OK ideas needed.............PLEASE..............How to put him down to sleep.........

[fannyannie]

DS3 is wonderful, feeding brilliantly and absolutely gorgeous. BUT, and this is the big one, he'll either sleep happily in my arms and wake quite frequently for feeds OR if DH takes him he'll sleep for up to 2hrs (or even more) in his arms - so he's obviously now getting decent enough feeds to actually rest between them.

HOWEVER, despite our best efforts we can't put him down in his carry cot to sleep - doesn't matter whether I try or DH tries he wakes up and screams (or lies there and screams if he's not already asleep).

This arrangement of 'shifts' holding the baby will be fine for a week until DH goes back to work.........but having got the other DS's to look after I really need ideas on how to get him to settle in his carrycot - even if it's only during the day (I've been co-sleeping at night with him so far and can live with that but the daytimes are a biggie).

[beansprout]

Have you tried swaddling?

[ChipButty]

He will get used to it. Try resting your palm on his chest to settle him. It's a technique used with prem babies and often works well.

[fannyannie]

yes tried swaddling and you'd think I was trying to throttle him LOL.

I'll try the palm on chest thing thanks.

Any other suggestions in case it doesn't work.

I must sound like a horrible mother trying to force him to sleep in his carrycot when he's still so tiny but unforutantely the practicalities of having 3 children mean I simply can't let him keep sleeping on me/DH.

[Ceolas]

Sling?

[MegBusset]

DS was the same, here's how we cracked it for night-times...

Take crib mattress out and put it on bed
Put DS on mattress and lie down next to him
BF to sleep
Wait for him to be in deep sleep then transport mattress back into crib
Sneak out of room very quietly

Must have helped get him used to being in crib, 'cause now I BF him to sleep, pop in crib and usually he is fine.

Also recommend sling for naps, he's too heavy for it now but it was great for a while. Now he naps in bouncy chair, pram or car seat - not crib, but I can live with that.

[onlygirlinthehouse]

when he falls asleep in your arms is his head resting on you (if you know what I mean!) My ds2 would only sleep in the daytime with something on his head like a hood or even on a beanbag as long as the bag was around his head and touching it on the top. Written down this now sounds mental but it worked at the time!

[Emprexia]

Ok, this is what i did with DS, because at first the only way i could get him to sleep was on me.

Buy a BIG cushion, the kind that takes up a whole sofa seat, lol, or something else similar like a pillow..etc

When he goes to sleep on you, do something like patting his hip or stroking his cheek..etc, make it part of his falling alseep routine.

When he's dropped off, gently place him on the cushion/pillow by your side and continue the patting/stroking motion.

I really couldn't get DS to sleep in his moses basket in the day, but he would sleep like well.. a baby on his cushion by my side, lol.

You just have to persevere, it will get better.

[ChipButty]

How's it going, Fannyannie?

[fannyannie]

well he's still sleeping brilliantly.........in my or DH's arms LOL.

Couldn't find a SINGLE sling (of any description) in town today so will be sending DH off to Northampton tomorrow to get one - as I carried him round as if he were in a sling and he was really happy (and asleep..........and I had a sore arm afterwards LOL).

[FrannyandZooey]

Sling - get the ring sort so he can lie down rather than the upright sort

not many available in shops round here, you may have to buy from internet

huggababy is a good one

you won't regret it

[BreeVanDerCamp]

The other thing we used to do was stick a tshirt or a muzzie down our tops when we got up in the morning. Then if we needed DS to go asleep we would produce the cloth smelling of us and he would generally settle.

[BreeVanDerCamp]

OH BTW

Nice arse.

LGJ

[BettySpaghetti]

You could try making sure your scent is in his moses basket/crib. I used to have a muslin cloth tucked under my top during DD/DS's feeds and then pop this in the moses basket with them or use it as a bottom sheet.

Also the gentle patting tends to help.

[BettySpaghetti]

X'd posts with Bree -glad to see it worked for someone else though