Newborn admitted to hospital - sleep tips?

[CastleTower]

Now on night 5 with my three-week-old and slightly at my wit's end. He just wants to be cuddled - fair enough! But it's just me with him overnight and I can't hold him all night, I'll doze off.

We're on our own room in the children's ward. I have a bed but it's not appropriate for co-sleeping. (I did try feeding him lying down in case he dozed off next to me but he didn't.)

He has to be just in a nappy + blankets.

Any clever tips and tricks for getting him to settle in the cot???

I hope he’s ok, this must be really hard for you 💐
Have you tried putting your t shirt in the cot with him so he can smell you?

Is the bed a proper hospital bed? Or one of the crap pull out chair ones??

If its the hospital type can you push it to the very side of the cot and make it the same height and then stick your hand through the bars and tap gently on his chest like a heartbeat. Or is DS still in a plastic box like at maternity? Then maybe raise your bed higher and tap over him.

Been there and done that, it's grim and really exhausting.

Can your DH swap a nightshift so you can get a semi decent sleep soon. I don't known if covid rules are still making it difficult, or it might just not work for your family circumstance. But you are still recovering yourself. Try at least to drink lots of water and eat as well as you can (ha, in a hospital)

If the bed is a pull out - much harder, will he let you carry him to sleep and ease him in....its prob to early to even know as he is so wee and you've already been in for 5 days with him poorly so he doesn't know up from down.

As your in a side room the nurses may not know just how much you are struggling. If you let them know they might take DS if it's a quieter night and give you an hour or two of uninterrupted sleep. (Assuming you are in the side ward due to his age not illness)

Hoping something works and you both get some sleep.

Haven't tried the t-shirt idea, I'll see if that helps.

I have a real hospital bed, and we have both a maternity-style plastic crib and a big tall cot with bars. Both are really hard to reach into when lying down! I don't think my hand fits between the cot bars, but maybe I can jiggle things around.

Sadly can't share the night shift due to breastfeeding, and only one of us can be here overnight. I've had lots of help in the day so I've had some naps and breaks.

But thanks for reminding me to ask the nurses for more help too. I'll talk to them when they come with medication next. (I am, irrationally, cross with them for waking him up every time I've just got him down! Not their fault, obviously.)

Duh! I've taken your baby brain. Breastfeeding!!! Of course that's why you're on nightshifts - its why I did nightshifts way back then too.

Hope you've managed some sleep.

Tshirt idea is a great one x

Thanks - a lovely healthcare assistant came to settle him and insisted I rest for a while. He did actually need some extra pain relief too, so it was worth getting the help.