Baby sleeping in Moses on a pillow

[Heartburn888]

So having a bit of a challenge getting my 2 day old new born to feed and then settle in his basket. He’s feeding till he drops off the boob and goes to sleep himself but once transferred he doesn’t stay asleep. I do wind him before putting him back down.

Anyway just done a feed and I laid him on a pillow to feed and he’s dropped off as mentioned above. I’ve just picked up the pillow with him on and put it into his Moses and he hasn’t moved an inch, seems very settled. His full body is on the pillow and I have moved him right down to the bottom of the Moses and the pillow so his feet are touching the bottom and laid a blanket over the top of him. Is this okay to do?

Essentially it’s just like another mattress is my thinking?

I wouldn't. He may move to the side or turn. They can do that even at this age.

It doesn't sound like it would meet the safe sleep guidelines so at 2 days old I personally wouldn't risk it. The advice is a completely flat mattress. I'm guessing with a pillow there w chance he could roll to one side and end up with his face against the side of the basket or even face down.

I've never managed to get mine to settle in bed with me but if he's happy with you, you could look up the safe Co-sleeping advice by the lullaby trust.

I think the reason youre not meant to use pillows is because they are soft so tge baby could sink into them and not be able to breathe very well or maybe its to do with support. Either way i wouldnt use a pillow.

I have heard people rave about the sleepy head pillows, which i believe are breathable. Would that be worth a try?

@Heartburn888 honestly I really wouldn't leave the baby like that. At two days old you don't need to worry about them settling in a crib/Moses basket. They will in time but right now it's fine if the baby sleeps on you. Read about the fourth trimester. It's such a precious time, very emotional, good luck xxx

Possibly. He’s just vomited anyway so the pillow is out but glad I asked thanks for your help

My son wouldn’t sleep when transferred for a long. 2 days is so young, obviously, but if persists or you want to give it a try my lifesaver was a Redcastle caconababy. perfect for co sleeping too as it’s wedged high and strapped in (comfortably) so doesn’t carry risk like some of the sleepyhead types. I just used to transfer that into Moses basket/cot/my bed and he was zonked. Picked mine up second hand for £30 on Shpock but they are pricey brand new.
Congratulations by the way

My 3 week old is exactly the same. We have folded a blanket and popped under the top of her Moses basket mattress to create an ever so slight incline where her head is, this seems to have helped her settle - no idea why. She's slightly refluxy so it could be making her slightly more comfortable in that sense.

Could it be that the pillow smells of you? Try popping her mattress sheet in your top for a little while or expressing some breast milk (if you're BF) onto the blanket to give it your scent.

I wouldn't use a pillow at all. They can get too hot and are then at risk of SIDS.

What you're describing with him waking after the transfer is perfectly normal. He's been in tummy for 9months then you're transferring him to a cold bed with no warmth, heart beat or yummy food (milk). I used a next to me as this really helped with my little boy. Kept him close and gave him comfort.

Please have a look at the safe sleep guidelines and be very careful about following some of the advice you have been given here. People are trying to help but Sleepyheads, cocoonababies and anything similar are not mattresses. They do not have the kite mark or eu safety standards of a mattress because they are not designed for a baby to sleep on. It's quite normal for such a little one to want to be close to you, it's all they know. They will gradually adapt and as pp says trying to get the moses basket to smell of you can help. Try keeping your hand on your baby while he settles, they might feel comforted.
I hope this phase passes quickly for you. Congratulations.

No no no, definitely not ok. Please take a look at safe sleeping guidelines. Some babies will wake up every time you put them down for months. It's just the way it is.

What you can try instead is having a hot water bottle in moses basket. Remove it just before you put them down. Nice and warm so feels like mummy. You could also use a worn t shirt as a sheet for the mattress.

I used to take the mattress out of the Moses basket and and hold ds on it whilst feeding him and then put him and mattress back in basket.

Some great suggestions here I did think about the hot water bottle one to be honest so I’m going to give that a go if he has trouble settling.

I think he might have some reflux because after I feel him and lay him down he will be sick a little or make noises as if he wants to be sick.

The t shirt idea is a good one too, yeah it’s understandable I’m all he knows, he didn’t end up settling last night so I went downstairs with him and cuddled him to sleep and eventually made the successful transfer to the basket and got a few hours kip myself.

Im new to al this mum stuff so just trying to take each day as it comes and not get too worked up when I can’t settle him as it isn’t any good for him either