Where should a 5.5 week old sleep?

[jay9]

My health visitor seems to think that baby should sleep upstairs in the dark during the day for naps (as opposed to in a moses basket in the lounge) but I'm not sure about this. My DD does seem to sleep well through the night (apart from a feed of course) when it's dark but not sure it's the right thing to do during the day. As she's not a very good sleeper during the day and is very over tired and bad tempered every evening I'm trying it today for one sleep but concerned she might think it's night and then be awake at night!

Also what experience has every one got of moving baby into their own room and cot - how old were they and how did it work? The recommended 6 months seems a bit excessive as she won't fit in the moses basket comfortably for that long. Also am keen to get her into good habits and routines where possible.

Thanks everyone - this is my first time of posting!

I imagine there are as many answers to this as there are babies! For my two - yes to Moses basket in the day, not worries downstairs and I could keep an eye - but similarly they slept just as well in their cots... Also put them both in a cot in their own room at 10 weeks worked fine for me but you'll do your own thing!

Welcome jay!

I think sadly your hv is a bit barking. Your baby should sleep wherever you and your dd are most comfortable with her sleeping. Ds slept on my lap for about the first 6 months of his life I think. Forget habits and routines - she is tiny. Enjoy her

I think you should work out what's best for you and the routine you want. i had friends who did the darkened room thing and ended up regretting it as their baby could and would only sleep there. I used to leave dd in her pram [carrycot] so if we went out she could nap and I could just wheel her in. On the down side, she wouldn't sleep in her cot during the day and I would have to walk her round the block to get her to sleep.

I had dd in her cot in our roon until about 7 months I think. Anyway, my advice is do what is best for you. And welcome to Mumsnet!

Wherever you feel most comfortable with her sleeping, if she is happy in a moses basket in the lounge then fine.

Both my DDs slept right next to their mummy at 5 weeks old.

We put ds in moses basket in lounge for first few weeks, then in his swinging crib in darkened room after for naps. It never affected his night sleep (less overtired perhaps? no idea) and even now at 2.4 he still naps at least 2 horus a day!

dd (2 weeks) we'll either put in her rocker chair (lies right back) or in moses basket depending on whether she seems to be snoozing or sleeping. I have to admit I believe in starting the good habits early - a dark room for sleep really helps.

We moved ds into his own room at 5 months, but he had a swinging crib he still fitted in to. Plus a sensor pad monitor for my peace of mind!

hi jay9,

i had my ds in his moses basket in the lounge all day with me until bed time then we moved it into our room at night when we went to bed.
He slept in our room until a few weeks ago when he was getting to big for the basket and we've put him in his cot in his own room, he's 4 months.
I leave him in the lounge during the day now, he normally naps in his bouncy chair and only goes in his cot at night. This works for us and he sleeps right through for about 9 hours.

both mine when babies slept in moses basket down stairs in lounge until 4m then they slept upstairs in a cot in the afternoon!

DS slept on my lap during the day! I asked HV about this as I thought they should be "trained" to sleep in a cot etc., but she just said it was fine... people all over the world let their babies nap in slings etc. no problems. He still naps on my lap, unless i give him a feed in bed if im feeling lazy then he'll sleep and nap there. I had a nice big V pillow to feed on. i wouldnt worry about routines etc. too much, DS settled into one, but has now changed his mind about it all! HV said aslong as you dont let them nap on the sofa (high SID risk) or in the car seat (ie. bringing it indoors and leaving them if thy are asleep) its ok.

Both slept in normal daylight during the day with usual noise level. ds in the lounge in pram , dd usually in bouncy chair in lounge or in cot in bedroom when ds was around and she was a bit older.

Mine used to sleep/nap in their baby chairs or the pram until they were too big then they went upstairs to sleep in the cot. They slept in cots a night without any hassle.

I used to keep them in my room until they were safely going through the night without feeding, (just to make it easier for me) but it was usually at about 5-6 months that they went into cots in own rooms.

HTH

Wherever you want!!!

DS started in the moses basket in lounge, progressed to pram in the diningroom/garden and then when I started using the pram out and about, his crib in a very bright bedroom (all our rooms are hideously light).