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Help!!! My 11 week old will only sleep on me.

12 replies

Beckiec101 · 22/10/2017 02:55

Hello everyone, I'm new to this group and desperate for some help!
I have an 11 week old baby boy called George. He is a gorgeous little boy, who for the most part is happy smiley and alert. He has some health problems including cows milk allergy and reflux which we are just starting to get under control. He is breast fed (with nipple shields) apart from the occasional evening bottle of formula.

Our problem is at night he will only sleep on my chest. He will sleep 4/5 hrs like this between feeds but every time I try to put him in his basket he cries and I can't leave him like that so I pick him up. I've tried wrapping his mattress in my nightie, raising the head of the mattress, white noise, placing my hand on his chest so he knows I'm still there etc etc and none of it works. The problem is of course I can't stay awake all night so I end up falling asleep with him on my chest and I'm so worried that something awful is going to happen. I would be grateful for any reassurance/advice. Please be kind - I know I shouldn't be sleeping like this - that's why I'm asking for help!
Thank you
Beckie

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 22/10/2017 03:04

Are you able to feed him lying down? It would be safer to plan to do safe co-sleeping rather than fall asleep holding him. If you look up safe co-sleeping guidelines (kellymom.com/parenting/nighttime/cosleeping/) and follow them, then you can feed him lying down and then both of you can sleep.

Beckiec101 · 22/10/2017 03:14

Thank you for your reply assasinatedbeauty. Unfortunately he isn't a fan of lying in the bed next to me as I've tried this several times. Partly because I think he doesn't like lying on his back but also because I don't think it's close enough to me for him. I'm just at a loss. Here I am at 3am again trying desperately to get him to sleep in his Moses. At the moment he's wide awake in there fussing but no crying ... yet!

OP posts:
Bluebellwoods123 · 22/10/2017 03:29

Have you tried warming the mattress up with a hot water bottle before you transfer your sleeping baby from you to his Moses basket?
My baby will only sleep on a fleecy blanket in his Moses basket ( well tucked in) as he prefers the feel of it.
You can feed them on their side when you feed laying down, then nudge on to back when asleep.

HashtagTired · 22/10/2017 03:49

Controversial one here and I’ll get shot down for this, but have you tried putting him on his tummy to sleep. It is against guidelines and it’s a parents choice. My dd would only sleep on her tummy. We got a sleep monitor pad thing to ease my concerns.

teaandbiscuitsforme · 22/10/2017 07:22

Please don’t sleep with him on your chest. It’s very high risk and safe cosleeping is a much better option. He can be cuddled right into you, his head at breast height with you curled around him in a C shape so he should feel very close to you.

Are you able to feed him lying down? If so, does he go to sleep and stay asleep then? I know reflux might be an issue with this.

My DD would never sleep in her co-sleeper or Moses basket. Had to be tucked right into me!

FATEdestiny · 22/10/2017 11:07

Have you tried a dummy yet?

AMagdalena · 22/10/2017 22:26

Have you try swaddling? Even a sleeping bag?
I find that the sudden temperature change wakes my DD up.

Have you tried raising the top of the mattress so your DS isn't completely flat on his back?

Cupcakegirl13 · 22/10/2017 22:36

We have a sleepyhead , grow bags and dummy here and muddle through with 7 week old DD generally being put downable between most feeds

tomatoandcheese2009 · 23/10/2017 13:58

Where does he sleep during the day OP? You might have more luck getting him used to the basket if you start with getting him napping there as you'll likely feel less desperate when you aren't trying to sleep yourself and can therefore preserve more.

For us, swaddling, dark room, a ewan the dream sheep and a few nights of me sleeping with my finger in DD's mouth (!) gradually got her to the point she would sleep in there. Definitely substitute dummy for finger if he'll take one. That got us to the point we could put her down in the basket sleepy but awake and then sush pat her the rest of the way to sleep and she would stay asleep until she needed a feed. But she didn't have reflux so it may be a longer journey for you. Good luck!

tomatoandcheese2009 · 23/10/2017 13:59

*persevere

NoNoCharlieRascal · 23/10/2017 14:03

Ds was the same op, he also would never sleep on his back. From birth he would turn onto his side. Bed sharing was the magic answer for us. He would sleep on his side holding my breast and I would curl into a c around him.

crazycatlady5 · 23/10/2017 14:09

We did the same as @NoNoCharlieRascal

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