How to get newborn to sleep / Did you let your newborn sleep on you in the early days?

[ziggazig]

Hi, how did you get your baby to transition to their next to bed crib? Our newborn (5 days old) won't sleep in the snuzpod, which I understand is completely normal.

So DH and I have have been doing shifts to let her sleep on us throughout the night - the only problem is on my shift I have nodded off a couple of times and feel absolutely awful about this but I'm just so tired.

The duvet is pushed down so it is just over my legs and I'm laying back on about 4 pillows to support me. It's a foam mattress and I have laptop and snacks to keep me awake during the shift. And DH is sleeping in spare room.

Any help or advice on newborn sleep would be most appreciated!

No advice but just wanted to say our DS was 5 weeks premature and wouldn’t sleep unless he was on me. After a few weeks of no sleep for me, I started to use a a big t shirt under him almost like a sheet, and after 15 minutes or so, I would carefully move him and the t shirt (making sure it was safe/not a danger) into his Moses basket so that he could still smell me. I would then manage to get a few hours of sleep while he slept. A few weeks later we also got a Ewan the dream sheep and the two techniques together worked amazingly.

@Someaddedsugar has given some great advice there! DD was also premature so the next to me crib felt huge for her. I used to get her to sleep on me then transfer her over, took a bit of time and the using a muslin or sheet under baby so it’s warm and has the smell works well. Over time she didn’t need it anymore and could be put down in it no problem!

She now sleeps in her crib in her room no bother at all. 5 weeks is so tiny this will definitely pass, I wish DD would sit still long enough to fall asleep on me sometimes 😊

Best of luck OP x

This was me a year ago with my DS, totally normal for this age but our boy ended up with reflux so we had to have him sleep with us till the medication was sorted which took ages.
If you are worried about falling asleep their are some things you can do to make it as safe as possible if you do drop off accidentally, as you said like ensuring the duvets away from baby. You can find them online but things like keep a barrier between baby and edge of bed, ways to position yourself so you won’t roll over etc.

Good luck x