My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

1 month old has to be held to sleep

16 replies

EMILYSSTAR · 08/11/2019 23:56

I am just wondering if anyone has any advice regarding my 1 month old. In the last few days the only way he will sleep is if he is being held or properly cuddled into me.

For last couple of nights I have Co slept but for me it is counter productive as I get less sleep worrying about him being right next to me. He also like to Bury his head into me which makes me more on edge.

Any advice on how I could get him back sleeping in his moses basket/ next to me cot. Have tried swaddling which was working before but now he is just getting frustrated at his arms being restricted and fights to get them out.

I am in some desperate need for sleep as he won't be put down day or night at the minute and isn't even really settling for DH who is doing everything he can to try and help.

OP posts:
Report
KellyHall · 09/11/2019 00:04
Report
IamAporcupine · 09/11/2019 00:07

Just hold him. He is tiny. He needs you closer.
My DS slept on me for the first 8 weeks.
Then one day, he was happy to be put down.
Nothing had changed.

Flowers

Report
inwood · 09/11/2019 00:08

You just have to ride it out ime. He's tiny, he wants to be with you.

Report
Ilovelala · 09/11/2019 00:08

Read up about fourth trimester

Report
Sparrowlegs248 · 09/11/2019 00:10

It pretty normal for a lot of babies. I was terrified of co sleeping with my first, but had to get used to it as he just wouldn't settle anywhere else. Make it as safe as you can. Sleep in the recovery position facing the baby so you can't roll onto him. Keep a night light on so you can see him in the dark. You'll get used to it , and he'll get bigger (less worrying).

Report
PeopleWhoRun · 09/11/2019 00:14

I agree about it sounding like a leap. Enjoy the cuddles - but also have you tried getting baby to sleep in the pram? I took the carrycot off and took it upstairs a few times when DD was settled. Sometimes she slept all night in it bless her.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's not to worry too much about creating bad habits. You need rest too, you'll find a way Flowers

Report
EMILYSSTAR · 09/11/2019 00:22

Thanks for the replies,

Although we are Co sleeping it just worries me as if I do manage to get into a proper sleep I can be a very deep sleeper.

Also DS likes to be cuddled in on his side not his back. Think I may be ove thinking as this is my first baby and you hear the horror stories which worry you..

OP posts:
Report
Ilovelala · 11/11/2019 18:39

Have you got the wonder weeks app? It's useful

Report
Sunshinegirl82 · 11/11/2019 19:08

They can be controversial as not a clear cot and therefore not recommended for unsupervised sleep but the only place either of mine have settled that wasn't on me was a sleepyhead.

Both of my DC have slept in a sleepyhead from birth, I've tried taking them away and they just won't settle. I take the view that the sleepyhead is less risky than me falling asleep holding the baby.

It's tough OP, hang in there, it does get easier.

Report
justsotiredallthetime · 11/11/2019 19:21

Another sleepyhead lover! Mine slept in his from birth. Best purchase ever!

Report
faelavie · 17/11/2019 02:55

Hi, I've got no advice but just wanted to say that I'm going through the exact same thing at the moment with my nearly 4-week old!

Has anything improved for you since you wrote this post, OP?

Loads of people suggest a sleepyhead but I'm afraid to use one since the Lullaby Trust guidelines advised against them...

Also lots of advice to "enjoy it while it lasts" but it's very hard to enjoy the cuddles when you are so sleep deprived you are paranoid about falling asleep with them on you and possibly injuring them or worse.

A couple of weeks ago I was so so tired I was hallucinating, it was horrendous, not a thing to enjoy!

Report
Giraffe888 · 18/11/2019 18:38

I ended up co-sleeping with my DS from day 2 as he just wouldn’t sleep elsewhere. I followed all the safe co-sleeping guidelines. He preferred to sleep on his side too. I slept in the recovery position so no way I’d roll onto him.

I worried he’d always end up wanting to co-sleep but kept trying him in his snuzpod. Last week he started sleeping in it (16wks) and I now miss having him in bed with me!

Report
TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 18/11/2019 18:40

DS1 was a side sleeper, and after a nightmare first few weeks we co-slept because I wasn't getting any sleep at all. The trouble you'll have is as a winter baby, you'll probably want to keep the heating on, so you don't have to use the covers.

DS1 went into his own bed properly at 3.5 and has been the easiest child ever (OK.. his little brother, sleep and feeding wise was even easier) it's really not the end of the world.

Report
Joerev · 18/11/2019 18:41

I brought an baby hammock thing

Amby hammock. Was a life saver!

Report
CodenameVillanelle · 18/11/2019 18:42

This is just what many babies are like.
Co sleeping is as safe as cot sleeping if you follow the guidelines.

Report
Echobelly · 18/11/2019 18:45

I'd co-sleep and try to relax about it - DD didn't settle after waking at night (fine during the day) without being on one of us for the first 9 weeks. Then we went on holiday to my parents' place and DH wasn't there for the first week and seeing as obviously I'm more heartless than he is Wink, I put her back in a cot at night and she grumbled briefly for a night or two but actually did re-settle off to sleep on her own at night after that.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.