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Original poster

Getting newborn to sleep in Moses basket

23 replies

Tesstickle789 · 14/07/2019 09:05

My newborn is eight days old, and I cannot get her to sleep in her Moses basket, for love nor milk.
She will go to sleep on me or my OH, will transfer asleep, and go down asleep, but within a minute of being down in the basket she stirs.. then wakes. Then I have to start all over again. I ended up having her in bed with me for a couple of hours this morning, which I said I would never do because of SID, and I want her to have her own space and not build a rod for my back later on by having her in my bed. But last three nights she basically hasn’t slept. I’m pooped, OH is doing all he can, but sadly can’t lactate, and if she sleeps with him it’s on his chest- but if I get two have a couple of hours sleep during the day I don’t really mind at the moment, but I feel it could be part the problem, as again if he puts her in the basket she wakes. What can I do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Pippinsqueak · 14/07/2019 09:16

Maybe put a hot water bottle in the Moses basket so it's not cold when you transfer (obviously take bottle out just before).

A heart beat white noise app to mimic being on you.

Swaddling?

I had a rough first three weeks I couldn't get my baby to sleep unless she was on me. I ended up sleeping upright with her on me for six weeks either in bed or downstairs. Not advisable by health visitors but I had to survive somehow and it's amazing how no matter how exhausted I was as soon as she twitched I woke up. But I'm not saying to do this just my experience

SnowsInWater · 14/07/2019 09:29

Not sure how helpful this is but DD (my third child) would never settle in her Moses basket unlike her brothers, every time we tried to put her down she would howl. I am not a co-sleeping kind of parent but in the end this is what we did as it was the only way for anyone to get some sleep. We all co-slept for six months at which point she happily moved to a cot in one of her brothers' rooms. Tbh it was fine, DH and I probably slept better with her than the others. Sometimes we have to readjust our expectations! Good luck x

BikeRunSki · 14/07/2019 09:30

Put a t shirt you have been wearing in with you, so she can smell you.

BikeRunSki · 14/07/2019 09:30

“In with her”, not “in with you”.

burritofan · 14/07/2019 09:33

You're safer doing planned, safe co-sleeping than accidentally falling asleep with her. My DD was the same and we ended up giving away the basket, but would sleep next to me at night. Push the duvet down to waist level or ditch it altogether and tuck your pillow behind your head, curl around her in a C shape – if she's on your left, have your left arm out above her head, knees tucked up underneath her.

(obviously only co sleep if you're breastfeeding, non-smoker etc etc.)

After a week or so of this I was gradually able to shift DD into her sidecar crib. (She's now back in my armpit most nights but that's another story. She starts out in the crib but her sleep has got so shit, waking every hour, it's easier to have her next to me to pin down her flailing legs.)

Day naps we've yet to conquer – a wrap or sling is a godsend. Enlist visitors to hold her while you kip. Sometimes I'm able to feed her to sleep for a nap on the bed and she'll stay there if I have one too. Honestly, it's not a rod for your own back – it's survival in the first few weeks. It doesn't mean you're signing up to cosleeping for life (at least I hope it doesn't!)

Sandybval · 14/07/2019 09:34

Ewan the dream sheep...

Stuckforthefourthtime · 14/07/2019 09:35

I have 4 and only one slept in the Moses basket. Some children really really really want to be with you in the early days! Have you got a sleepyhead? Some of my friends have sworn by that.

Otherwise if you do go the cosleeping route it's better that you do it intentionally and make it as safe as possible Vs falling into it from exhaustion. These guidelines are very helpful. cosleeping.nd.edu/safe-co-sleeping-guidelines/

As they have got older, all of mine were fine with sleeping separately, just keep trying even if it's not every nap or even every day. Congratulations and you'll get there, be kind to all of yourselves, the early days are hard work even when they are wonderful.

nespressowoo · 14/07/2019 09:40

Google third trimester.

This is completely normal. I ended up co-sleeping. DS sleeps fine in his own bed.

You will never make a rod of your own back - I hate that saying.

Dobinette · 14/07/2019 10:33

Sometimes a folded blanket under the mattress head end helps. Both of mine preferred a slightly elevated sleeping position.

Thesearmsofmine · 14/07/2019 10:35

This is what babies do! Do you have a cosleeper crib? Best thing I ever had.

