Baby won't sleep or settle unless in arms

[Roberts97]

I need someone's help basically my 2 week old baby won't settle unless he's in my arms. the first week when I was in hospital he was really good he would sleep at the night time and settle in the day as I was in there for 5 days but once I got home and I started seeing and cuddle him more he doesn't like being put down in his bouncer or teddy bear sleeper he just stirs then starts crying so I can't get anything done then it's the same at night he could be fast asleep in my arms then I'll settle him in his Moses basket and he will wake straight away I'm having to co sleep which I'm scared of Incase he over heats or falls off the bed as he's asleep on my stomach I'm unsure what to do as I don't want him to be doing this for years until he's to old to as it's tiring and won't be able to have sleep overs

Congratulations on your new LO. What you are experiencing is totally normal. There are things you can do though.

Have you tried any of the following?

Swaddling
White Noise
Using a t-shirt that DH has worn as the sheet in his Moses’ Basket , it gives them a nice, reassuring smell

I’d also have a read of the safe bed sharing guidelines, just to reassure yourself

Last night I tried heating his Moses basket with a hot water bottle and removing it when I put him in I also put my jumper in with him and I tried swaddling him so sleep he just ended up screaming from 10pm until 1am with hardly any stops I then fed him and changed him then he carried on afterwards unsure what time it was but he then fell asleep on my chest as it seems to be the only way

Have you got a DP or a DH? Could you feed LO and leave them to sleep on their chest for the first part of the night whilst you get some sleep, then change over?

If you are BFing, putting your clothes in the Moses' Basket doesn't usually work unfortunately. I don't know if it's because it smells of hot milk and makes them want to feed.

No there is just me unfortunately l do want to get him on his belly but I'm just scared to Incase he suffocates in the night as that's how he seems to be most comfortable

In that case then, can you feed him lying down in bed? It shoukd help you to rest and hopefully he will drift if to sleep.

I've not tried that I'll give that ago thank you

Hi @Roberts97 hope you are getting on ok since yesterday - wanted to send you as my little one was exactly the same when she was born a just over a year ago and I was on my knees, I know how hard it is. Really feel for you - no one warns you about this!

A couple of things that helped for us:

• Learning to co-sleep safely and feeding lying down. I was so nervous at first so my husband would stay up for a good chunk of the night and keep an eye on us so that I could sleep more soundly without worrying. This really helped me gain confidence in doing it. He’d also keep an eye on us for naps at first, which really helped. If you can learn to feed lying down then you can roll him off you and he’ll sleep on his back next to you, with you safely positioned around him (look up safe cosleeping guidelines - much safer and will also help you stop worrying)
• Cranial osteopathy - not sure if this is possible at the moment (esp. with a newborn) but it helped us. My daughter had quite a traumatic birth and the osteopath said she was in a lot of discomfort from it. We saw her at four weeks and then again at five weeks. Made a difference after only two sessions. My little one went from only sleeping on me to doing a three hour stretch in her snuzpod - I think I cried, I was so relieved! I know a few other people who have used cranial osteopaths for their babies and have also seen great results.
• White noise machine (an actual machine not a Ewan the dream sheep or similar), on loud and throughout the night. It might not work when he is this little but definitely helpful long term. My daughter likes the rain sound - it sounds like a monsoon in her bedroom!
• Also think it’s worth giving up on putting any pressure on yourself, don’t worry about getting anything done. Just focus on yourself and your baby for now - getting feeding established and getting you both some rest is more than enough to focus on!

Just to reassure, it does end - I promise! My daughter was sleeping much better by five weeks or so then much better again by three months. She’s now 13 months and a great sleeper - in her own room, sleeps through the night and doesn’t wake up for feeds. I know it seems endless but it does get better.

Feel free to privately message me if you want to let me know your location and I can let you know which osteopath we saw? Might be worth a chat with them anyway, even if you can’t go in at the moment, to see if there was anything they can recommend.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Oh and we were also in hospital for 5 nights - so
I know the shock when you get out of the hospital bubble and into your own house! It’s not because you are seeing and cuddling him more - it’s because he has woken up out of his sleepy newborn haze and you are his safe place, so he wants to sleep on you to feel secure. You are doing the right thing by giving him the cuddles he needs - keep doing it, you are doing a great job!

Thank you to everyone who commented
Last night baby Ollie finally slept in his own bed he slept from 10pm all the way to 5.30am so I am no longer co sleeping with him and this is thanks to me getting a next to me cot which I warmed up with a water bottle and it worked amazing I just hope he carries on like this. Thank you for all your advice :D

Well done stick with it and keep Persevering with sleeping in his own bed!l

I will do thank you ☺️