3 week old impossible to put down

[Gargula]

Hi,
My 3 week old DD will NOT be put down to sleep. She will sleep only in a sling (during the day) and literally on top of either myself or DH during the night.
While I know she is still very young I would like to know when this stage is likely to pass - as I'm getting very tired!
We're not really doing anything to encourage her to settle somewhere else (we do try to put her down but she immediately wakes and cries - and I'm not prepared to leave her to cry at all) so does anyone have any tips?
Didn't have this with DS who was more happy to be left somewhere so need re-assurance that this will pass and she wont be falling asleep in a sling at age 16!!!

Hi,
Mine was they same for 6 weeks, then improved and slept in her own cot at 12 weeks (not through the night though, I must add, but 12 hours with 2 or three quick feeds).
All I cau say is swaddle her!
Swaddle her, let har fall asleep on you or how ever she likes then put her in her cot.
Place a muslim or something that smells of you in her cot (or moses basket) as well.
Slowly you can allow her to be a little more awake when you put her down ed asleep, then just asleep, then v v drowsey etc etc!
We used the miracle blanket from mothercare!
Good Luck!

Mine was the same til about 6 months!

I found one of those battery operated swings saved my sanity (not the bouncy chairs, the actual motorised ones).

Some people aren't keen on them but if you don't overuse them I think they're fine. I used to put DD in it so I could eat my dinner with two hands.

Yes, we went through this and it sounds completely normal for 3 weeks. Agree swaddling is a good idea. Also you might like to try the gradual stages of:

Sleep on you
Sleep in moses basket next to you on the bed, with your arm holding her for reassurance
Move moses basket next to bed
Move mosers basket into cot
Sleep in cot

I found the stage of moses basket next to bed lasted quite a while, and required me with my arm out rocking the basket for most of the night. Have no idea how I slept.

All the best, it does get better.

Ooh, yes, been there - quite recently. DD is now 14 weeks, but you could be telling my story of the first six weeks.

It will pass. I did pick-up-put-down, Sssh-patting and gradual acclimatisation into other sleeping environments just by sheer perseverance. She now sleeps in a baby nest (Cocoonababy) in a side-car arrangement of our bed and takes several naps in her pram (with the help of some rocking of the latter).

Agree that swaddling can help and also Dr Karp's 5S soothing technique.

It's tough if you've got another child to care for - but it definitely won't last for too long.

And congratulations!

Thanks everyone - some good ideas there!
Sometimes it just feels like there's no end to it when it's 4 in the morning!