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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

rocking to sleep?

15 replies

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/12/2012 23:33

Am I starting bad habits? I have known children who still need rocked at 3 and 4.

Also, the rule about no longer than 2 hours in a car seat, what if thats the only place she will settle while being rocked?

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MrsRhettButler · 18/12/2012 23:35

how old?

MrsRhettButler · 18/12/2012 23:35

sorry, bit blunt :)

Original poster

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/12/2012 23:36

5 weeks.

More concerned about the time in the carseat. We are going to get a swing in the sales, would that be better?

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NotInMyDay · 18/12/2012 23:37

You haven't said how old lo is. I was quite strict about my DC not sleeping in the car seat when it wasn't in the car.

Under 6 months I'd rock to sleep if they needed it. Older than 6 months I'd start reducing the rocking and encourage them to fall asleep unaided.

NotInMyDay · 18/12/2012 23:39

5 weeks really is so young. At that age I did whatever they needed to get to sleep without a second thought. I started trying to instill good habits from about 3or 4 months.

MrsRhettButler · 18/12/2012 23:40

wrt the carseat I would try not to use for too long, can you transfer once dc is sleeping?

I rocked to sleep at that age and until they stopped getting colicy at night, I've never had to rock a 4yo to sleep so wouldnt worry about that.

I'm not sure about the swing, dd1 lived in hers and dd2 didn't like it at all but have no idea if its bad for them or not.

the swing looks less squished up than the carseat though, they seem to lay back more.

at 5 weeks just do whatever makes things easy for you and congratulations :)

Original poster

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/12/2012 23:41

I was holding her/ letting her sleep on me but thats stopped working. We do put her into her moses basket once shes totally over. But from about 6-11 at night nothing works except rocking and obviously sleeping.

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Original poster

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/12/2012 23:42

Thanks :)

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Original poster

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/12/2012 23:42

That should read obviously feeding.

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MrsHoarder · 18/12/2012 23:43

Have you got a bouncy chair? Especially one that vibrates. DS had a fair few naps in his as a tiny baby (looked flatter and less constrained than a car seat).

And don't worry about bad habits at 5 weeks. DS only went to sleep on me until about 3 months. Now (at 7 months) him going to sleep on me means he's feeling ill and I miss the snuggles.

Original poster

wannabedomesticgoddess · 18/12/2012 23:45

No bouncy chair. MIL bought one but it never appeared (thats another thread).

So would a swing or vibrating chair be better? We are going to have to buy both to see arent we :o

DD1 was such an easy baby. I should know all this but I dont!

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QTPie · 19/12/2012 00:13

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster

wannabedomesticgoddess · 19/12/2012 00:21

Yeah tried that. She just hates lying flat in the evenings. She self settles the rest of the time with no issues. We think she has a bit of reflux.

I was fine with letting her sleep on me, holding her, walking around etc, but nothing works except rocking in the carseat :(

We didnt think we needed to buy a seat or swing but obviously now we do as MIL wont give us the one she bought. First chance we get we will buy one, its just money has been tight.

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CoolaYuleA · 19/12/2012 03:00

The two hours in the car seat rule is there because being in a car seat can restrict breath intake slightly, which over time can cause a problem, so the recommended advice is no more than two hours, although guidance also states never use a car seat outside of a vehicle.

Swings are the same really - because they aren't flat. Guidelines state that the safest place for a baby to sleep is on it's back, on a flat firm surface in the same room as you, day and night.

If you are concerned about reflux (although that tends to be an all day issue with colic being more of an evening issue) then rather than put her in a swing or car seat for prolonged periods you could try elevating the head end of the moses basket. DD had reflux and colic and we used to prop the moses basket stand up on books. It helped a lot and the baby is still laid flat.

We had the all singing, all dancing £90 M&P Starlight Swing and a £12 Mothercare bouncing chair..... Guess which one was the most popular and got the most use?!

The basic Mothercare bouncing chair was one of DD's favourite places to be, and as she had to be held upright for half an hour after every feed (or it was exorcist vomit time) it became one of the best things we had bought.

KatAndKit · 19/12/2012 09:46

We got the cheapest bouncer out of Argos - it was about £14 and it was great. It lived round my parents house but we noticed it was actually better than the fancy vibrating rocking one we had at our house.

Don't stress about habits with a newborn. Just do what works for now. what works can change so quickly and it may be that rocking isn't necessary if a couple of months. If it is still happening at 4-6 months then you can work on that when the time comes. For now, just take the easiest route to sleep!

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