7 week old will only sleep on my chest

[kauto]

Hi, I've posted before about how my DS will only sleep when he is held. I have started co-sleeping( although this has been reluctantly) so that I can get some sleep and DS doesn't get as distessed as when we try to get him to sleep in the moses basket. Now DS will only sleep on my chest and will not sleep in the bed next to me. I am sleeping propped up on loads of pillows but am getting really bad back and neck ache. Any ideas about how i can make myself more comfortable and/or how to get DS to sleep next to me on the bed?

no real advice sweetheart but my dd was the same (i can't remember sorry) but maybe you could put a comfy cloth in with him that smells of you? start off with it by you first and then gradually move him and the cloth into he basket? maybe he doesn't find the basket that comfortable, some babies don't like them for some reason, dd didn't and it was a waste of money tbh. hth xxx

Have you tried swaddling him? It might give him the same feeling of security that being held does.

HolidaysQueen- have tried swaddling but he really struggles to free his arms and legs.
Fransmom- am going to try using a cloth that smells of me. He used to sleep in his basket until a couple of weeks ago for short periods of time but now doesn't like it.

My DS would only sleep on my chest until he was nearly 3 months old, then he would allow himself to be rolled off to sleep next to me

I really fretted about it,felt guilty and tried loads of different strategies (all of which ended up with me exhausted at 3 in the morning with him on my chest).

Practically, I started propped up on loads of pillows but gradually reduced them, DS didn't seem to care. I got a bed guard to prevent rolling out, wore something with long sleeves so my arms didn't get cold (the duvet was just over my feet and i put a single blanket over DS and myself as it can get warm. During the day he would nap in a sling if i needed to do anything.

Oh and if you are propped up I found it more comfortable to have a long gradual slope of pillows ifswim?

Thanks Gilhowe, it makes me feel better that ds is not the only one. I have been feeling guilty and have been worrying that I will still be sleeping like that when he is 6 months and that he will never sleep in his cot or next to me. I will gradually reduce pillows as he gets a bit older and more settled.

My sister swears by the Amby hammock, it apparently makes babies feel secure and is used for premies, here's a link. I haven't had to use it so can't vouch for it but maybe it will work for you (you can get them on ebay a bit cheaper than buying new).

www.ambyhammock.co.uk

my ds would only sleep on my chest from about 5 weeks old. strangely this was only during the day. would go down ok into cot/moses basket at night but nothing would make him stay there during the day. i know that's not as hard as your situation, but wanted you to know that he did grow out of it by about 10 weeks old.

i used a muslin, initially smelling of me, in the cot and moses basket. think it turned into a sort of security blanket for him.

what about one of those curvy bf pillows for behind your head at night?

Re swaddling - I was told by a night nanny (and have seen with both my dds) that babies DO struggle when you initially swaddle them but then settle as the feel more secure and womblike. So it might be worth persevering a bit to see if he calms down in the swaddle. Good luck

Hi - we have used a Miracle swaddling blanket (from Mothercare) for both dd's, which has helped immensely. Neither of them particularly liked the Moses basket but both slept in it (and dd2 still sleeping in it as only 6 weeks old) once swaddled tightly in the blanket (it's made of cotton). It binds them really tight so it is harder for them to get out - usually she lasts until about 5am in it and stays in it when she feeds in the night.

We also find it helps to wait until she is really sleepy to put her in it. So usually we swaddle her after a feed in the evening.

Good luck - and don't worry: it's not forever and you are not the only one!