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Parenting

Putting son to nap in car seat

18 replies

summerfling · 17/04/2017 07:17

After having been up all night with my son (3 weeks today), I've resorted to putting him in his car seat & rocking him.

He's spent the entire night on/off screaming, neither of us have had any sleep!

I've actually managed to get him to sleep in his car seat....he's now on the floor next to my bed!!

Feel like I can't comfort my own child :(

Resorting to other measures to get him to kip!

Sleep deprivation is horrible!! I feel physically ill!

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PastysPrincess · 17/04/2017 07:24

You have my sympathy; I've been through this with my son.

Please don't let him sleep in the car seat for too long as it's not good for them at such a young age.
www.nhs.uk/news/2016/10October/Pages/Warning-over-babies-sleeping-in-car-seats.aspx

Consider one of these to get them out without disturbing them.
www.boots.com/snugglebundl-baby-lifting-blanket-funky-spots-10168111

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Northgate · 17/04/2017 07:26

Would you be able to transfer him to a crib without waking him?

It's not a safe idea to let him stay in a car seat too long at 3 weeks - I think the recommended limit for time in a car seat dropped from 2 hours to 30 mins recently - especially if you're too tired to stay awake and fall asleep too while he's in there.

If movement helps to send him off to sleep - this usually worked well with my DC - would pushing him in a pram where he can lie flat be an option?

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Changingagain · 17/04/2017 07:31

I was just going to post the same NHS link as pp as I remember the mw making a point of it.

I feel for you but please be careful.

Have you tried a rocking baby chair? It's still not advised to let them sleep in them for long but as they lie flatter it seems reasonable to me that the risk would be lower. We have one that changes into a toddler chair which DS still climbs into regularly so it sort of justifies the cost more. The rocking had to be done by hand though and I remember wishing we'd got a mechanical one. That phase didn't last long anyway though and for most of his first six months he'd only sleep on me.

Sleep deprivation is more than shit so be careful but do what you've got to do, and keep reminding yourself that everything is just a phase with babies.

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user1492287253 · 17/04/2017 07:39

We had an electric swing chair fir dd3 that my mum biught for her for xmas at a month old. That would send her off without fail

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MrsDarkDestroyer · 17/04/2017 07:49

My ds could not settle in his next to me bed when he was tiny but I found he slept really well in a moses basket. Have you got a Ewan The Dream Sheep? My sister bought me one as she found it a life saver and it worked really well for my ds. He is now 12 weeks and it puts him straight to sleep.

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BifsWif · 17/04/2017 07:52

You mention screaming, he could just be being a normal three week old baby, but my daughter did this and it turns out she had silent reflux.

How is he when he's feeding?

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summerfling · 17/04/2017 10:03

That's what I was worried about as government say no more than 30 minutes in a car seat.

I'm buying a swing seat today which lies flat.

To be fair il buy anything that'll help him sleep

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summerfling · 17/04/2017 10:06

He's only happy and content when he has a bottle of milk in his mouth.

However, I think the reason for his screaming last night was because he was trying to do a number 2, he managed it this morning and since has been a lot calmer.

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arbrighton · 17/04/2017 12:28

He's still very young and learning about the world- e.g. he won't yet know about day vs night and it's not that long since he was safe, warm and protected inside you.

Is he better if you hold him?

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summerfling · 17/04/2017 13:28

He calms down when my DM holds him.

I'm adamant he doesn't like me very much but no one will listen!

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helenfagain · 17/04/2017 13:54

It is so hard at this age but it does get better. I found a sling very helpful when my son was small. Read up about the4th trimester, that will help you understand what is going on.

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summerfling · 17/04/2017 14:36

I won't lie, it's bloody near impossible!!

I've read up about so much, the amount of money I've spent in the hope of calming him, making him happy & content.

Literally running out of ideas.
Moving back home tomorrow but not looking forward to it as il be doing it completely alone 😭😭

Single parents don't get enough credit, I didn't realise how hard it is until I had him.

I whole heartedly apologise to all single mothers out there. I honestly thought it wasn't that hard!

Funny really, I've experience with babies yet didn't realise half the stuff until I had one of my own

Feel like a prick now

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GrubbyWindows · 17/04/2017 17:05

You are in a hard bit- it will get easier! Can you stay at your mums a while longer? Feeling like your baby doesn't like you sounds like a tricky place to be. Give yourself the easiest ride you can! Being on your own with a tiny baby is not how we are designed. Tap into the sisterhood!!
Huge hugs. You are doing better than you think you are.

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summerfling · 17/04/2017 17:45

I've bought him a swing seat which he fell asleep in straight away. Just spent a considerable amount on things that hopefully will help him settle.

Changed his milk to cow & gate comfort
Bought him infacol
New faster teats
Swing seat

Going to order a sling too.

I think I feel like this because of the serious lack of sleep!

Doesn't help his father has completely disowned him either

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BifsWif · 17/04/2017 20:17

This bit is the hardest, I hated it. And I wasn't doing it on my own.

I promise it gets easier. Just when you're at breaking point, something will switch and it'll get a bit better. Most people see a change around the 6-8 week mark. You'll get through this, in the meantime just survive it. Sleep when you can, and forget about housework etc. Best of luck OP, single mums are incredible

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GrubbyWindows · 17/04/2017 20:21

Your hormones are still all over the shop too. In our parents generation you might still be in hospital, it's such early days! The first 6 (or more) weeks are just about figuring out which way is up, and you need looking after at this stage too. You've been through a lot- especially if the father is acting like a sperm donor, really tough.

Great news re the swing! And I bet there are other tiny things you and your DS have learned about each other too. It will get easier, it will!

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MalcomTuckerInSpace · 17/04/2017 20:27

For quite a while my DD1 would only sleep in her bouncer, as long as they’re safe sleeping you just have to do what you have to do. The swing sounds great if that works.

Definitely don’t feel as if you can’t comfort him. You can because you’re making sure he gets what he needs to feel comforted!

A sling saved us. You might want to try a sling library if there’s one near you as not all kids get on with all types. My girls loved a stretchy wrap but almost none of my friends kids liked them and so they used more structured ones. I think there are also internet sling libraries if you’re not near one.

I also found calm music really helped my screaming, colicky DD1, anything is worth a go!