Any advice for newbie parents?! RE sleeping

kevin0410

our 3 day old baby boy cries soon after being put in his crib. he will sleep while being held or after a feed but we don't want to get into that habit!!

i'm sure, in time, that we will crack it but in the mean time can anyone offer any advice?

many thanks

kevin

Broken_hearted

Babies don't like to be put down, in time he'll learn to settle just give it time.

louisehj

I know what you mean about getting into a habit but he is only 3 days old. Holding him close will make him feel like he is still in the womb and will settle him. At this stage it isnt something that can become a habit. Swaddling him could help as he will feel wrapped and again like he is still in the womb. HTH

sarymclary

He's just not used to being on his own - he's had his mum's comfort for 9 months, and being left alone is simply weird for him right now. There's not much chance of him developing a bad habit at such a young age, and once he's in a deep enough sleep you will be able to get him into his own cot, but for now just give him the reassurance and comfort he needs after feeding. As the weeks pass he will adjust to going down in his cot, and in fact you can develop the routine of laying him down whilst still asleep to get used to falling off to sleep without you.

Chances are he'll be disturbing himself when he moves his arms around, so perhaps he might like having a light sheet wrapped around him (a bit like how they used to swaddle babies years ago), but make sure he's not likely to overheat, and the room temperature isn't too warm.

itsmylife_2

Congratulations on your new baby

With my DS, I kept thinking to myself... it must be so horrible to come from such a lovely warm place where you didn't have to do anything for yourself to feeling cold, hungry, having a wet nappy... so give him a few days of extra cuddles to help him feel secure and don't feel like you are going to get him into a bad routine... you will find it just falls into place eventually. Sometimes babies can be settled in their cots, by stroking their skin and talking or singing gently to them, swaddling is another idea, but please do this sensibly as babies can overheat with swaddling... and accept any offers of help that will let you and baby's mum get a while to sleep yourselves! Good luck and enjoy

wallyberry

At three days old he needs cuddles. At three years you might have a problem with a little one that needs to be held to sleep, but he's only a little tiny person that's brand new in a big scary unfamiliar world. The only familiar thing is mum, with a bit of dad thrown in for good measure....

Bear in mind that new things are happening in his body, and that he might have a bit of wind or even reflux.

If he's breastfed, perhaps he hasn't quite had enough to eat...? It's always worth winding and changing a sleepy baby to wake it a bit again, then trying to put it back on the same side. If it won't take the first side again, try the other side. If there's still no interest he's probably full, but it's possible they might take a bit more.

Another tip, try warming the cot or basket mattress before you put him down - even friction from rubbing your hand over it would work.... Sometimes they hit a cold mattress coming from a nice warm lap and realise that something has happened.

Try putting a hand on his chest or tummy when you put them down. Seems to work well and give them a bit of security. Also running a finger or hand gently from the top of the forehead down the nose - it makes them close their eyes. There is a reason white noise like shushing works.

Try any or all of the above. May well not work - after all he's a tiny person and mum is his world. But you can try.

Good luck!

Jenni
La Leche League Breastfeeding Peer Counsellor
Moneysaving Mummy to three (5, 3, 1)
Very, very tired!

Agutka

Aww, bless. Congratulations.
My ds would not sleep for the first two weeks at all (it seemed to me anyway) and only when someone introduced me to swaddling was he happy to be put down. We spent many a week on the sofa during the day with me holding him while he slept. It allowed me to relax in front of the telly in peace. It was great (with hindsight! lol). Anyway, at night time after that initial two week period plus a night here and there he has slept through the night after being put down awake.

clairewp

Agutka wrote: »

Aww, bless. Congratulations.
My ds would not sleep for the first two weeks at all (it seemed to me anyway) and only when someone introduced me to swaddling was he happy to be put down. We spent many a week on the sofa during the day with me holding him while he slept. It allowed me to relax in front of the telly in peace. It was great (with hindsight! lol). Anyway, at night time after that initial two week period plus a night here and there he has slept through the night after being put down awake.

I am a second one that thinks swaddling made it easier all round and a bath before you put them to bed seemed to help, routine and all that.

fsdss

i too would recommend swaddling - but make sure the hands are at the mouth area so that baby can comfort himself, and circulate air with moving hand.
it is perfectly safe practice, making sure that baby sleeps on his back of course. after swaddling a light blanket will suffice.
a natural sounding (i.e womb sound) cd playing softly in the background will help.

inkie

Have a chat with the Midwife!

Fizog

I always played soft soothing music when I put mine down, classic fm, yoga, tropical rain forest meditation cds. Lightly swaddle the little one, give a gentle cuddle and when sleepy place the baby gently down. Stroke babies nose if he/she stirsit will close their eyes.
Mine were so well into the music that when I put the tape in the machine at 6 months old they would lay down to wait for the music...when 3/4 they liked story tapes and now as teenagers we are back to music.