My 7 week baby won’t fall asleep unless moving in sling

[AJW90]

Hey everyone, desperate mum to a 7 week old little one. Am utterly besotted with our baby but finding that unless he’s rocked in a sling (has diagnosed CMPA / reflux so not a fan of lying down) he won’t fall asleep. I totally understand that at this age they contact nap and have no issues with this and even happy to keep him upright even though that’s been a tough and exhausting process (shifts with partner at night to keep him held up!), it’s more that with so many naps in the day at this age I can’t sustain the constant movement several times a day for hours to get him to fall asleep, I had a blood transfusion at birth and am severely anaemic and it exhausts me.
I’ve read all the tips about swaddling / white noise etc and it’s the same issue which is that I can do all of those but unless he is in aggressive motion, he won’t fall asleep, not even in my arms or on my chest, not even for a few minutes. Im totally fine with being nap trapped but I can’t keep moving and scared ill get really faint and ill this way. Today was fine nap wise because I walked all day from 9-5pm on and off but now I’m so exhausted I feel sick.
any tips welcome.

Congratulations 💐

do you have a gym/yoga ball? We used to bounce on one with baby in the sling/arms. It gives enough movement but you actually get to sit down!

Thank you! I’ve just ordered one yesterday so fingers crossed that’s an alternative @Morwenscapacioussleeves - when did this end for you? I feel like I don’t even mind doing this but it feels wildly unsustainable, I’m out of the house all day making sure he’s not a sobbing mess for his naps. We are on top of making sure he’s never overtired so can’t even put it to that and once he’s asleep he’s a great sleeper providing it’s not flat

You have my sympathy OP my daughter used to love being swung aggressively jn a blanket! Have you tried a bouncer that rocks automatically like a Mamaroo or similar? Also, we used a Cocoonababy mattress for my daughter which helped with her reflux as she wasn't completely flat.

My children are firmly in the won't sleep/don't sleep camp so you probably don't want my answers 🙈😂 the bouncing didn't last too long but the not sleeping definitely did.

However, my experience is that newborns are in general harder work until 12weeks and then it starts getting easier.

I hope the easier comes soon for you.

Just an odd thing but with my eldest as a new born she wouldn't sleep when I was completely exhausted/properly sleep deprived & if DH bounced her he said she fell asleep at the same moment as I did.

It’s quite crazy isn’t it @Pickledprawn ? I feel so guilty for not being able to do it constantly before remembering that I can’t walk the entire planet to facilitate these naps! He’s great as soon as he gets off but any other method and we’ll see him awake for hours which is never a wise move. At least my pregnancy weight is sliding off without much effort! Will look into Mamaroo, but am wondering if it’ll work given it’s not on me. When did it ease up for you?

and thanks re mattress, will check that out too for his reflux (whole different issue…)

Uh oh haha, hope your sleep troubles are manageable now @Morwenscapacioussleeves !

lack of sleep I can deal with as have always done savage shift work and that’s not what’s bothered me so far, but the constant movement took its toll today as I just started feeling unwell for his last nap around 6pm having been moving him around all day. I just need to know it’s normal and it stops one day!

Nothing ever stays the same, times ten for babies! It will definitely change & hopefully soon.

You shouldn't underestimate how brutal anaemia is.

(Thank you no more sleep trouble here - My youngest is 10, the rest are teens. They all need very little sleep whilst I am suddenly finding I need much more 🤣 but I can leave them to it!)

Sorry OP, that sounds tough! (And congrats btw)
Are you breastfeeding? The only way mine will sleep is by nursing when laying down sideways it's not ideal long term but it your arms a break? If you're bottle feeding though I don't know if that'll work