How do I get my newborn to sleep at night?

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My son is 12 days old, but was 2 and a half weeks early so shouldn't really be here just yet. He will not sleep at all at night unless he is lying on my tummy. He will go to sleep after feeding, but as soon as I put him in his moses basket, or even in the bed beside me he wakes up and won't go back to sleep for another hour or two. I could cope with broken nights, but not no sleep at all. I always end up giving in around 4 am and let him sleep on me. I know this isn't a good pattern to get into, but I can't bear to just let him cry, I tried it for helf an hour yesterday and it just didn't do any good. He's feeding fine, and putting on weight so I don't think that's the problem.
Thanks.

Mine liked to be swaddled.

typical newborn behaviour! my 4 week old is same, just go with it

2.5 weeks early is still term (37 weeks) btw...

It does get better, and your DS sounds just like mine was. Get as much sleep as you can during the day and the nights will get better. We tried everything, but in the end, getting bigger and older was the only thing that worked.

Congratulations!

Its a very personal thing but I would let him sleep on/near you. He is so tiny he wants the security of being with his mummy. I really wouldnt worry abouut "habits" at the moment babies go through so many different stages you just have to do what works for you both at the moment and not worry about setting precedents at this early stage. I dont think you should leave him crying either. Are you breastfeeding? If so perhaps try feeding him lying down. I found this really helpful as we could both doze off.

Oh don't worry about patterns yet! Even the most hardcore 'routiners' are unlikely to get uptight about co-sleeping at 12 days. He's too young to 'learn' bad behaviour - he is teeny and just wants to be with you.

If you are able to sleep with him on your tummy, do so. If you can't, then swaddling can help - swaddle him, cuddle him, then pop him into basket pre-warmed by hot water bottle.

Good luck

is normal. prolactin which makes milk is released at night therefore babies are programmed to feed at night to stimulate milk production. doesn't help when you are knackered from feeding all night but it should settle eventually. sleep at any point during the day/night when he sleeps.

much of nighttime sleep is related to daytime sleep. best rule I ever heard was 'start as you mean to go on, but slowly'

so, get the baby used to their bed in small spurts during the day. if it's the moses basket you want them to sleep in, they need to get aquainted with it before 'bedtime' - try it for daytime naps, or even just laying them in it for 10 minutes at a time throughout the day. transition the environment slowly/gently. A small baby is going to freak out with every little change.

from day 1 you can start helping the baby to distinguish day from night. so in the daytime put the baby (in their 'bed/basket') in a light room with some background noise going on. At night time put them in a dark and quiet place.

also from day 1 you can start putting little routines into place to help the baby realise when 'sleep time' is coming. a feed, nappy change, cuddle, then a lullaby song. Put them down! give them a chance to try to settle.

Swaddling for little ones (till they start pushing up) and dummies can also be quite good.

HTH - good luck

Agree with pp to just go with it. with dd I was terrified about co-sleeping re:cot death advice and spent until about 5am each night trying to get her to settle in her moses basket. I then realised that no other mammals shove their young into a little box to sleep and let her sleep on me, which was much better.
Honestly, he won't want to do it forever and this 'phase' will be over before you know it.
Good luck!

Thanks, it's great to know I'm not alone! I guess I'll just have to go with it for now and see how it pans out.

Swaddling DEF worth a try, although needs to be really pretty tight so it simulates the effect of a cuddle/being engulfed. Rough bedtime routine as well. Keep it dim/dark and bore them to sleep was a tip I was given; i.e when they are awake at night don't leave them to cry, but don't take them downstairs and watch telly. Sit and sooth in the dark, so eventually they realise that nightime is for sleeping.....

If it helps, I found with mine that at about three weeks, they sort of start getting the diff between day and night a lot more. The first few weeks are a blur aren't they? I would just eat a lot of chocolate and pig out in front of the telly and doze. Good luck!