Tips for getting newborn to settle in crib

[Nat888]

Baby boy is 6 weeks. Suddenly started hating the crib/bed/anywhere that isn't in my arms. He had no problem up until now. He will fall asleep in there but within 10 minutes will wake up again crying and only be settled when I pick him up and cuddle him back to sleep

I've tried
Swaddling
Placing my hand on him
Picking up re settling and putting back
Rocking

Any tips? Don't get me wrong I love cuddling him and know its "the 4th trimester" but I need at least a few hours of my day to sleep/eat/ generally function. Feel like we have gone a huge step back as suddenly started getting into a feeding sleeping routine

I never cracked it. Good luck though!

Oh also he has zero interest in a dummy. Spent a fortune buying every kind. Literally spits it back at me

IME 6 weeks is incredibly early for any routine. Babies are constantly changing - terrible phases as well as lovely ones can last for just a week. They often sleep a lot when very tiny, and less as they become more alert and the world becomes more interesting to them. If he won't settle in the crib now, you could try something like a Sleepyhead. Or you could give in to his need to be held and put him in a carrier or sling so you can get stuff done.

When I say routine I mean I roughly knew the time between when he would want feeds and have a nap - so knew how much time I had to do other things during the day.

I know its hard and is incredibly common but just looking for any tips etc.

It might not work for you but when I was getting DS up for a night feed, I used to stick his mattress next to my husband in the bed. Then I could put it back in, pre-warmed in a safe way and smelling familiar, before he went in and that seemed to smooth the transition.

Also, I was always deliberately dull during night feeds - snuggly, comforting and loving, but not very interesting! As little talking as possible, no lights, gentle shushing if needed but we tried to keep lullabies for bedtime. I wanted it to be as close to a dreamfeed as possible, and for DS not be overstimulated and woken up more than necessary.

He was bottlefed and those night feeds were usually quite quick (15 mins or so with burping), so I didn't need to watch telly or anything like that which might have disturbed him, though I sometimes had a podcast in on one earphones if I was really exhausted and needed some stimulation to make sure I didn't nod off.

Thanks @HerculesMulligan I'll give that a go!

Safe co-sleeping as they only want to be by you and can't really be trained out of needing to be by their mother. Hormones are working and heartbeat is regulated, milk is made all from close contact. They aren't needing it on purpose, it's innate to them.

Bedshare!

The problem is he doesn't even really like being in the bed next to me - only settles when I hold him. I've tried that.

Can you get a sling or a carrier and just use that. That way they can be close to you while napping but you can still do some bits that you want to do.

My only tip is to stack up a pile of biscuits and get used to sitting down for naps.

Baby nest! For some weird reason they don't advise it in the UK (my health visitor told me the babies can overheat in them: I found swaddling way more dangerous in that case and the baby nest is similar size to a small moses basket so don't see why is that different) but I don't even know anyone in Europe who doesn't have it. Makes the baby feel cosy, and helps to settle them in the bed next to you.

The nests are not advised for unsupervised sleeping because the sides are squishy and it is at least possible baby could suffocate in one.