Hi,
I'm a new mum with an 8 wo that'll only (and has only ever) sleep in a sling. Not only that but the majority of the time she'll wake up frequently (can be every 10 mins) crying and the only way to settle her back is to bop furiously on an exercise ball or walk vigourously whilst playing white noise. This has been the case for as long as I can remember. She won't sleep anywhere else (although has done an occasional 20 min nap in the pram but generally really doesn't like it in there). I don't think the issue is that she wants to be close to me (as she won't sleep directly on me and she will sleep on whoever wears the sling). So it's probably a combination of movement, being upright and lack of stimulation (she's a very very alert and active baby in the day and fights sleep). The situation doesn't feel sustainable - I'm physically knackered and it's mentally draining too as I feel like I'm on high alert the whole time waiting for her to cry out.
At night we have to get her into a deep sleep in the sling first but happily we can at least transfer her to a sleepyhead where she sleeps ok in the night (although I pretty much feed her to sleep). I occasionally try transferring her once in a deep sleep in the sling but she wakes up pretty immediately. I'm also worried as the more I try putting her down elsewhere and failing the less sleep she gets and more overtired and I don't want that to affect her otherwise ok night sleeps.
Any ideas for what I should do and when? Or do I have to trust that she'll grow out of it and will sleep somewhere else eventually? Any advice or hearing from others who've had the same issue would provide much reassurance to a frazzled and upset mum!