Get baby to sleep without being held??

[AlltheQs]

Hi all,
My LO is almost 6weeks now. For the first 4 weeks she was completely fine being put down - we would put her in her sleepyhead during the day and put her in her next2me at night. She would sometimes fuss and want held again but generally settled well with no issues.

Last week she developed a chest infection and couldn’t breathe through her nose which obviously panicked her (and me!), and just wanted comfort all the time, I mean ALL the time.
Suddenly I had to hold her upright during our meals and all through the night (wedged with 6pillows so I could try and doze in 10-20min segments) or she would scream and make herself sick. She isn’t completely over it yet, but she’s been held almost constantly for a week and I’m wondering how I transition her to going down again?

I have her cot tilted and no matter how slowly / gradually I try and place her down in it she will wake within 20seconds and screech.

Any advice massively appreciated 😢

She's still so tiny and recovering. It's a massive deal for her being ill in the fourth trimester, when she's still feeling vulnerable from being born. All she will want at the moment is your heartbeat, smell and warmth. You are her everything, especially when poorly. Don't worry about it until she's better (and bigger)...have low expectations here, in my experience every time they're ill things don't necessarily go back to how they were before another development leap comes and throws things in the air again. Hope she's fully better soon.

Thanks for your response @Flittingaboutagain. I’ve been telling myself it’s ok and trying not to worry about it cause she’s so going, but just worry that before I know it she’ll be nearly 3 months and will only know sleeping on new / will be an even harder habit to break.

Plus I’m desperate for a semi decent and safe sleep again !!

do you have swaddling? a very tight swaddle can be effective - I used MiracleSwaddle which can be tighter than most.

Also, if she is asleep in your arms, hold her for a good 15 mins (time it) until she is deeply asleep before you try to put her down.

white noise might help if your house is prone to people crashing around.

My biggest lesson so far has been not to change something that works today for fear of tomorrow....as things change so quickly on their own

Ahh the 6 week sleep regression. It's a bugger, right now baby is doing a massive mental leap and it will make her a little bit more clingy, let her cuddle you to sleep and the fussiness will past in next few weeks or so, once it does look out for babies first true smile ! It makes up for the lack of sleep trust me !

Mine was so easy for the first 5 weeks then week 6-12 was hell. She had to be rocked to sleep for every nap and at bedtime. . It was ridiculous. We would rock her in the pram most nights to save my arms and then stealthily try and put her down. I would do my best to change things for fear or teaching her bad habits and making a rod for my own back till both of us ended in tears. It got easier until she started sleeping through and self settling but whenever she's sick she wants to be held to sleep and same when she's overtired. She's 9 months now.