The first week - sleep BF-ing

[m33r]

My baby boy is 4 days old which I know is very early days but I have been up constantly for the last three nights. The first, LB was constantly on breast which MW told me was normal; the second night he was on and off the breast and had some dirty nappies so at least the night was broken up. Tonight the problem seems to be that I can't put him down. He will fall asleep on me after his feeds (or during) but the instant I put him his cot (a next to me crib) he wakes up.

I just wondered if this is normal or if I am getting a non-sleeper? Also, should I persist in putting him in his crib or let him co-sleep just to get a few hours?

My DH is a star but is sleeping in the other bed so that he is fit to look after our two year old during the day to let me rest. My / year old woke every two hours for 16 months and I am just esperately hoping to avoid the same again so wanted to hear that this is normal for the beginning and maybe this litttle one will start to sleep for a few hours at a time soon x

Sounds very very normal to me. He's teeny weeny. Congratulations

I'd co sleep this tiny but it's entirely whatever you feel comfortable doing x

It's very normal, in my opinion/ experience. Cosleeping is the only thing that allowed me to get any rest at all. If you can breastfeed lying down you can rest and hopefully even doze while baby sleeps. It saved my life - I honestly thought I'd die before I realised I could feed lying down.

Google safe Co sleeping guidelines. Basically, make sure there are no pillows or duvets near your baby. If your husband is already sleeping in amother room all the better.

Good luck. It doesn't last forever, and it can even be quite sweet to sleep with a little squishy newborn tucked up against you

it can even be quite sweet to sleep with a little squishy newborn tucked up against you

Oh my goodness, this made me feel so broody, would love a little squishy new born😊.

Sorry I realise this is not helpful to you.

Totally normal but killer none the less. Both mine were like This in the early days and gradually got better. Things that helped but never solved the problem for us included a sleepyhead and swaddling.

Totally normal, a few weeks ago we were in the same position. Took some advice from the no cry sleep solution newborn book and basically co-slept but tried to put him down in his own Moses basket at least once during the day and night, even if only briefly. So far he is 9 weeks old and now sleeping from 10am-3am in the basket, feed, back in the basket for another 2 or 3 hours, and then comes into our bed around 5 or 6am for a bit more snoozing

The first 2 weeks he slept pretty much only on my chest at night. If you co-sleep now it doesn't mean you're committing to co-sleep forever or that your baby won't get used to his own crib. Just relax and enjoy your wonderful baby as much as possible

Thank you all so much! After I posted last night I went for it re planned co-sleeping Rather than just falling asleep and waking up with a fright. Managed a full 4 hours and feel a hundred times better. baykeaves, think that is a good balance - co-sleeping with some attempts at his own crib each night.

So good to know it's normal and yes to the joy of squishy newborn cuddles!

Thanks all xx

One thing that could be worth mentioning, is he full when you try and put him down? My DD will sleep on me when she's not full purely as it's so comfy and warm...but will only go in basket if she's completely and utterly milk drunk (really hate this term now 😩), she sometimes would drop off on me, but when I'd put her down her eyes would ping right open so back on the boob for another 15 minutes she would go! She had a tongue tie so it was harder for me to fill her up.

mccheese I'm not sure tbh as he feeds a bit less time than I remember DS1 doing and if I do put him down and he cries, when I pick him back up, he will relatch. I have tried everything to keep him awake though. Going to ask MW about tongue tie this morning - thanks! X

Have you tried putting a hot water bottle in your cot? It was the only way that I could transfer my LO. I'd remove the hot water bottle just before putting the baby in. She then didn't notice the temperature difference so much and was less likely to stir.

On the advice of a bf counsellor I'd lightly tickle my babies to keep them awake until they were full up and no amount of tickling could wake them. With this they both dropped night feeds from about 5-7 weeks. Both continued on the same growth and weight centile lines

I think if he's willing to relatch based on my own experience, then he's not quite full.

With my DD it's a cycle of feet tickling, stripping off, burping (whether she needs it or not), pretend nappy changing (or real lol!) as that's very stimulating, until she will literally not wake up. She's goes like a dead weight on my shoulder. So I swaddle her, cuddle her upright for 10 mins then she's nice and warm and isn't even aware I've put her down

Thank you everyone. Loads for me to try and loads of reassurance! Thanks again x

I coslept and snooze/boobed DC2 from day one. I pretty much did it with DC1 too but I did persist in putting him in a crib etc whereas I didn't 2nd time around until much later. I also had a 2yr age gap and it was a life saver. We all got plenty of sleep that way. Enjoy.

My DD is 6 weeks old now and we have a next to me as well but found when she was little she didn't like the space. Put her in the carrycot from her pram and she slept so much better, so has been in a Moses basket for the past 5 weeks. She will move to her next to me in a couple of weeks I reckon as she outgrows her basket.