10 week old will only sleep in sling in daytime

[debz222000]

debz222000

I am getting desperate now! My 10 week old little girl has never ever slept anywhere other than in the sling since she was born, not for want of trying. Overnight she co-sleeps and does fine, but in the daytime I have to bounce her to sleep on a fitness ball in the sling. She fights it but will eventually go to sleep. Only thing is she is getting heavier and it's a strain on my back carrying her around and I'm worried about going anywhere where I don't have the ball to get her to sleep. Even when she is in a deep sleep I cannot put her down as she wakes up with a minute or so and cries and we are back at square one with her fighting and scratching. I have tried hot water bottle, clothes that smell like me, swing, white noise, dream sheep, shushing, patting, music/lullabies, letting her cry, calming her and putting her back down, pushchair, car rides and no luck. I am getting desperate now and it's really getting me down. I don't even want to go out as I'm worried she will be a nightmare. Can anyone offer any advice or suggestions as to how I can get her to sleep in a cot please? She wont take a dummy- gags on it and I've tried several types and sizes and on many occasions.

[TheTroutofNoCraic]

Have you tried swaddling her?

[Thirtyrock39]

This takes me back to when mine were tiny ...my oldest would not be put down and only slept on me which was fine for first few weeks but then got pretty exhausting . I used to feed her in our bed in the day and then I could sneak off when she fell asleep as she used to always sleep at similar times or id lie next to her reading or whatever ...obv not safe once rolling and need to keep quilts pillows out of the way but after a while I could lie her down at the same time and shed nod off without me then moved it to the cot I think it took till about 4 months till she would settle quickly and easily in her cot for naps but was a total sanity saver when she would .

[Thirtyrock39]

Also note down the times she sleeps on you and try to get her lying down (even if you have to be next to her to start with) just before this so not overtired

[Ohyesiam]

My daughter was just the same, i read The No Cry Sleep Solution and it really helped.

[debz222000]

I have tried swaddling TheTroutofNoCraic but she likes her arms out. That's a good idea to try, lying down with her. I will give that a go and see if it works. Thank you everyone for you tips and advice. It's good to know I'm not alone.

[Thirtyrock39]

The no cry sleep solution is really good especially in the early months when you don't want to have to resort to controlled crying type stuff

[SpaceDinosaur]

I'm worried your sling is hurting your neck. It really really shouldn't. What kind of sling/wrap are you using?

[fluffikins]

Your sling shouldn't be hurting. Mine still only does sling naps at 16 months! Unless she's at nursery and magically goes to sleep in a cot

[Lireal]

Have you spoken to your health visitor? Could she have silent reflux or similar causing her to not like being horizontal? Does she like tummy time? How is she with feeds? Is she easily winded.
Both my ds have food intolerances. Have you checked for milk allergy? Or tongue tie? Also even seemingly healthy foods like strawberries, peas, baby can be intolerant to in your breast milk (if you are bf).
You must be absolutely exhausted. Do you have anyone who can give you a bit of respite? Mum, partner, sibling, friend?

[debz222000]

I am using a wrap sling but going to a sling library to see if there's one which suits me better. The ergo baby we have doesn't seem to adjust small enough to my size as I'm quite short and petite. She is quite happy to lie down following feeds and play so don't think she can have reflux. My health visitor is quite old fashioned and has told me to leave her to cry and isnt all that helpful! She has had a posterior tongue tie snipped twice as it reattached but is feeding well and it has healed fine this time round so that's good. I think the reason the sling isn't all that comfy is that it causes my shoulders to hunch a bit so when I straighten it cracks my back! Really appreciate all the suggestions and advice from everyone.

[pinkcardi]

This was me and my baby, exactly the same. Does she has a strong startle reflex? Ours did and what solved it was a swaddle bag. You get a little more room than a traditional swaddle as it's so stretchy. We make sure our DD has her arms up near her face. She cried a little at first but now will very happily doze off and I finally have some time to get things done.

[debz222000]

How old was your baby pinkcardi when she went down and I did you do the transition from sling to going down? There is hope then! She just gets sooo worked up when she's tired and tries to fight it and I don't know how to change that!

[pinkcardi]

She was 7 weeks. I had had enough, couldn't cope with the lack of daytime naps and couldn't understand how she could sleep at night but not the day.

It was the health visitor who suggested I try this.

I fed her until she was sleepy, put her in the swaddle bag and had her lie next to me. I patted and shushed, and she dozed off. A miracle!!

Next time I did the same but in her cot. It took a little while to settle her. Now I just put in her and go. Sometimes she cries for 5 mins then sleeps, sometimes she goes straight to sleep. If she wakes during a nap she will usually settle back down after 3-5 mins.

I also bought a Ewan the Dream Sheep for her, to form a sleep association. She loves it and her face lights up when she sees it.