How are you sleeping? Tips please

[rosiegal]

Early days but just interested to know how the rest of you coped. DS is 6 days and breast feeding going well so far. I know the saying is 'sleep when baby sleeps' but in practice, really? Currently DS will only sleep on my or DP so we're almost in shifts and someone is constantly holding the baby. DP is back to work tonight (SE musician so no paternity break as such but he's only out for around 4 hours) I had a bit of a crash today and felt so ill. I've got my mum coming around tonight but just wondered if anyone had any tips on managing sleeping for both of you?

The can't be put down thing passed with my dd after the 1st week (though we have bad nights when she wants to feed constantly now).
If you fit the safety criteria you could try Co sleeping? Or buy a co sleeping crib if not (I bought a sleepy head which works well).
I found wrapping her well for short daytime naps got her used to the crib being ok/safe before the night stint! Also if she fell asleep on my lap I would move her gently onto the bed or nearest soft surface with my hand still there - don't know if these worked.
On a good night she will now sleep soundly in her sleepy head 2 hr at a time as she feeds 2 hourly.
But on a hungry night she just eas all night!

DS1 is now 6 weeks and thankfully not too clingy a baby but has his days. First few nights at home were tough with him in his Chicco Next to Me crib. He was awake every hour and knew I was next to him so couldn't settle knowing I was so close. Bought the Sleepyhead when he was 4 days old and that solved the problem. Slept 4 hours first night and we're still on a nice 3/4 hour sleeping pattern at night so worth a shot.

I haven't slept during the day once if I'm honest. Sometimes he'll nap brilliantly in his chair or crib for up to 2 hours and I see that as an opportunity to get stuff done around the house....but some days he barely naps more than 20 mins at a time so no opportunity for me to sleep. DH is great but I'm a bit of a control freak and don't like a messy house.

Somehow I'm coping, I guess I'm just used to it. Although he's up every 3/4 hours at night, he's a fast feeder (6 mins average) and after he's changed, tends to go back down immediately so I do manage some kip in between. I'm just waiting for that momentous night when he sleeps through.....

I slept with DS2 on my chest at first, propped up with pillows. After a week or so we progressed to him sleeping on the bed next to me. DP slept on a sofa bed. I think by about 8 weeks he would sleep in a bedside cot.

Thanks for the replies, reassuring to know others are in the same boat. I've actually taken the plunge and bought a bedside crib, thought about it before he arrived but decided to wait as they aren't cheap. Hopefully that will improve things. DS has literally fed ALL day today so now I'm worrying about over supply, just read another link on here about that and sounds familiar arghhhhhhhh!

DD2 is 7 weeks. I have co-slept from the beginning this time. I managed to bf lying down at week 2 which helps.

With DD1, I tried to get into the mindset of resting even if you can't sleep.

I have a 2 year old and a 5 month old and just wanted to reassure you it's completely normal for newborns to want to be held/fed all the time. I doesn't go on forever. If you can get a bedside crib I would. It's ok to let them fall asleep on you and then transfer them to the crib. Leave your hand there for a while if they stir. Gosh, we even used to a arm up the crib with a hot water bottle first (don't leave it in there obviously, as my son would always wake up the second his head hit a cold surface after enjoying snuggles. Dot worry about bad habits, before you know it you'll have an independent two year old who runs off to bed and forgets to kiss you goodnight! I still often bf my youngest to sleep for naps and at night. The ow thing I think is a good thing to try is to get them to start napping in their cot for some naps from 5/6 months. That will help them establish the longer sleeps later on. Up to six months I ah e found both times that babies just don't sleep for very long during the day. Once they are on solids, they start taking longer naps. Hope this helps!!!

Sorry for typos!! My iPhone is nuts. Hope you can follow all that

Oly thanks for those tips!! Mine suddenly got grouchy about her sleepy head ... wondering if it's the cooler weather! Lol she's not more affectionate just using us for our sweaty body heat!
I have done some Co sleeping but am so on edge I can't sleep properly for thinking I'll squash her or a blanket will fall on her (also frozen last night as avoiding bedding for me for safety).

I co sleep
Sometimes as they just sleep better that way. But I admit to being nervous. A friend of mine suggested wearing a really cosy pyjama top yourself then have the duvet only as high as your waist and tightly pulled around you with the excess trailing off the bed away from baby. Position your baby so their head is level with yours. Really minimises the risk they can slip under duvet. I never put my baby on the duvet or under it. She had her own blanket with holes in and now has her own Grobag. I also try to sleep with my hand very close to her so I would wake if she stirs. My first choice is the crib but sometimes co sleeping is necessary.

We bought some king size cellular blankets so we could co-sleep safely.