Newborn not settling in Moses

[Flossy78]

Not really sure where to post this so have plumped for here. Am sure it's an age old issue but DS is one week old and just won't settle in the Moses basket. He's fast asleep until we put him in & then he wakes & cries until he's picked up. We've tried swaddling, warming the Moses mattress with a hot water bottle & using Ewan the dream sheep without success. He will sleep fine on us so at the minute DH & I are taking it in turns holding him throughout the night. Obviously this isn't ideal & we are both shattered. Any tips??

Time!! Both mine were and are like this . My DS is 3 weeks and the same. Don't fight it just do what u can to get sleep for
now . They change eventually ...my DD eventually went in basket at 8 weeks. Enjoy the cuddles......

Could it be silent reflux?

Moses baskets suck. They are too small, even for a teeny stretch, they creak and they rustle, disturbing babes and parents alike. Into the cot with him! Xx

I agree Moses baskets are crap!!! In a few weeks I'm straight into cot

Well not me!!

Hi,

don't feel down when I say this, i know how that 'shattered' feels, but most babies don't want to be put down at a week old. It's just too alien for them to comprehend. It's like a survival instinct. A few mums have v snozy babies and their baby just drops of anywhere but in my experience most don't.

My DS now sleeps on his own beautifully and has done for 3 months but for the first 2 I used a sling for all naps and evening sleep and then carried him upstairs and he slept in a co sleep crib so practically in my bed.

If this isn't what you want to do then try putting him in his basket when awake for a few mins. Pick him up as soon as he fusses (it needs to be a nice place to be) and then graduate to popping him in when he's sleepy. Also my bubba prefered it whenhis basket was on the floor. sohe could see us. It takes time.

It will happen and a sling like a close caboo will help loads in the meantime.

Hugs to you and your partner. This will pass I promise.

Have you tried putting something you have worn that day in with him? I used to put my tshirt in with ds3. I think being able to smell me helped him to settle. I also think some babies don't like Moses baskets, could you try putting him in his cot?

3 DC here and all three of them rejected the beautiful moses basket I had! All three preferred sleeping in a bouncy chair - I think it is the curved effect. There is now a similar shaped bed, so you could try that: Red Castle Cocoonababy Nest

Wow! What a response! Thanks for the advice guys. I don't think it's worth upgrading to the cot as it seems that being put down flat on any surface makes him wake & cry. The midwives have said the same as some of you that he needs to be near me & to do whatever we can to get through the early days. I understand this but just worry that as DH is due to go back to work next week I'll have to go the nights alone soon. Don't think I could hold him all night long!

If it suits you and you have considered the pros and cons (some say co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS) then why not co-sleep?

Octopus, I was never keen on the thought of co-sleeping. But I'm so tired I'd prob consider anything now! Are there any decent websites where I can read more about it?

Both my dcs disliked the Moses basket. Both were happy sleeping on a pillow (which I didn't let them do at night). I got a softer mattress for the Moses basket for dc2 and she now sleeps fine in it. The original mattress was quite hard.

Despite saying I never would I ended up co-sleeping in the early weeks just to get some rest. I bf dd to sleep lying down, and left her next to me. Obviously you need to ensure your baby cannot go under the bed covers, roll off the bed or be rolled on by an adult.

A safer option is a bed nest or co-sleeping cot. They attach to the side of the bed so avoid the risks of co-sleeping in the bed. I think you can hire them from the NCT.

www.nctshop.co.uk/NCT-Bednest-Rental-for-6-months/productinfo/4364R/

Ooh worsester this looks great. Thanks for the link. I'd never heard of these & I'll definitely discuss it with DH. It would be good to be so close to the baby without risking his health at all. Thank you!

Happy to help .

We had exactly the same problem and bought a bednest, which was absolutely fantastic- worth every penny!

I had a nightmare with DS-he did exactly the same as your DS Flossy. With my DD the midwives at the hospital said when I put her down put some very gentle pressure on her chest/tummy (I know it sounds bad!) as newborns will settle with it. And you know what it worked a treat . Ok, she'd only sleep for 3 hrs between feeds but she'd settle. Might be worth a try before shelling out for new cots etc?

Both of mine were like this - at least to begin with. Dh and I spent many a night taking it in turns to sit propped upright with a tiny child on us. At the time, it seemed to last forever.

However, both were sleeping in their cots from 8 and 12 weeks, so it really won't take long. The only pita was having to constantly feed the buggers.

Ds is a great little sleeper now, but dd (2) would still happily come and sleep ith us on any occasion. Having said that, her sleeping place of choice is actually on the bedroom floor.

I second Worsestershire, co-sleeping since birth has been wonderful for us, and both DDs have always been happy to go down for naps and night without any tears. I've got a Cosatto "Close To You" bedside cot which I would warmly recommend. Good luck!

Ds rejected Moses and would only sleep in her bouncer. We let her, she slept through from 8 weeks and was in her cot by 13 weeks. Don't sweat it. Find somewhere she will sleep and get some sleep yourself. X

Co-sleep but plan it. Don't stay upright all night in a chair or on the sofa and then end up keeling over with exhaustion. Look up attachment parenting and guidelines for safe co-sleeping and make your bed safe., The book 'Three in a Bed' is good too.
The worst thing to do safety wise is unplanned co-sleeping, there is no evidence that planned co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. Countries like Japan where co-sleeping is the norm have lower rates of SIDS than we do.
I tried to get ds in his Moses basket and failed, was worried about co-sleeping risks and so didn't do it until later when I read up on it and realised I was making my life much harder. With dd I co-slept from day 1 and I was much less tired, no problems settling her and we both slept better and longer - no need to get out of bed to feed.

Just a message of hope. My little one was like that for a full 2 weeks. He was awake as soon as I hovered him over that darned basket!! He gradually got better though and at 6 weeks slept 4-5 hours straight. We now occasionally get 7

I'm another one to suggest the co - sleeping option. We planned it and had a weird thing my sil leant us which is like a thin mattress with a shallow frame around the top half which sits on top of the bed which prevents anyone from rolling onto the baby. He grew out of it quite quickly and is now 2 months and sleeping on the bed between us both. Fortunately we have a kingside bed which helps and the duvet and pillows go no where near him and he sleeps in a gro-bag. We spent a few nights with him sleeping on our chests at various different angles but now sleeps through about 4 hours in the first stretch after his last feed.

We have a gorgeous mini-cot thing at the end of the bed leant by a friend which is so far unused and we keep saying "tomorrow we'll try putting him on it" but we enjoy having him in with us!!!