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Sleep

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Original poster

How do we get our 6 week old to sleep anywhere other than on Mum?

18 replies

AnnaMilkMaker · 27/09/2013 14:09

Hi there,

I am new to all this so apologies if this isn't in the right area.

Our son is 6 weeks old - home water birth went perfect but as I retained my placenta I had to be whisked to hospital by ambulance. It was needless to say traumatic.

As a result we didn't get off to a great start and I pretty much held our boy throughout the night from the off! More for me so I could sleep the days after the surgery.

Now 6 weeks on and he will not sleep in his Moses basket for any longer than 15/20 mins and perhaps slightly longer in his cot bed. We have a bedside cot (attached to the bed) which I would love him to use. Am not keen on him going straight in to his cot bed as I think he is too little. But I can't use the bedside cot during the day as we don't have a door on our bedroom and we have two cats and I am worried they will try and get in with him.

I would love some advice on steps to take in order to get him to sleep in his bedside cot at least so that my partner can come back to bed with me. He has been sleeping in the spare room for 6 weeks and I miss him.

Anyone have any advice on this? How to even start going about it? I am ready for any pain i.e. Lack of sleep that comes with it.

It might also be worth mentioning that our son is exclusively formula fed.

Look forward to hearing from you and thanks in advance!

Anna x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

happydaze77 · 27/09/2013 20:40

Have you tried swaddling? It makes them feel secure, as though they're being held.

pudseypie · 27/09/2013 21:00

Agree try swaddling and then im afraid you need to just tough it out. I didn't and I wish I did as my ds was 8 months before I got him to have his daytime naps in his cot and not on me. good luck!

RubyGoat · 27/09/2013 21:05

Also try gradually getting him used to being on the bed. Will he sleep next to you? Our DD was a total velcro baby & we had a similar problem, we basically 'weaned her' onto sleeping in the crib.

kissitbetter · 27/09/2013 21:07

I worried about our cat but she has never tried to get in with the baby. Has had a sleep in there when its empty though.

Why don't you have a nap at the sometime? Get him used to it by being there and get forty winks in too - all round winner!

CreatureRetorts · 27/09/2013 21:08

Just keep trying and baby will get there. I used a sling until 3 months for all naps with dd. now she goes into the cot no problem and did so from 4/5 months. So worth a shot.

I'd also be nervous about the cats - what happens when he does go into a cot? Is there a door on his room?

Rhubarb78 · 27/09/2013 21:15

Do you put him down awake? With my ds i put him.down and basically did whatever it took to get him to settle off while in the crib (patting, stroking, dummy etc. In the end he woke less because he was able to settle himself back off to sleep. Dd however, being the youngest with a demanding older brother just settles off with a dummy and i think its because she has had to wait for me to see to her when she is tired/ crying so has learned to self settle at an earlier age. Could just be different personalities though

CityDweller · 27/09/2013 21:53

For the first couple of weeks my DH and I took shifts at night holding her as that was the only way she'd sleep. I think we segued into the co-sleeper crib by swaddling and heating up the crib first with a hot water bottle - I think both helped to mimic the feeling of being snuggled in our arms. And we've always had to dress her with more layers than they 'officially' suggest as she likes being snug and toasty.

She did quite quickly adapt to the co-sleeper and by 8ish weeks was in there most the night.

woodlandwanderwoman · 27/09/2013 22:08

Try putting one of your tops or something in the cot (safely) so that he can still smell you. Alternatively, you can sleep with his sheet / sleeping bag next to you for a night then his bed clothes will have your scent.

I also agree with swaddling, worked wonders for us. Careful not to have too many layers when you do it but it's v good

dedado · 27/09/2013 22:26

Have you read up on high needs babies? You may find the Dr Sears website useful. Also Elizabeth Pantley's book the no cry sleep solution, which explains the reality of infant sleep. Oh and the parenting science website.

Reiltin · 27/09/2013 22:34

I highly recommend the Cocoonababy - it's a shaped nest that baby lies in. They feel like they're being held. We bought ours at around 6wks but wish we discovered it earlier ! You can bring it downstairs for during the day, though baby still sleeps on me then. We only use it at night,

BaldHedgehog · 27/09/2013 22:34

What woodland said above.Fill up the hot water bottle and place in the Moses basket to warm it up(take it out before putting the baby).If you put your top nearby the baby will have warmth and your scent around.

curlew · 27/09/2013 22:37

The answer to you question is, honestly, just wait a while. They grow and change so quickly- he'll be sleeping in his cot soon enough. He's very little still.

Can you not all three go in bed together?

Original poster

AnnaMilkMaker · 30/09/2013 11:03

Thanks all for your responses. My partner is frightened he is going to hurt bubba if we all sleep together plus he doesn't tend to get any rest (obviously) when we all sleep together and when he has to get up for work he is completely fooked!! Can't function.

Anyway I am not too worried about the cats as they are good with him plus I would never leave them alone with him. And yes he has a door on his bedroom so that's a plus.

I will try swaddling although it hasn't worked in the past. Sleeps for a while but then wakes up. At the moment he is enjoying his bouncer with me rocking him but I am worried (same with the swaddling) that he will get too used to it and associate that with going to sleep and want it for ages to come!? Am over thinking this?

So in terms of steps to take - do I just continue to put him down swaddled even if he doesn't sleep for long. Ie pick him up when he stirs and rock him off again then put him down again until he eventually sleeps for longer in his cot?

I have also read that you should encorouage your little ones to self sooth and sleep independently. I have no idea how to do that or even where to start.

Any advice welcome!! Thanks.

OP posts:

dedado · 30/09/2013 14:11

This stuff is all covered here-

curlew · 30/09/2013 15:39

I don't think the OP has a high needs baby- I think she has a baby!

Do what works, OP. whatever gets the most people the most sleep.

pudseypie · 30/09/2013 16:09

I think you should continue to swaddle him and put him down to sleep, soothe him and put him back down if he wakes. gradually he will learn that's where he sleeps and he will sleep longer but you need to be strong and determined to stick to it. I created a rod for my own back letting ds sleep on me till he was 8 months, it then took me about 3 weeks to train him to sleep in his cot in the day and it was so so hard but oh I definitely I'd done it earlier!

pudseypie · 30/09/2013 16:10

meant to say wish I'd done it earlier

cogitosum · 30/09/2013 16:13

I find ewan the sheep great. It makes womb noises which can help comfort. Ds only naps in along during the day but settles in bedside crib at night. I also sometimes sleep holding his hand which helps.

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