3 day old squirms and flails at night...what is up?

[Elastigrrrl]

Hi All. I'm seeking advice from more experienced mums.

DS one is not quite three days old. In his first night at the hospital he slept pretty well (one assumes exhausted from birth), but last night he squirmed and wriggled for hours whenever we put him in his moses basket, and generally was not happy to be put down. We tried feeding several times but he struggled to latch, though he was great previously and is doing fine now. He got to the point of crying till DH just put him on his chest and stayed up with him for a few hours, afterwards he was a bit easier to soothe with feeding. Tonight he is at the flailing again with all limbs. What gives? Wind do you think, or does he just not want to be in his basket at night?

Could he be cold? Both my babies have done that until I put an extra layer on them.

Either that or try swaddling? dS1 flailed loads unless swaddled, which calmed him really well

Newborns don't want to be put down I'm afraid! They are biologically programmed to be near you at night, it's survival instinct. Mine slept on my chest (or fed all night) for the first few nights and then slept in bed with me for a few weeks before moving into a basket.

Babies are used to feeling snug and a bit constricted in the womb so many like to be swaddled when they are tiny. Can you try to swaddle in a muslin or similarly light sheet? Look on YouTube for how to swaddle ( it takes some practice!)

Congratulations btw

Sounds like a newborn who needs to be near you neither of my two would go near the Moses basket!

Is his still quite scrunched up? Totally unscientific but DS1 stayed curled up for days after birth and loved being swaddled. dS2 straightened his limbs very quickly and has never needed swaddling to calm him. dS1 just needed the closenss I think

Probably nothing wrong - just being a baby! Ds used to flail about and twitch like mad until wRburtons tried a swaddle wrap at about 10 weeks and he instantly went to sleep. We were and spent the whole night staring in wonder at the peacefully sleeping baby before us.

Honestly, unless he seems to be in pain I wouldn't worry, he's just a need baby :)

It's probably where he is used to being tucked up cosy in side your tummy and he is adjusting to life out in the open - with all the space. Are you putting him in his basket so his feet touch the bottom? And if you cuddle him with his blanket and then transfer him into the basket with the nice warm blanket, might help.
Hopefully a breast feeding mum will be along to offer advise about the latching soon.

We tried a swaddle - maybe wRburtons did too who knows

Sounds very normal to me. Ours Slept on us in shifts for the first week or so, we were very careful to stay awake.I'd just let him sleep on your chest, eventually he'll go into the basket I'm sure.

Congratulations too! :)

We had a flailer too... Broke out of swaddles and woke himself up with flying Kung-Fu arms... Fast forward 6 months and gorgeous boy sleeps beautifully. Try a zip up swaddle if it worries/bothers you. We used a 'woombie' until the startle reflex calmed down, it helped a lot.

Thank you so much ladies. Great ideas here and I feel much reassured. Sorry for the delay in reply...days 3/4 a bit crazy!

I have a 6 day old. ...He did exactly this when we got home! Think it was going from the nice firm hospital crib to the relatively soft basket but I just bring him into bed when he gets twisty then when he is in a deep sleep put him in wrapped in his blanket.
Latching at this point will take time to learn. .my DS still flails about too but he will get there.

they are just so precious at this age I hardly want to put him down :)

Yes...deep sleep...not sure ours ever gets there ;) but maybe if I do a bit more cuddling like you I can gently lull him in that direction. And it is lovely!
Thankfully the latch has improved, still experimenting re the flailing.

Thanks again all.