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Original poster

baby hates moses basket - any tips/alternatives?

23 replies

miniegg · 05/08/2007 16:40

hello
my newborn baby (9 days old) seems to hate his moses basket.it's a real struggle to get him to sleep in it. he can be quite sleepy, then, within minutes of me putting him down in the basket, he starts fretting and fussing and just won't sleep, or sleeps only very lightly, waking up all the time.
he much prefers his car seat, which he sleeps really well in. but I can't think it's healthy for him to sleep in it for long periods (he might end up with a curved spine??!).
Has anyone else had this trouble and if so, anyone got any tips?
we haven't bought him a cot yet but I imagine he wouldn't like a cot any better. perhaps he just doesn't like lying flat.
all suggestions/advice gratefully received - i'm a very inexperienced new mum!

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rookiemum · 05/08/2007 16:46

Our DS never seemed to get the hang of the moses basket and was much happier when he was moved into his cotbed because he had room to move around.

You are going to have to get a cot or cot bed at some stage so if it were me I would bite the bullet and buy it now because I don't think they are meant to spend more than 2-3 hours at a go in a car seat.

Congratulations on your baby.

fawkeoff · 05/08/2007 16:47

does your moses basket have a rocking stand????? ds loved being rocked in his koses basket and i wrapped a blanket round him so he was snug (dont suppose you can do that really as the weathers quite warm) i would perservere tho its all about getting him used to it

CarGirl · 05/08/2007 16:47

I would suggest that you take him to a cranial osteopath - it sounds like the lying down is the issue, that it's not comfortable for him???

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Jojay · 05/08/2007 16:47

I don't know much anbout this, but I know some babies with Reflux hate lying flat.

Someone will be able to tell you much more, but I think (not 100% certain) that reflux is when the muscle at the top of the stomach doesn't close properly, so stomach acids travel back up the oesophegus, causing discomfort. It's not a serious condition, and they normally grow out of it just fine, but they commonly hate lying flat.

I think they often posset a lot too, though not always.

Why not google reflux, and see if any of the other symptoms fit??

Of course it may not be this at all - he might just dislike the basket. Swaddling can be a great help to make them feel more secure and cosy.

Congrats on your lovely baby!!!

HTH

DaisyMOO · 05/08/2007 16:49

No, a car seat isn't a good idea as you already sensed. Have you tried swaddling him in a cotton sheet really tightly - obviously in this hot weather you'll need a minimum of clothes underneath so he doesn't feel too hot. And/or you could try patting him as you put him down and keep on going until he's fast asleep. If you think he prefers to be slightly upright then you could slightly tilt the basket and see if that helps (I remember we had all sorts of convoluted systems with books and swaddling blankets!)

InTheseShoes · 05/08/2007 18:04

I found DS1 much easier to settle in his moses basket when it was on a sturdy surface - inside the cot on the mattress. He was big, and I wonder if he felt unsafe on a flimsy stand? With DS2 we had him in his basket in the cot from day1 and he settled straight away. We also have the cot propped up at the head end at a permenant slight angle. Good luck!

LIZS · 05/08/2007 18:07

Try propping the moses basket up onto an incline , either with a rolled blanket under the mattress or support it on a few thick books. Remember it is not so long sicne he was cruled up inside you so being expected ot lie prostrate may take a while to adjust to.

coleyboy · 05/08/2007 18:15

DS loathed the mb too, so he went into his cot after a few weeks and he settled a lot easier

Would also agree with the cranial osteopath suggestion - it worked wonders for ds.

tigerschick · 05/08/2007 18:25

I can only repeat what has already been said - dd hated the moses basket, we tried raising the head end with books under the stand then we tried putting a cushion in the head end so she was virtually sitting up.
She went into her cot after a very few weeks.
She had mild reflux so that might be something to consider - also heard good things about cranial osteopaths.

