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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Getting a 6 day old to settle in moses???

41 replies

Honeymoonmummy · 11/11/2008 13:07

Please help! I have a 6 day old (first baby) and I'm breastfeeding. She will fall asleep next to me or in my arms after feeding but when I try to put her in the moses she's just waking up and screaming for another feed. I've tried then picking her up to settle her by rocking etc but she just wants milk, she will settle in someone elses arms, but again she will not settle in the moses. PLEASE HELP!!!

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Ohforfoxsake · 11/11/2008 21:26

Actually DC4 wasn't keen on being put down IIRC. The one thing she didn't mind was her swing. I borrowed one and found it invaluable. Your LO is probably a bit young for a swing, but might be worth considering.

fledtoscotland · 11/11/2008 21:44

neither of my boys likes the moses basket. We co-slept with DS1 until he was about 7months and he decided he wanted to sleep in his cotbed. he just likes his own space but still comes into bed in the mornings. DS2 is only 2months old and co-sleeps.

it makes bf'ing easier and your LO will feel secure with you there

Original poster

Honeymoonmummy · 11/11/2008 23:01

I have been swaddling her and put her down swaddled. I have also tried warming the mattress by sitting on it while I'm feeding. Maybe I am expecting too much too soon. Its just the fact that I am getting absolutely no sleep during the night and just being able to snatch 3-4 hours during the day - I'm not sure how long I can last!!

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LolaLadybird · 12/11/2008 07:44

The sleep deprivation is a killer isn't it? I never really understood why sleep deprivation was used as a torture method until I had DC1.

In your first post you said DD would sleep next to you so maybe just go with that for now. When I was in hospital with DS, they tucked him up with me on the 2nd night and I got 4 straight hours sleep so when nothing else worked I'd do the same at home.

You will amaze yourself with how little sleep you'll manage to function on in the next few weeks but it really does get easier, I promise.

LolaLadybird · 12/11/2008 07:48

Just another thought - if you need to buy yourself 20 mins for a shower etc, I found white noise worked a treat with both of mine. I would put them up on the bed, put the hairdryer on the floor on a cold setting and the noise just make them zonk out for as long as it was on.

GreenMonkies · 12/11/2008 10:35

Honeymoonmummy

Can you feed lying down? It is a lifesaver for night feeds, and allows you to doze whilst she is feeding. Co-sleeping is natural and safe as long as you follow the "rules" of no duvet on baby, no alcohol or cigarettes for you and keep her between you and the edge of the bed not between you and DH (use the moses basket pulled up right to the edge of the bed as a "cotside" so that she can't fall out of bed, or invest in a bedside cot for complete peace of mind.

ShinySarah · 12/11/2008 18:00

You're doing the right thing by trying as many different things as poss. My son is now 7 weeks old and it DOES get a little easier but I felt exactly the same. Keep trying diffrent ways like have been noted! Mine will sleep in his basket at night but won't through the day so who knows!! Speaking from one new mum to another. It's not easy. There are no rules. It does seem relentless. I still think I'm going to lose my marbles any second. I too expected too much. On the up side, he slept for 3 and a half hours straight last night, yipee!! Good luck!

DrGeorge · 12/11/2008 18:22

My first would not settle initially and midwife suggested use a pillow instead of or on top of mattress - the mattresses are really hard as others have said and I think small babies must feel abit exposed. So I would try some of the things others have suggested eg swaddling, a lambskin or something to hold baby more securely. It worked with mine and I went with it straight away with the second one and he settled fine too.

Original poster

Honeymoonmummy · 12/11/2008 19:31

These are all great ideas, thanks! I have been doing a lot of side feeding lying down due to stitches etc but I thought it was a big no-no to sleep like this? I am in a single bed in the nursery with her. I have been swaddling her and putting her down swaddled. Will try the other ideas, thanks.

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GreenMonkies · 12/11/2008 21:52

There is absolutely nothing wrong with sleeping curled up around your baby, mothers have been doing it for millions of years, and 75% of the world still does.

TeenyTinyTorya · 12/11/2008 21:58

My ds wouldn't go in his moses basket, but we discovered that he liked his pram, which had a padded snuggler in it. We managed to get him to sleep in the moses basket by wrapping him up securely and keeping a hand in with him until he settled, he just needed the closeness and security. Good luck, I remember it was an exhausting time!

Original poster

Honeymoonmummy · 13/11/2008 06:10

We tried the hairdryer tonight Lola. WOW. I can't believe how quick and effective that is! She went to sleep on DH inside of 60 seconds. Then woke up again when he put her in the basket.
I was looking at the Amby hammock when I was pregnant, but I'm reluctant to spend that money on something which may well not work.
I've fallen asleep with her by my side a couple of times and felt really guilty afterwards because I thought it was something you should never do. I'm in a single bed in the nursery with her by my side while DH is in our bedroom. I don't seem to be moving in my sleep, so maybe its OK?

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GreenMonkies · 13/11/2008 08:10

It is very ok, you will be aware of her even in your sleep, just pull the moses basket up against the bed so that you know she can't fall out by accident and snooze away with no guilt.

Why not invest in a bedside cot like this one? I ended up co-sleeping with DD1 for the same kind of reasons as you and whilst it worked it was a little cramped in the bed! For DD2 we got one of these cots and it has been fabulous. She was close enough for me to feed her in the night (I shuffled over to her rather than picking her up) and she was close enough to me to feel secure (you can start them off right next to you and gradually move them into thier "own space" in the cot.) This way you can move both of you into your bedroom so that DH doesn't get lonely, and in the morning you can pop her into the middle for a family cuddle. Lovely!

LolaLadybird · 13/11/2008 11:35

Glad the hairdryer worked! Next time try it with her already in the moses basket. It used to make mine zone out even if they would otherwise have cried. It only worked for as long as the noise was on though - the minute I turned the hairdryer off, it was like I'd flicked some baby on-switch and they'd come round. Still, helps when you're on your own and you just want a shower/cup of tea in peace. Also with DC2 it helped buy me enough time to put DC1 to bed in the evenings in peace.

The co-sleeping is fine as long as they're not going to fall out. If you are worried about rolling over onto DD (you won't!)you could try putting her on a pillow alongside you with your arm round her so her head is in the crook of your arm IYSWIM. That's how they tucked me up with DS in hospital after my c-section and it meant he was slightly too high to be rolled on.

frazzledoldbag34 · 13/11/2008 11:42

ooh,that's a good idea lola. Will try that myself when next baby arrives.......

Original poster

Honeymoonmummy · 14/11/2008 04:36

Thanks for all your advice ladies! Its good to know I'm not alone on this one!!

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