New baby wont settle

[hellybell]

New baby with me for second week. Only have him one day a week and he just refuses to sleep. Mum said he loves his own cot and that I will have problems. He is 7 months old - how will he ever settle one day a week...? I feel sorry for the child and not too sure what to do ??

I have a child who I have minded since he was 7 months old. His mum always rocked him to sleep and I discussed with her that it would not always be practical for me to do that. We agreed that we would put him in his pram to sleep as that was familiar to him. He used to come 2 mornings a week to settle in. He did cry for a little while for the first couple of times but after a few sessions and getting into a new routine he went to sleep without any problems. Just persevere as it is all new to him too. I find that strict routines are essential for the little ones.

Good luck with it all.

Stick to the same routine every time he comes to you. In particular, feed him lunch before he gets hungry and crabby, then lay him down in him down in his/a pram and take him for a long walk until he falls asleep. Eventually (ie in a couple of months) he will be old enough to be able to settle easier.

This is only his second day with you. In time he will feel more comfortable with you, but for now you are a stranger, with strange smells, and he misses his parents.