Baby no. 3 will not self settle but I don't have time to rock/feed to sleep. What do I do?

[Artichook]

He is only six weeks and cries and cries when tired. As he is so young he is tired within 90 minutes if waking.

The problem is that if I lie him in the cot or pram when he is tired then he screams and screams. He needs pushing, rocking or BFing to sleep but it takes ages and he often can't be put down, or the pram must stay in motion even once asleep.

I have two other kids, no help, what can I do to teach him to self settle? He fights sleep every time.

Would you consider using a sling for now?

How old are your other 2?

Can you get a stretchy wrap sling to carry him in? Would give you hands free for the other two.
I think he is far to little to be expected to self-settle IMO.

Have you tried a sling? Maybe he would fall asleep easier in that and then you still have two hands free for your other two.

My DS2 was like this and ended up having all his naps in a baby swing (50 quid circus one from mothercare) it was a lifesaver and worked like magic. I did stress that it was going to be a bad habit that I would regret getting into but at about 3 months he started to settle himself and now naps just fine in his cot.

My third is now 5.3 months and was exactly the same. It was very stressful in the early weeks as I had the school run and a toddler to sort out. We got a soft, stretchy Kari Me sling and it's been a total life saver. DS3 loves it and would live in it given the choice. My back is quite dodgy but wrap slings tend to be more supportive. If you decide to go down this route then it might be worth booking an appointment with a sling consultant. Good luck!

I have a Baby Bjorn but he often gets cross in it, I think because he can aense my breadts nearby and wants them!

A sling may be the only solution but its not ideal as his next sister up jumps all over me and is very loud and often wakes him. TBH she w

Oops, posted to soon... TBH she won't leave him alone if he is near her and she c

A dummy? I think as long as you get rid of it by around 3 months it is fine. I would persevere - I don't think it is too young to self settle and if he masters this early he will be a happier baby.

Aargh! Sorry! She competes for cuddles etc.

The rocking chair is an idea, although I do fear bad habits. We have a dummy but he doesn't settle in the cot even with that. I just can't see how to encourage settling without leaving him to scream which I cannot do.

My third was like this and I just bunged her in the sling and got on with my day. She would sleep through even her brothers shouting or jumping all over me after a while. She took every nap in the sling up until she was six months then luckily suddenly loved her cot.

I think with three you kind of have to make them be less high maintenance because you just don't have the time!

Arti I sympathise hugely! A few short months ago I could have written your post. I think your baby is too young for a baby bjorn sling: I think they're uncomfortable and quite rigid for a newborn. Before I got the hand on the Kari Me I tried DS3 in a baby bjorn that a friend gave me. He hated it! A wrap sling on the other hand, is soft and pliable and snuggles them against you. If you're in SE London then I can PM you details of a local sling library and consultant? My middle son was also very "physical" when DS3 was first born, he did lose interest quite quickly though once he realised how boring babies are .

I had one of these for dd2 as we had building works going on and she would never sleep because of the drilling unless she was on me.

Poor you. Much, much sympathy. I remember this hell! Looking back no easy/perfect solutions really. I dragged the other kids on fast walks so she would sometimes sleep in the pram, used the sling a lot, tried to tolerate a minute of 2 of wailing before intervening (that never worked! but some people say it does...), bought a rocking swing but she didn't like it... It did get better, slowly. From having to be on the move to sleep in the pram she got to the stage where you could stop walking once she was asleep and just jiggle the pram a bit whenever she stirred. We ended up doing a weakling version of controlled crying (a lot, lot later on, obviously). Good luck!

He is so very tiny to expect it. I would get a decent sling - baby bjorns aren't great. I found manduca much much better (used a bjorn as well).
I also used tv to keep my eldest out of the way if I had to feed or rock little one to sleep but to be honest, I would get out most of the time so dd would fall asleep. She didn't like the pram - wasn't until she was 4/5onths would she sleep in one when she was upright. She had reflux. Her brother was exactly the same!

I recommend Moby wraps - dd2 would sleep well in ours at that age so I could deal with dd1 at the same time.

I couldn't get on with a sling so spent a fortune on a mamaroo chair. It was amazing and she'd sleep for hours in it. Pretty good resale value but I am waiting to see if I use again.

Thanks for all these tips. I took the baby to the doctor today and they think he has cows milk protein allergy which might explain why he is unsettled. I've had some success napping him in the car seat the last few days. I forgot hiw intense these early days are!