7 wks old - hates sleeping on back

[Leenie]

Can anyone give me some advice in overcoming this please !!
ds is 7 wks and only really settles for a good sleep when co-sleeping, he will not settle in crib, if we put him down, no matter how gently we do it he wakes up again, even tried swaddling in a blanket, everything is fine when we are holding him he will sleep for ages, or if he's on our chest on his front he will sleep fine, he seems to like sleeping on his front, but when its time to put him down as soon as we put him on his back his little arms start waving about like he's feeling for someone and he wakes, i am trying so hard to get him into a little routine just so i can go and cook dinner or clean

have you tried doing all the things you describe then putiing him in a pram? then even if the arms get waved a bit it is ok [my ds2 would not have his arms inside any blanket or cover, no way. from birth!] but you can push him to and fro in a boring sleepy fashion til he goes off again? with dd - clone of ds2 but more like the way you explain your ds, ended up doing stuff like putting her cot at an angle with something under the feet or matress so that head is higher than bum, little warm bean-bag toys that had been on the radiator to make them warm - likewise warm towel in her bed, all kinds of stuff.

good luck

Try one of these. Dd has a snuggle nest that has one similar to this and she sleeps brilliantly in it. I think its the security it gives.

How does he manage to wave his arms around when he's swaddled?

I swaddled tightly and lay the baby on it's side slightly leaning backwards, propped against a rolled cot blanket. Mine didn't like sleeping on their backs either.

I won't be the first to say this but a decent sling could help. Then you can get on with dinner etc while meeting baby's needs. Or as PP says, use the pram for getting LO off to sleep. If baby is well swaddled, having sleeping place that moves (eg. pram, hammock, 'glider' crib) somehow is really helpful for the person trying to get baby to sleep.... IME you don't feel so bad about a little crying if you are doing something to help them IYSWIM.

Don't worry about it. We had the same thing and the paed said that we were doing everything else and that some babies just won't sleep on their back. He said as long as you have cut the other risk factors out then let them sleep on their front. If you're co-sleeping anyway you will be acutely aware of what's going on.

I second the sling idea, for getting things done and I wouldn't worry too much about a routine at this stage, babies will naturally fall into one if you follow their cues.

(That's me and Tink demonstrating getting in and out of a wrap sling, she's a little older but I'll add to it in the new year )

I swaddled really tightly, put on side and tilted the moses basket so the head's higher than the feet. Could also try warming the mattress with a hot water bottle before putting baby down.

Have you though about trying a cranial osteopath. It may be that your baby is uncomfortable when lying on his back. I work with lots of mums and new babies and particularly if you had a difficult delivery, very fast delivery or section it can often work to make babies more settled. It might be worth considering