To Let One Week old DD2 Sleep in Rocker

[ThePerfectFather]

We've just had our second DD and she's wonderful but she doesn't like her Moses basket. She seems much happier in her rocker chair (not sure of the official name).

It's one of those soft chairs like a sort of baby armchair with a safety strap that you stick them in and rock with your foot while you watch telly at 3am. Anyway, she's happy as larry in one of those, but very, very unsettled in her bed, with the only other option that works being our bed.

My wife is a very fretful and anxious parent whereas I am the other way and so I need an impartial view from MN. Since my wife is breastfeeding, it's not like DD2 will be stuck in the chair for 12 hours at a time, she'll be in it for a couple of hours then out for a feed etc.

So, if she's happy for the baby to spend most of the day in it, what's her problem with letting the baby sleep in it at night? She says it's "not safe" and that "you shouldn't" but I have no idea why that might be. I understand about not letting a baby sleep overnight in one, but since she only sleeps a few hours at a time (like all newborns) where's the harm?

Newborns need to lie flat for less pressure on their lungs I think. So baby probably shouldn't be in it too long in the daytime also

I dont see it as any different to if she was in a sling.. during the day time.

But I dont think she should sleep in it at night.. babies need to be able to stretch and move, and being scrunched up a bit in the chair all night might be too restrictive on her movement and breathing.

I wouldn't let her sleep in it overnight. I think newborns should be flat for most of the time when lying down, hence the restrictons on ages for pushchairs that don't fully recline.

Also at night you are asleep, so would not notice if baby did some how get into difficulty - unlikely but they can still move.

And finally you will not solve the problem of baby not sleeping at night, just possibly make it worse as she will be used to sleeping in the chair..

By the way, my 2 both hated moses baskets. You could try a crib as they are bigger, but mine went into a cot at 4 weeks and sleep improved hugely. That depends though on your baby of course, and whether you would be prepared to do that. And mine were that bit older.

If dw is breast feeding could you get a cot that fits up to the side of the bed with the side down - that may be a halfway house?

And congrats on dd2!

I would try a swaddle blanket in the Moses basket, you could also try raising the head end of the moses basket slightly in case she has reflux which is bothering her when she lies flat. If its any consolation my ds had terrible reflux and slept in his car seat for the first 4 months as it was the only way either of us got any sleep. He's now 7 and perfectly normal in every way and has a beautifully strong straight back.

I wouldnt let her sleep there everynight but as a last resort to get some sleep then yes i would. I had a swing for my DC and it was great espeially when they were a few months and abit chesty and needed to sit up a tiny bit. Again it wasnt every night but it helped me and them to get some sleep.

Thanks for the replies. Sounds very reasonable, but the only solution we've come up with is to put her in a sleep positioner in bed with us so I really wanted to see if there was something else.

No idea why some babies don't like the moses basket but yep, they really are all different because DD1 loved hers.

Both my DC hated Moses basket, we bought an Amby with my DD and re-used with DS. Link here

Both slept well in it (DD would only sleep on my arm and DS face down on my chest with head turned to one side at night otherwise )

Both also outgrew it before the year was up, starting being restless in the night again so we moved them into a proper full sized cot and they were fine straight away. I think sometimes some babies just need a little more of an enclosed space and take a little longer to get used to being out of mum!

Good luck with the sleep.

We let our 3rd sleep in his swing chair at flattest setting for the first 6 months of his life- he used his fancy cot maybe twice before we sold it. We laid a blanket in it and baby on top, didn't strap it but put it up against the bottom of our bed so he couldn't slip out. He slept beautifully in it and no problems.

I guess it depends if it is your first baby and you are still doing the 'oh my god is he breathing?' thing or not. By number 3 we really relaxed a lot and it was a lot easier than with no. 1 who only slept in Daddy's arms being walked for first 3 months...

I second the suggestion of a hammock, we had the Amazonas Kangoo and dd was very happy in there; she slept through from 5 weeks old. Actually it looked so snug visitors kept asking if they made adult ones!

its fine, wherever she sleeps the best