DD (3 wks) will only sleep in her car seat

[MrsMattie]

My 3 week old DD doesn't really settle in her moses basket at night. She will only sleep in either her car seat. What should I do? I know you're not supposed to let babies sleep in car seats for prolonged periods, but we all need some sleep

[MrsMattie]

Sorry - should have said she only settles in either her car seat or in my arms (but only upright against my chest, not co-sleeping with us)

[thisisyesterday]

have you tried co-cleeping?

[jellybeans]

Have you considered a snugglenest? Then you can have her in your bed. Or try warming the basket with a hot water bottle first. I sympathise.. am going through same thing with DS..4 weeks. Snuggle nest seems to enable DS to sleep for longer, can get off amazon. I think 1-2 hours at a time in seat is OK if desperate. Can you transfer her into basket when she is asleep or does she wake up?

[jellybeans]

Also, you could try a t shirt you have worn or fleecy blanket as a sheet in the basket for comfort for her.

[katiepotatie]

Sorry I don't really have any advice, my LO only would sleep upright on my chest when she was first born, she actually had to fall asleep in my arms till she was 14 months old, resorted to CC after that. Am due my second in April, am hoping I don't fall into the trap again.

Maybe try putting her in her moses basket, more often when she is awake and during the day so she can get used to it.

[MrsHappy]

Oh bless, she probably just finds it really cosy.

Have you tried swaddling her and giving her a cuddle as she goes to sleep? That way it won't seem so cold when she hits the sheets (because she'll still be wrapped up). Also, a friend of mine found that she needed to put bumpers around her moses basket to make it smaller and more cosy for her baby and after that he was fine. White noise might also help, as might keeping a muslin in your top and putting it in the basket with her so she feels like you are close.

[snugglebum38]

Hi there
Are there any Single Mums out there ??
My Daughter is 19 months and when we are away She will not sleep in a cot or travel cot - only in her pushchair ??

[ches]

She probably has reflux and would benefit from being more upright. You can prop up two of the legs on the moses basket and see if that helps.

[MrsMattie]

Thanks for all replies. Had a bit of a breakthrough last night. Swaddled her and she slept in Moses basket from 11pm-10am (!) - woke every 3 hours for a feed, but went back to sleep pretty much straight away. She is definitely a refluxy baby. Have no experience of this, as my son didn't suffer with it at all. I'm using infacol and trying to keep her upright for a good while after feeds, but it doesn't help much. She seems to constantly grunt, splutter, wheeze and spit up (through her nose!?) after feeds. Poor little mite.

I love the idea of co-sleeping, but I'm way too paranoid, as both me and DH are very heavy sleepers and too scared of squashing her!

[thisisyesterday]

ches, what makes you think she has reflux????? that's a bit of an assumption to jump to just because the baby onlyt wants to settle in mum's arms or a car seat isn't it??

[MrsHappy]

Oh poor thing. My DD was refluxy too and we put the head of her basket on books. Infacol helped, and so did swaddling and keeping her upright after feeds. Also I used to put her upright against my shoulder and walk up and down the stairs - the bumping helped dislodge bubbles I think.

The good news is that you may well only have a few more weeks of this. By 6 weeks or so she should be much better at bringing up her wind herself and that can made a big difference.