Baby wants to hold my hand at night

[heybearx]

My little boy (9 months) wants to hold my hand when he sleeps. Ive tried giving him a teddy but he doesn't seem to want it - i don't think he likes the softness. Any ideas what else could I give him to hold which isn't my hand!? I need some sleep....! 😴

My 6 year old still wants to hold a hand! My nearly three year old still wants to hold a boob(in his mouth!). I forgot about sleep a long time ago…

Give him an old t shirt of yours that smells of you?

Can you use a next to me or similar so you can hold his hand and just sleep next to him? Or even hand through cot bars next to your bed? I often did that and could fall asleep fine.

Also look up sidecar cot to your bed.

My almost 5 year old likes to do this too… let me know if you find something! I usually just wait til she’s asleep and move

Aw that sounds so cute.

Haha my 4 year old also wants to (he is also a nightmare at night). But my baby won't sleep without touching me and i'm soooo tired.

Thank you, the smell could be a good idea!

That's so cute. I miss those days! Realise doesn't help in the middle of it, can you get a jelly cat and make it smell of you?

I'm worried he will never leave the bedroom haha

My DS loves touch as well, slept holding his hand when he was a baby (my arm draped into the crib, or him next to me in bed once he was over 6 months). He’s still the same now.

My DD used to hold my pulse point in my wrist.

Makes me tearful remembering it.

@heybearx

Don't worry about him leaving your room, optimise sleep for yourself and him being content, he's still very young

It's a win win for everyone

I'm no help at all, just commenting to say this is the sweetest thing ever. My boys are way too old to want to hold my hand now. Cherish every moment

I’m weepy today and this has made me bawl! My son is 18 years, he’s amazing, but I remember this phase… I recommend finding a rubbery texture toy, hold it so it gets to body temperature. Put it in his hand with your hand on top so you are still part of the process. Eventually he will transfer from hand plus toy, to just toy. And then eventually he will be all grown and you will drop him off and he will say ‘I better not hug you goodbye so I don’t catch Covid off you’ and you will end up weeping on mumsnet and rambling on to a mum with a little new baby ❤️

This is so lovely. My 11year old still holds my hand when she wants comfort.

I'm 61 and I still remember my Dad holding my hand as I fell to sleep as a baby and a toddler. And how he would try to sneak out when he thought I was asleep and I would whine so he had to come back. My Dad is the best! Still is at 86.

All mine loved this, just the feel of skin on skin. I use to pass there hands into their own when they fell asleep so they thought I was still holding their hands.

We let our 6yo sleep with us last night, we promised she could one night during the school holidays, it was like her being a baby again, she held both mine and DHs hands all night.

Hold a piece of fabric, perhaps something silky between your hands for 3 days. Then each day give him less of your hand (until you're down to a finger) and more of the material. Eventually he'll be happy to hold the material.

So sweet tho😭

The feedback has made me emotional now! Maybe i need go keep holding his hand!! ...But i also need at least a little bit of sleep!
Rubber toy/giving him my smell is a great idea. Will give it a try, thank you

My 9 yr old was like this and still is.

I have a 3d image/ scan of her around 6 mths. She was holding her left thumb with her right hand.

She always loved skin and when we co-slept I had to hold her left hand whilst she held my right thumb. Months of no full sleep.

I sit by her bed reading her a story and she still wants to hold my hand. If she's anxious she wants to hold my thumb.

When her dad is in night shift, she comes in with me and it's the same hand holding.

I cherish it as I know it's not for much longer.

Going through the same thing as OP but these responses really made me tear up! It's true, it goes so fast. You will sleep again.

💗💗💗

It is indeed tough. I can’t sleep with anyone touching me. So I get her to cuddle my husband as I’d literally lie awake all night!

So sweet and you will sleep again. My children needed so much night time comfort but now all this feels a long time ago and I sleep all night long. I’d get a cot that attaches to your bed