7 week old will only sleep on me

[Phoebsterdog]

7 week old DD wakes within minutes whenever I try to put her down.
Goes to bed with me and manages a few hours in a sleepyhead in co-sleeping cot next to me, but from then on is difficult to settle so ends up in bed with me. Needs to be rocked or fed to sleep for all daytime naps - if I try to put her down once asleep she wakes within minutes screaming.
I have a 2 year old so I really need to be able to put baby down during the day. I use white noise and swaddling-nothing works to KEEP her asleep (she pushes a dummy out)
I know we are "supposed" to put her down drowsy but awake but that just does not work- she screams and I am not leaving her to cry at this age! Help!

[Phoebsterdog]

Oh, I use a sling during the day - she always sleeps in that. But sometimes I need to have a shower etc!

[Sycamore76]

Slings are amazing as you have your hands free to play with toddler / housework. The baby bjorn comfort for is great , I use mine all the time. Newborns just want to be close to mummy !

[Sycamore76]

Sorry I didn't read your other post re sling. Can you rock her in pram/ car seat?

[MeltchettsLovelyMoustache]

This is normal. Look up the fourth trimester, it'll help you understand. My DS was the same and now at 16 weeks sleeps anywhere but me.

[crazytyke]

I sympathise. I've been working on getting the baby to sleep not on me for morning & late afternoon naps as she is much less settled and needs resettling every 15 mins or so. lunchtime nap she has in sling & will do 2-3 hours solid

[momtothree]

Shes getting heart burn when you put her down . Put a folded towel under her mattress.

[MeltchettsLovelyMoustache]

Sorry, I missed that you had a 2 yr old! Didn't mean to sound so patronising!

[FizzyBubbly]

I could have written your post! DD2 was 7 weeks old yesterday and DD1 is 2, she sleeps in a sleepyhead, naps in sling during day, can't be put down awake... Am cuddling her to sleep right now, wait til she's in a deep sleep but still wakes as soon as I put her down. Am also worried I'm not doing 'the right thing' but also accept that with a 2yo buzzing around I have to do whatever I can to survive. So if that means sling naps and cuddling to sleep at bedtime until she's old enough to self settle then that's what I'm going to have to do!

Good suggestion from pp about stomach acid though, we've just had silent reflux diagnosed which explains why she likes to be upright in the sling and not on her back

[wigglylines]

It's normal.
Neither of my DC would be put down awake, and DD would only sleep on me at that age. I spent the evenings on the sofa with her asleep on my chest and took her up to bed when I went. She grew out of it soon enough, I forget when though sorry!

[momtothree]

The top stomach mussel hasnt formed/closed as yet so every time you put them down you get heart burn/screaming takes 20 mins to settle so you try again ..and again . nothing to worry about. It closes around 6 months. Just keep head above belly.

[Mrsmumb]

this was my DS, it just got easier. I think it makes perfect sense for babies too want to be that close and isn't something to worry about as tedious as it can become, it won't last
for a slightly more practical tip, I did buy a friends puddlepod off her and that did help, he always naps in that now, a quick Google will bring it up
im going to buy the toddlepod soon as he is outgrowing it

[Mrsmumb]

DS is now 6mo and although needs someone to get him the off 80% of the time, he can now be put down afterwards no problem and thats been the case since getting the pod about 7 weeks ago **although perhaps a coincidence

[Phoebsterdog]

Thanks everyone. I know it's normal, and won't last forever- it's just hard with a toddler as well (plus the sleep deprivation) She really takes some work to get to sleep! I feel I can't give the 2 year old any time and that makes me feel awful.
I have been keeping her sleepyhead on an incline as suspected a bit of acid reflux too.. I'll check out the poddlepod too.
Currently striding around the kitchen with sling on chanting 'it's just a phase'!

[meringue33]

Just to say that I feel your pain! Have a 6 week old and 2yo. LO barely sleeps at all between noon and midnight. I put her down for literally 5 mins today so I could desperately cram some food into myself. She cried herself to sleep... Just before nursery run due.

I feel awful but remember from last time there is a point at which it gets easier... The body just gets used to sleep deprivation!

[Hidingthefear]

we had this too (ds is currently asleep on my lap after a feed, 9 weeks old today)
I've found that a grobag (or i guess any sleeping bag) has been a massive help as they arent going down on a cool surface. we also rolled up a towel and put it under the sheet in a horseshoe shape to kind of cuddle his head.
we sling during the day if he wont nap. but i also got a swing which ds will fall asleep in sometimes.
I still feed DS to sleep at night, slide him in the cosleeper and then for night feed i slide him into bed and we feed and cosleep. works for us but i know co sleeping isn't to everyones taste.