Congratulations on your baby and good luck

happypiglet · 05/08/2007 18:42

My DD (2w) didn't like her basket until I realised that she would only sleep on my chest face down. It turns out she just doesn't like lieing on her back and startles really refquently.
So I am afraid we commit the cardinal sin of putting her down on her front and she sleeps like a dream- you could try the side first though and propping that way with a rolled up sheet or the like behind his back.
If he likes the car seat that could be why- it feels more cocooned I suppose. And when my DS2 was poorly with a bad breathing disorder I was advised to let him sleep in a car seat and all the Drs said the spine thing is not a major issue!!!

tigerschick · 05/08/2007 18:44

happypiglet - my dd preferred sleeping on her front too - we bought one of those motion sensitive monitors. It wasn't cheep but the peace of mind was worth it. We only used it once she was in her cot tho.

gegs73 · 05/08/2007 18:58

DS1 liked his moses basket alot better when he was a baby when I put one of the furry/sheepskin looking blankets in which you put in pushchairs. Maybe it was comfier for him but he definitely settled better when it was in there. Might be worth a try.

Original poster

miniegg · 05/08/2007 19:30

thanks everyone - am def. going to take him to a cranial osteo as he was ventouse and still has a swelling. we're also going to try raising the top of the basket a bit so it's a slight incline, and i might by a new stand which rocks, since he does like the rocking motion of the car seat.
thanks again for the tips!
x

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CarGirl · 05/08/2007 21:17

sounds like he could have a bad headache then it could be very painful for him to put pressure on the back of his head. Hope you find a nearby one quickly. You usually see improvements after the first treatment but have at least 3 or 4 and then a follow up a month or two later.

They should tell you how many treatments to expect at the initial consultation after they have completed the first treatment IYSWIM as then they have a good idea of what is wrong and how much work it will be to fix it.

Psychobabble · 05/08/2007 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peachygirl · 05/08/2007 21:25

Psychobabble has just posted this but I've found putting the t shirt I've had on that day really helps dd settle. She does pull it over her face but it really made a difference.
When she was very tiny I used to pull it over the mattress of the MB over the sheet

mrsdelboy · 05/08/2007 21:49

My dd hated moses basket too. HV suggested warming the sheet before putting her in as psychobabble mentioned.

We warmed the sheets up using a hairdryer and it turned out that she liked the noise. So we would turn the hairdryer on before putting her in and then leave it on until she was settled. It did the trick.

Spink · 07/08/2007 16:01

hellooo miniegg! Sorry, I don't have any moses basket advice (my ds hated his and we gave up on it, he much preferred sleeping in a crib. Maybe because he could see us through the slats - it was next to the bed, or maybe just liked having more space? Who knows. Looks like you have some good advice here...)
SO. The reason I am posting..
I saw you were the OP on this thread and HAD TO come and say CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of your ds!! I was following your childbirth thread and have been watching and waiting to hear how it all went. Really pleased that you have a baby boy and your labour didn't just keep going forever. I totally understand if you don't feel like it, but I would love to hear what happened after your last MN labour post.. What is your little one's name? (sorry. I am very nosey )
congratulations again!!!!

UniSarah · 07/08/2007 19:51

boy hated moses basket, he wanted to sleep arms out and was hitting teh sides. we ended up co sleeping till got a cot at 8 weeks, he slept much better in cot, more room.

pevie · 07/08/2007 20:32

Our DD has reflux and so hates lying flat. We bought an ambi baby nest which is a bit like a hamock. She settled bit better in that and now occasonally sleeps through (at 14 weeks) You can view them on the Ambi website and read about benefits.

Expedite · 09/08/2007 00:00

I couldn't begin to say enough good things about the Ambi hammock (though they repeatedly messed up our order when we bought it online).

Our baby spent his first weeks in an incubator (very firm surface) and then a heated cot (very soft - basically a waterbed). Once he came home he coslept for a while, but once he was big enough went in the hammock and sleeps really well in it; more often than not will put himself to sleep in it very easily. On the occasions when he doesn't one of us will bounce it for a few minutes and that stops any crying and puts him to sleep. He seems to like the movement and carrying him around will also put him to sleep, but then you've got the disturbance of putting him down and him losing your body heat. Gently bouncing in the hammock he is already in position so there is no sudden change in environment.

You can fold them up and take them with you if you're on holiday or staying with friends, so the baby is in a familiar bed.

MrsTittleMouse · 09/08/2007 09:15

DD hated her Moses basket too. We think that it was because she couldn't see out (was nosey then, is nosey now!), so we put her into a cotbed way before we'd planned. She looked tiny in it, but slept much better.

theprecious · 09/08/2007 12:49

another vote for amby hammock, ds sleeps very well in his and you can have it next to your bed, tie a ribbon to it and rock LO back to sleep while still lying down - lovely.

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