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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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flightattendant · 01/09/2007 23:26

Usually I think this is wind. If you continue to jiggle around the room bouncing him gently against your shoulder, eventually he should burp...or fall asleep, and I know they wake when you put down, excruciating, but eventually you'll find he'll wear himself out (not before he's worn you out ) and stay asleep.
Always burp him after a feed too, half way through as well if he comes off...
patting fairly hard on the back often does it - I mean, quite forcefully! Not the little 'tap tap' but a bit of a wallop really, you'll know if it's right, they feel solid and settle very quickly if you have the right tempo/pressure - if they cry more it isn't going to work so give up that trick!
It usually works though

If I've tried all that to no avail, I usually stick him back on the boob again and he drifts off exhausted, sucking for comfort.

If it helps, imagine you have really bad tummy ache, there are few positions that will help and lying down usually makes it worse. It does make sense

Well all this applies to my 2, not necessarily anyone elses!

UCM · 01/09/2007 23:28

Swaddle, that's it. I have two very good sleepers and no matter how much my friends with older children try to find something I have done wrong, they can't . Most were co-sleepers and didn't put baby in their own rooms at all. I did. We sleep and now no matter how much my DS is a little monster during the day, he sleeps. Thank God.

flightattendant · 01/09/2007 23:34

How do you swaddle and do you need a special thing for it? I've never tried it. Would someone talk me through?

constancereader · 01/09/2007 23:46

You can swaddle without a special blanket, Just put lo flat on the middle with their head poking proud of the edge, wrap one side over and under, then the other side right round. You do it tighter than you might think. I used to have to hold his arms down by his side. A special blanket worked best though.

God, does that make any sense?

I also used the babysoothe cd with the swaddle which worked brilliantly. It kind of re-created the womb as best we could iyswim.

Pandemonium · 02/09/2007 00:28

There is a technique to swaddling - get HV/ someone to teach you!

I was on my knees with exhaustion when ds 2 weeks old and I had not rested properly since my 27 hour labour! HV marched in, wrapped him up like she wanted to air-mail him and whoomph! he was off like a light.

Mind you once she'd gone I couldn't figure it out - too feeble with my wrapping. Try it.

Beenleigh · 02/09/2007 00:30

it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better, it will get better...............it will, I promise you x

Pandemonium · 02/09/2007 00:31

So I co-slept. x

flightattendant · 02/09/2007 06:28

Thanks for the instructions!
I loathe my HV but will find someone IRL, or a book...don't want to suffocate the little mite!
Saying that he sleeps most of the time, just a very calm baby. I would have been glad of the idea with Ds1 a few years ago, a whole nother story...

constancereader · 02/09/2007 07:07

The special blankets come with a diagram. I worked it out eventually....

constancereader · 02/09/2007 07:12

how to swaddle

PrettyCandles · 02/09/2007 07:19

Oh no, whatever you do don't breastfeed him to sleep! I got into that habit wqith ds2 and am still suffering the consequences at 10m - I haven't slept more than 2h at a time, usually less, since he was born, unless I let dh give him a bottle in the night. It's awful.

If your ds won't sleep horizontal then it's probably wind or reflux bothering him. Swaddling can help, as well as frequent wqindings. Also tilt his sleeping arrangement (eg by taking the castors off the cot legs at the foot end of the cot, or by placing a wedge under the head end of the mattress).

ghosty · 02/09/2007 07:19

Swaddling devotee here too ...
I only discovered it when DS was 6 weeks old and it was the only thing that helped us - he never got to be a good sleeper but it definitely helped ...
I swaddled DD from day 1 and she has been the best sleeper in the world ever.
At 6 months she graduated to a grobag and didn't come out of that until she was over 3.

flightattendant · 02/09/2007 07:28

Oh thanks CR!!! Excellent! If it doesn't stop him crying at least you he'll be suitable for parcelforce after all that

kiskidee · 02/09/2007 08:34

no bumbly, you can't swaddle too tightly. I promise. I swaddled my dd for a long time. First for sleep then to keep her from scratching her eczema.

LucyJones · 02/09/2007 08:38

we swaddled and used a dummy
sometimes had to hold dummy in until the dcs fell asleep
getting them to sleep on thier own will help you in the long run

kiskidee · 02/09/2007 08:40

oh, newborns are all raspy and noisy when they breathe it is because their nervous system isn't very well developed.

what type of sling are you using, trying to use? I can find you some videos on the net to show how to use.

also have a link for swaddling but I have to go out this AM.

juuule · 02/09/2007 08:51

Another vote for swaddling.

kiskidee · 02/09/2007 09:08

scroll down to the bottom of the page for picture diagram of how to swaddle. This is the method i used and it worked till dd was 8mo.

kiskidee · 02/09/2007 09:11

i thought it was me who showed you the link to how to position a baby in a sling. (i searched for your posts ) I am not familiar with a babasling but it looks like in trying to make something easy, it actually makes it hard.

If you don't have another type at hand and would like to try a wrap sling, email me at y f forster @ g mail dot com

willing to give you a wrap sling and point you to an online video.

Original poster
bumbly · 02/09/2007 09:17

kidi - tried using a baba sling and lo just seemed to slump in it...and was rasping a lot - been worried all night have suffocated him partially yesterday by doing so as yes his chin and chest were together...

your link with vid would be helpful

tried swaddling yest eve with a raical swaddle was givenb that also locks his arms (the mothercare swaddle) which seems extreme - he did lie on his back for a few hours in a basket which was lovely but am worried he is always still in one locked position which surely isnt good for his circulation...is it not?

i thought newborns should sleep with their arms back kinda like a crucifix...

argh

was up all night watching he was ok when sleeping as it was all new to us

he slept 5 hours and then thought $%&$&* HAVE TO WAKE HIM UP AS THIS IS TOO LONG FOR A 6 WEEK OLD....changed nappy and then he was screaming like never heard before I think from being woken/startled/placed on cold mat after warm swaddle

then fed him and then he did two 2 1/2 hour stints..which brings me to this morning

so not sure if we have had progress or not - but for one night he wasn't on my belly ( in a way sad but also now a necessity for me)

;)

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbly · 02/09/2007 09:19

link below saya you shouldnt swaddle after one month as it inhibits motor development

oh dear - there goes swaddling as an option as Lo is 6 weeks old plus now

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbly · 02/09/2007 09:19

link below saya you shouldnt swaddle after one month as it inhibits motor development

oh dear - there goes swaddling as an option as Lo is 6 weeks old plus now

OP posts:
juuule · 02/09/2007 10:44

Swaddling did not affect motor development with any of my 9. And I swaddled until I couldn't anymore because they wouldn't let me. Tightly swaddled to 6m+.

Original poster
bumbly · 02/09/2007 11:02

bril - so swaddling for a few weeks now shouldnt be all that bad for him???

OP posts:
Mand1A · 02/09/2007 11:18

I perservered with a dummy (brilliant things) he wouldn't take it at first, and by putting a muslin cloth (possibly with your smell, breast milk on it, or without) by the side of his face. I always put him down on his back. Both together work brilliantly for mine.