Fidgety nine week old

[YfenniChristie]

FTM here. In recent weeks, DS has started fidgeting in his sleep. He'll be (mostly) still when sleeping on me or next to me, and when he's being transferred to his cot, but the moment I remove myself he starts fidgeting - his little arms and legs start going, and he'll usually wake himself up from either kicking the bottom of the cot or from hitting himself in the face. 🤦🏼‍♀️

This is more of a problem at night but it has been known to happen during the day too.

I don't know what to do. I've tried waiting 15-20mins after he's dropped off to put him in the cot but that doesn't always work. Trying to soothe him in the cot doesn't work. I am so tired. I can't cosleep with him and I am terrified of falling asleep while holding him.

Any suggestions?

Oh OP, sending sympathy! So tricky!!! Are you lowering yourself down with him? Babies have all sorts of reflexes at that age. I think there’s something about their body trying to return to the foetal position, so their arms and legs ping up. Lower your body with his until he’s laid in the cot and stay there a moment or two. I tend to put my hand on my babies chest for a while too. Or you could swaddle? Either the traditional way or with a hands up swaddle? (I’ve even got a twice used one that I could send you!) Are you breastfeeding? I feed mine laid down and then slide into the next to me.

Oh and just thought, are you sure he doesn’t have wind? Sometimes wind causes hysteria but actually sometimes it just causes a wiggly baby trying to wiggle it out.

Thank you! I've tried lowering my body with his into the cot and it's hit and miss. The same with putting my hand on his chest.

I'm open to trying swaddling, but with the recent hit weather our bedroom is hovering around 25c (despite my best efforts) and he's started rolling on his side so I'm not sure if it's the best thing to do at the moment.

I didn't even think of wind, that's a distinct possibility! He's very windy in the evenings, but because he isn't screaming at night like he usually does, this didn't occur to me. I'm an idiot. 🤦🏼‍♀️