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Getting baby to sleep in crib - any top tips?

12 replies

GingerLemonade · 10/09/2017 05:51

Hey everyone,

As much as I love my little boy, he is driving me a tad bit bonkers! He's almost 5 weeks old and has been clingy since he was born...as I am sure many newborns are. He flat out refuses to sleep unless he's sleeping on me or my partner and clearly just wants to feel he's safe. At about two weeks old we managed to get him down in his carrycot, and if you approach with caution, he will actually agree to sleep in there.

We have a Snuzpod for him and he absolutely hates it. Doesn't matter if we put him in there when he's totally out for the count, drowsy or awake, he just won't sleep and cries his eyes out.

I've tried cushioning him in a bit to make him feel that he's cosy and not in the middle of a massive cot as this is what he likes about his carrycot. I've also tried putting one of my partners shirts in for comfort and scent, well away from his face obviously. I even tried letting him cry it out, staying in the room or leaving the room, and that didn't happen either. Cosleeping isn't an option for me as I have a sleep disorder which could pose a danger.

Does anyone have any tips on how I could get him to go down in this thing?! I'd be so grateful. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
newmum7369 · 10/09/2017 05:59

Hi OP, have you tried a sleepyhead? I know you've tried cushioning him a bit but the sleepyhead has worked wonders with my 6 week old. I don't have a snuzpod but I think the sleepyhead fits perfectly in it.

What about white noise? We've got Ewan the dream sheep and he sends all of us to sleep, including DS!

SpinDry · 10/09/2017 06:06

Try a Sleepyhead/poddlepod. Both my dd's have used these and slept well in cots as it cocoons them and makes them feel safe.
Please don't let a 5 week old cry it out. He is so so tiny and the world is a huge and scary place, he can't even see very far so when the one person he trusts and needs in his world lets him cry and doesn't help him he will be scared. It's not a case of them being 'clingy' you are essential to their survival and have just come from 9 months inside you, he knows nothing else, he simply wants and needs him mum.

As co sleeping is out of the question I would firstly try the Sleepyhead, then swaddling, a dummy maybe, but don't let him cry it out.
Google the 4th trimester and remember he is tiny but growing very very fast and changing all the time.

crazycatlady5 · 10/09/2017 08:16

Bless you sorry cosleeping is out of the question. I suggest the sleepyhead - would cosleeping be a danger if baby is in the sleepyhead IN your bed? Or you could do this and snuggle baby for a bit and then lift into cot x

FATEdestiny · 10/09/2017 09:28

Does anyone have any tips on how I could get him to go down in this thing?! I'd be so grateful

Yes Grin

Feed and Wind Well

You will never get a baby who is hungry to sleep, certainly not sleep independantly (without you). If in doubt feed, feed and feed some more.

Adequate winding is also very important. After every feed try to get at least one burp from baby. Try reoffering milk after winding, then wind again. If you cany get baby to burp, try different winding positions.

Swaddle

Sleepyhead is great but is expensive. A swaddle taps into the same feelings for a fraction of the cost. A flat cot sheet or a giant muslin square cost only a few pounds and are easy swaddled.

This is about recreating womb-like conditions: tight, enclosed, restricted, protected. Agitated networks are often calmed once settled in a swaddle. It also reduces stimulation to help out baby down.

Dummy

Teamed with the swaddle works best. The swaddle calms flaying agitated limbs and the dummy allows for comfort sucking, which babies find naturally soothing and calming.

A dummy is best use at this age once baby is calm, to go from awake/calm to asleep. The dummy is rarely any use in a newborn when put into a screaming mouth. So calm baby first, see above and below.

Rhythmic Movement

Swishing and swaying often works best, since it recreates the movement baby felt in the womb. Also works best alongside swaddle and dummy.

The idea would be to take a fractious baby (who already has a full tummy) put in swaddle, quite tight against the shoulders, free by the hips. Depending how agitated baby Is, this may calm but if very agitated it won't.

So once swaddled, try the 'on the shoulder' position while you sway, this allows for winding at the same time. If not a cradle hold and some people try a face downwards cradle hold. Gentle, rhythmic swaying from side to side. As baby start calming, give dummy to calm further into sleep.

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2017 09:36

Google the 4th trimester and remember

that ideally he would still be in your womb (all human babies are born 3 months earlier than they should be - yes really.)

SquareWord · 10/09/2017 09:37

Swaddle or Grobag.

tealandteal · 10/09/2017 15:06

DS is 6 weeks and we loved the grosnug to help him settle. It's a sleeping bag that allows you to swaddle their arms in, and I knew it couldn't come untucked. We also put cot on a bit of an angle.

gigi556 · 10/09/2017 17:42

I actually have a similar question as OP... Sorry to steal thread! My baby is 14 weeks and I'm trying to settle in the cot as well. I tried shhh pat on baby's side with a dummy which worked wonders for a couple days but now no such luck. We've been inconsistent with swaddling as I found it tricky to do and didn't think DS liked it. Is it too late to introduce? He's outgrown the grosnug type gowns and we never tried them as it was too hot. Anyway, everything I've read recommends shh pat for in cot settling and it doesn't seem to work anymore and I'm resorted to settling baby in my arms and putting down asleep which I'd rather not do. Should I keep persisting?

TittyGolightly · 10/09/2017 18:01

If you've found that rocking and putting down works why not keep going with that? Your baby is tiny.

FATEdestiny · 10/09/2017 18:51

gigi556, SIDS recommendations are that you use a swaddle consistantly before 3 months old, otherwise it's an increased risk to introduce it later.

Have you got a sidecar cot? This just means taking one side off a normal cot/corner and wedging it up next to your bed. It allows for you to cuddle up to baby while going to sleep, then extract yourself afterwards.

I'm not a fan of shushing and patting all the time - I think sleep times should be still, quiet and calm, so not loads of noise and movement. I would do little bits of patting and shushing in order to calm baby if needed, but mostly I'd just lie close, head close to baby's, body's close together, reinserting dummy as needed with my hand on baby's chest. Then just be still in that cuddle and wait.

FATEdestiny · 10/09/2017 18:52

"normal cot/cotbed" (autocorrect changed it to corner)

gigi556 · 11/09/2017 07:24

Thanks FATE, we don't have a sidecar cot and sadly don't have room for one :(

We are using a sleepyhead to "safely" co-sleep but in all honesty I keep falling asleep when I'm feeding in the night and holding him so I'm increasingly uncomfortable for with this so I'm thinking I want to transition him to the cot in his room early. DP is also a very light sleeper so very disturbed with him in the room. I guess neither are recommended options Confused

I've been trying to do most of his naps in the cot during the day to make the transition easier and have had him sleep in his cot for the first night stretch a few times.

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