Original poster

Tesstickle789 · 14/07/2019 13:51

Thank you for all your suggestions, it’s my first time at this, and it’s really nice to get opinions and reassurance

OP posts:

Sunflower160 · 14/07/2019 15:42

My DS was exactly the same for the first 2-3 weeks and I co slept during that time. I think they have just been so used to being snug in the womb that they want to stay close to you, it’s just natural for such a young baby, you aren’t making a rod for your own back. I knew that I didn’t want to co sleep long term so we bought a Sleepyhead and put in in the crib attached to our bed and he slept for 2-3 hour stretches at first, it was worth every penny.

BertrandRussell · 14/07/2019 15:48

Honestly? At this stage whatever gets the most sleep for the most people. She doesn’t need her own space and you can’t make a rod for your own back with a person who has no wants, only needs. Meet her needs now, and she will be settled and secure. You can’t spoil her- you really can’t.

PandaMum88 · 14/07/2019 15:52

Mine was the exact same for the first couple weeks. DH and I took turns staying awake so DS could sleep on us...it was exhausting! But honestly can say that's a distant memory now and barely remember we even had to do that!

What worked for us was white noise, putting a shirt in the basket that smelled like me, and a dummy.

You'll get there!

JacksHat · 14/07/2019 15:53

I would second a sleepyhead and planned safe co-sleeping. Also I found the “Love to Dream” arms up swaddle sleeping bag very useful. It stopped them thrashing around and waking themselves up. If you can sleep early on when your other half can baby then do, then you can take over and he can get some sleep.
I’ve also used “The Shrunks” inflatable bed bumpers to stop them rolling off the bed when co-sleeping, just in case you didn’t wake when they were shuffling around & I had a folded up duvet on the floor.

Fedupatforty · 14/07/2019 15:54

8 days is still very little so I wouldn’t worry about starting a bad habit with him yet - they are still totally unaware that they’re not in the womb yet let alone learning habits...
DS is currently 9 weeks and settles well in Moses basket and stays there for around 6hours 🙂. He was sleeping on me and DH for a few weeks - every night is different early on... we always tried to get him to settle in the basket (rocking, shushing, hot water bottle etc) failed, gave up and then gradually we started to get more and more occasions when he did actually settle and what was a fluke has gradually become the norm (for now!)

Pippinsqueak · 14/07/2019 15:55

My daughter slept in her bassinet in her pram for the first 2-3 months of her life and we slowly transitioned into the next to me crib.

It's all trial and error and you have to do what works best for you and your baby. I did it too much and got myself in a tizz

celebrityskin · 14/07/2019 15:59

Try rolling a small towel up and making a big "n". This lines the edge of the Moses and makes the baby feel more cosy. Worked really well for both of mine. Will try and find pic..

Getting newborn to sleep in Moses basket

BarryBarryTaylor · 14/07/2019 16:00

Just to echo BertrandRussell your baby is 8days old, you aren’t creating a rod for your own back. They simply can’t get enough contact as this point, your aren’t spoiling her I promise.

My daughter was tiny and she liked to be really snuggly so we swaddled at night and used sleepyhead during the day.
Still now as a 4yr old she likes to be tucked into her bed really tight. Once we found what she liked she was a solid sleeper.

LegoLady95 · 14/07/2019 16:48

I used to feed mine by holding a flattish pillow with baby on the pillow during the day, then transfer to the moses basket asleep still on the pillow. Baby didnt seem to notice then.

I wouldn't do it at night though as I was worried about SIDS.

Original poster

Tesstickle789 · 14/07/2019 19:59

Thank you for your comments, we have Ewan the dream sheep and listen to the heart beat every time I try putting her down. I think I’m going to have a go at co sleeping a bit more, I just worry about the SID aspect, even when I will be doing it as instructed. I just want to do my best for my little girl, and me being teary and tired won’t help. I’m also looking at one of the next to me cots, it could be the way forward! OH is going to carry on holding her whilst I sleep. Dreading him going back to work!

OP posts:

georgialondon · 14/07/2019 20:01

It's totally normal. Mine never would. I sold it as new on eBay. Mine only sleep in a Sleepyhead when they are tiny.

Pippinsqueak · 14/07/2019 21:32

I put my daughter in a next to me crib and she wouldn't settle. In hindsight it was to much of an empty cold space after being inside somewhere warm and cosy. Maybe try and put the Moses basket in that or a sleepy head in it first to make it more cosy. I went from bassinet of pram downstairs to carrying it upstairs and putting it in the next to me then after a while just did the next to me.

You re right do what ever you need to to get done sleep safely for the pair of you. Sleep deprivation is torture

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