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Original poster

HOW DO YOU PUT A NEWBORN TO SLEEP

68 replies

bumbly · 01/09/2007 22:04

...who wont lie down etc...

argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 weeks old and never wants to lie down..always wants to be hugged!!!

falls asleep in my arms and then carefully put him in a basket, crib, wherever and he wakes up and cries

been like this for weeks!!

any help really appreciated!!

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NotAnOtter · 01/09/2007 22:05

wrapped - very tightly and put in a very dark room - alone!

1357 · 01/09/2007 22:06

have you tried swaddling

fishie · 01/09/2007 22:06

in bed with you

ProjectIcarusinhercar · 01/09/2007 22:06

beanbag worked for dd2. Swaddle? On his side maybe.

Wrap sling to avoid driving yourself crazy would help.

Original poster
bumbly · 01/09/2007 22:19

ok trying as we speak swaddling -

but can you over swaddle a baby too much??

  • i mean how is he going to get any blood flow when he gets pins and needles - newborns must get them!!!
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Original poster
bumbly · 01/09/2007 22:22

ok re sleeping in my bed - well he has been for 6 weeks and now need some sleep myself..so would try to wean him off that

also re sling - been trying a babsling but just found out from another very helpful mumsnetter re positioning

and recking been positioning sling wrong...but cant help it as thaty is how Lo falls into it EVERY time i try!!

placing LO in sling has been a nightmare and cant seem to do it without him having chin against chest tightly and breathing with noises!!!

and baby not been breathing properly!!! argh!!!!!!!!!!

did i harm him and cause him to have lack of oxygen???

argh!!!

OP posts:
frazzledbutcalm · 01/09/2007 22:24

3 of my 4 dc would only sleep on the tummies. Have you tried this? Many mums dont as its not recommended now, but mine would just scream any other way! Had lovely HV who just said whatever made them settle was good.

BrownSuga · 01/09/2007 22:25

third a swaddle, and a hat, cover his eyes if daylight (or i guess blackout curtains would be more sensible!)

Jojay · 01/09/2007 22:25

The Baby Whisperer's shush pat technique can work really well for some babies.

Check out the Baby Whispere's website, or get hold of 'The Baby Whisperer Solves all your Problems' by Tracy Hogg.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/09/2007 22:26

bumbly, lack of sleep is a real torture tis true.

However, I would say at such a young age, they dont know much except feeds, hot/cold, and cuddles.

If you can get someone else to do the night shift to give you a break that would be a good idea. Otherwise, co-sleeping would be the easiest method for both of you.

You'll miss it when it goes.

NotAnOtter · 01/09/2007 22:28

5 babies all slept like them
never had sleepless nights
swaddle them
never co slept

frazzledbutcalm · 01/09/2007 22:28

Have to disagree there, sorry. I thought babies only knew your mentioned things ..... until my dd came along!!! From 2 weeks old i knew she was different!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/09/2007 22:32

Oh frazzled there is always an exception. My DS was one too - he screamed from birth till about 16 weeks old pretty much. He cried non-stop from 6pm until 11pm most nights - co-sleeping or not, b/feeding or not, swaddled or not.

It is exhausting. Thankfully, children like ours are less usual though

NotAnOtter · 01/09/2007 22:38

my dd screamed continously until i took her off the breast!

frazzledbutcalm · 01/09/2007 22:41

dd1 is much more than that! From 2 weeks she cried constantly. didnt want to be cuddled, didnt want to be down, screamed in her car seat, screamed in her pram, screamed in her bouncy seat - she was a nightmare! She's now 8 and is just as stubborn, stroppy, moody, awkward, independent..... and i love her!! She was and is the exception, and they broke the mould! But i wouldnt change her

KTNoo · 01/09/2007 22:44

Dummy.

Sorry but it worked.

Don't like it at all but dd was number 3 and the dummy seemed to replace me. Other 2 didn't seem to need it and I was a bit smug I suppose. Then dd came along and I was so knackered I would try anything.

Loshad · 01/09/2007 22:44

in bed with you, attached to your breast, sorry but I know you will feel kna**ered but all my 4 slept best like that (and hardly at all otherwise) for very much longer. At 6 weeks your baby is still very tiny, old , fairly stale advice but just whenever he sleeps take some kip yourself - and you do eventually get used to the reduced hours of sleep cf prebabyhood.

Piffle · 01/09/2007 22:44

swaddling or tummy sleeping
I know it's forbidden but...

Original poster
bumbly · 01/09/2007 22:46

but when the dummy falls out - and it does so often - he cries and wakes up

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 01/09/2007 22:46

Actually with DD, We used to use bolsters either side, and put her to sleep on her side. She seemed to prefer that.

KTNoo · 01/09/2007 22:49

Have you tried the NUK type dental shape dummy? I found she could keep that in her mouth better. The Avent one was useless - I spent all day walking across the room to put it back in.

Original poster
bumbly · 01/09/2007 22:51

now that is something i will try - thank you very much - boots have it?

OP posts:
KTNoo · 01/09/2007 23:07

Maybe. I don't live in UK.

It's the one that looks like the NUK bottle teat - has a bit that goes upwards in the mouth. I think it resembles the nipple when breastfeeding which I assume is why she liked it.

doyouwantfrieswiththat · 01/09/2007 23:07

don't know what your budget is but some people think babies sleep better in these...
ambi baby nest

not tried it myself though

weeonion · 01/09/2007 23:19

hi bumbly - how are you now?? congrats on your newbie!

i cant realy add much to the other suggestions but we have had the amby nest and it has been great. our lo has been a star with going to sleep in it. a sceptical friend with an unsettled dd of 10 weeks was in our flat. we put her down in it and within 10mins she had bonced herself off to sleep - unheard of.

i also lie my dd across my lap, face down and gently pat her backin the shush pat syle.

good luck - hope you have others there to support you. xo