Patting on the back to help them sleep

[MrsHD]

Sorry, it's a postathon day; always happens after a bad night when my confidence goes in the approach we're taking.

DS, nearly 3 wks old, often calms down when patted on the back and often dozes off if held over your shoulder with his back patted. DD also liked it. DS just fell asleep on my shoulder so I started patting his back gently as I walked up the stairs with him to put him in his cot. Put him down, patted his side instead, and he didn't stir much. No idea how long he'll sleep for, but as these things go, that was quite successful!

Just thought I'd share it as a tip as there's so little help I can offer, I'm always asking instead!

Cool

My ds (almost 6 months ) likes a good old pat on the back when being cuddled to sleep but i keep trying to ssh/pat or even just pat (sometimes just sssh) when he's in his cot but to no avial. I wish i knew how to do it right.

oh yes definitely, when I used to cuddle him to sleep I patted him on the bum, it must be the rhythm and when he wakes up in the night I just turn him back on his side and pat away, discovering it was a life saver.

I think that Tracey Hogg (Baby Whisperer) used to use this - rather than swinging them from side to side which a lot of us do she said it was more calming to do a gentle "shush..pat" type thing. Do you swaddle your DS? We always found that worked with our two.

I was shown this when I had dd (3.6 yrs ago) was told when holding her to settle her hit/tap/snack her bum roughly as it mimics your heartbeat so calsm and settles her. Worked for me.
TBH never tried this in her cot BUT when ds was 1st in hospital at 3 days old the nurses would settle him in his cot by doing the same as above but to his bum while he lay down.(he was full of tubes etc so holdng wasn't always an option.)
Even now when in his cot and wakes I tap his bum gently...