How do I get 4 week old out of my bed and into cot

[mozziefrank]

I started letting my newborn sleep in our bed from birth but would now like to put her to sleep in a cot beside our bed. However, as soon as she is asleep and I lift her into the cot she wakes up instantly. She doesn't cry for a while unless she is grumpy that night, mainly she thrashes her arms and legs around for hours and won't settle. Any tips to help comfort her? I have tried a hot water bottle to warm the cot before putting her in, putting some clothing of mine in the bed to add a familar scent and loosly swaddling her but nothing seems to help.

Does the side of the cot lower enough for you to cuddle her while she's inside it?
Can you comfort her and let her know that you're still close even though she's in the cot?

Alternatively, can you begin the change over during the day?
Put her in the cot for naps. Put her in already asleep so that she wakes in the cot.
You can also put her in there while she's awake during the day.
These things will help familiarise her with the cot, its feelings, its smells etc.
Hopefully this will help her to settle in it more willingly.

We found a sheepskin really useful, DS slept so much better in Moses basket with it than without x

I know you've tried loosely swaddling - but have you tried swaddling a little more tightly? Obviously don't if she gets distressed but we found this to be a godsend at about that age when she wouldn't settle...It stopped her thrashing around (actions which of course she can't control at that age) and instantly calmed her, with sleep following shortly after, usually. I know this doesn't work for everyone but it did for us - and our dd was equally averse to the moses basket to start with ( though she never slept in our bed, but on us instead) -but at 14 weeks we haven't had to swaddle for ages and she'll now settle in the basket happily. Plus she looked so cute - like a happy little Gloworm, :)

If the side of the cot will go down enough you could put down to sleep next to you on a change mat and then slide it over.

Agree with HKat and MrsMorgy

Swaddling more tightly might help - feeling snug and secure. It really helps with the flailing and jerking around. You could also try a small towel rolled up and laid down her side. Make sure it's below armpit height and touching the bottom of the cot so she doesn't slip down and push her face up against it.

We got a sheepskin. Her cot looked so cosy I wished I could get in! It helped stop that cold bedsheet feeling which I found woke DD. John Lewis do good ones for £50. Or try a hot water bottle for a few mins to just take the edge of the chill.

Try ssh-pat or circular strokes on the tummy. DD liked having her cheek stroked. Still does at 10mo. Nothing gets her to sleep faster!!

Wrap her in a blanket while you're hold

Oh, frack, touch screens! Wrap her in a blanket while you're holding her. Once she's heavily asleep, transfer her plus blanket into cot. It'll take her warmth plus your smell with her and she may be none the wiser.

Loose swaddling can be worse than no swaddling - the stimulation of their arms wriggling against the cloth can keep them awake. I found the miracle blankets from mothercare brilliant. Try white noise too, start it softly in the background while feeding her, and then sing a boring lullaby the whole time really quietly while you transfer her and until she settles. If you're not avoiding dummies that can help too, even just occasionally if she's particularly hard to settle.