something in there with either yours or your DP scent on. However, I found that it was better to use DH scent rather than mine when I was feeding because smelling me meant milk! Use a pillowcase as a sheet for the mattress then there is no extra bulk in there.

Also, nothing wrong with cosleeping and slings if you are happy with it...enjoy the snuggles

[Unhappyexpat]

4 weeks is still so tiny...

Ds was the same so despite my reservations we co slept. It worked really well. We had him in a sleepyhead type thing at first then just on the mattress. I kept trying him in the crib and eventually he got it.
Just sleep however you can. They change week to week at this age so what's impossible now is often possible soon after.

[Artandco]

Sheepskin

Can put them straight on it on floor or in Moses basket. It's warm and yet keeps cool in summer but has no shock cold sheet reactions.

I would sometimes have the sheepskin in my lap to rock them in it gently, then lay it down somewhere with them still on it

[Coconut0il]

No advice sorry, just wanted to let you know you're not alone. DS2 Co sleeps and naps on my lap or in the moving pushchair. DS1 was the same and has never had any sleep issues. Do what makes you happy and gets everyone the most sleep! I don't believe you can spoil a 4 week old, enjoy the cuddles.

[edwfaith]

Hey, just wanted to say thanks to all the mners who replied to my post... as I'm writing this my little DS is asleep in the sling next to me and it's the loveliest feeling ever his warm little body nesting on me :) You're right I'm just going to enjoy it and make do how we can, sling, cosleeping ect... it won't last forever after all :)

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

I'd just get him in a new pattern where he feeds to sleep, then you can feed laying down on the bed and just ninja roll away and he's left in the same position on the bed so doesn't even realise you're gone. Works every time with DS (6 months). And DS2 just grew out of it (can't remember when, some time before 1 year) so I don't believe the rod for your own back merchants.

[edwfaith]

HV also said he might be suffering from reflux which probably isn't helping his sleeping situation so we're going to make an appointment with the GP to see if we can get any Gaviscon.

[Frazzled2207]

Sounds very normal.
Do what you need to do for now.
My kids were the same, I focussed on trying to get them down in basket/cot for ONE sleep a day to begin with then gradually increasing. Putting a firm hand on them when down helps.
They will eventually get the hang of it if you persevere but don't beat yourself up if you end up co-sleeping.

[Tatie3]

If you suspect reflux then keeping baby in a slightly upright position (I.e. not completely flat) will help.

[Frazzled2207]

Oh and when tiny they just doze really but when older babies mstart to "properly" sleep, meaning that even if down the line they need to be cuddled to sleep, the day will come when you can transfer them to a basket/cot with minimal fuss.

[Bigfam]

I've CO slept with all 4 of mine, when the time came for them to be in their own beds there weren't any problems, although my 4 year old still shares a bed with her older sister who's 7, who also doesn't mind as they share a room anyway. My just turned 1 year old still CO sleeps and when it's time we will buy bunk beds, single up top for the eldest and a double on the bottom for the other two to share when the youngest is ready. If it wasn't for CO-sleeping I think all of my children would have been hard to settle.

[Icklepickle101]

My DS (5weeks) was exactly the same, until 2 nights ago he suddenly decided the Moses basket wasn't so bad and has slept in it perfectly the last 2 nights!!

We tried everything, but made sure after every feed we atleast tried him in the Moses basket and i would rub his little tummy for a few minutes if he started crying to try and settle him, if not he came in to bed with me. I temeber worrying about it constantly and got criticism from mil for co sleeping but in the end you both need sleep so just go with what works for you :)