Newborn not taking to the moses basket well

toffifee

When I had my first I was told that it doesn't matter very much what you do in the first three months since they won't form any habits in that time. I tried really hard to get both of mine into a good routine but on the bad nights when they would only settle by going to sleep in my arms that piece of advice made me worry less that I was making problems for myself, as long as the general direction was the one I wanted to them to go in.

Mine both hated being swaddled but as soon as they were big enough I put them into Gro Bags. They could move their legs but stayed warm while wriggling in the night and during feeds. Can't recommend them highly enough, but make sure you take note of the tog rating and the temperature in the room so that you don't add too many layers and overheat the baby.

One other piece of information I wish I had had in the early days: you just get into something resembling a nice routine and then the baby has a growth spurt - is extra hungry all the time and won't settle. Perhaps not a problem if you're bottle feeding but I was BF and I didn't know what had hit me!

I remember those early days being so hard but it won't always be like that. Good luck.

doodoot

Oh the memories of a newborn...:eek:

Unless you are blessed with a miracle baby who sleeps all the time and doesn't cry, then you will get days/nights where regardless of what you do your little one will cry and cry and cry.

Warm the moses basket as others have said, and although it sounds like bad parenting sometimes you just have to let them have a good whinge.

Obviously check that they have fed enough, have a clean nappy, is warm enough and there's no burping needed...if all else fails then you will just have to suck it up I'm afraid.

My eldest was so demanding in the early weeks that I was like a zombie, but it really does get easier for everyone once a routine is established.

Don't forget, your little one has been used to being curled up in a warm tummy for months...being on her own is alien to her, bless the little thing. :A

dantheman2010

What do you suggest during the day for when she wont sleep?

This is my suggestion -

Day time –

Feed, wind, change
Straight in bouncer or basket

Evening time –

Bath, feed, wind, change
Straight in basket

Night time –

Warm basket with hot water bottle
Pop a t shirt smelling of OH underneath her
Feed, wind, change
No picking her up to comfort her if the above has been done, let her settle herself.

patchwork_cat

There is something very important left out of the list for daytime - lots of cuddles! That is tongue in cheek - I know the list is not exhaustive! Also gently rubbing her tummy and if she is getting colic early you could try lying her with her tummy across your knee and rubbing her back in the evening.

She is very young to be expecting her to settle herself, really. Have you got a tune that you play, we had a cot side thing that played a tune and was a light show, obvioulsy no good in a moses basket, but perhaps a little lullaby?

dantheman2010

patchwork_cat wrote: »

She is very young to be expecting her to settle herself, really.

But this is the bit we are struggling to understand, do we pick her up and let her settle on us. Or just leave her?

We have a mobile but thats on the cot, so wouldnt work on the moses basket.

The cuddles during the day, should be when she is awake I guess? If she is asleep then it is more time of her being held when asleep?

We had also been leaving the landing light on with the door open a bit, but I know a lot of people say there should be no light, so I think we will try that too.

mildred1978

dantheman2010 wrote: »

What do you suggest during the day for when she wont sleep?

This is my suggestion -

Day time –

Feed, wind, change
Straight in bouncer or basket

Evening time –

Bath, feed, wind, change
Straight in basket

Night time –

Warm basket with hot water bottle
Pop a t shirt smelling of OH underneath her
Feed, wind, change
No picking her up to comfort her if the above has been done, let her settle herself.

She is 9 DAYS OLD!!!! I'm no liberal leftie but expecting her to adjust to the outside world from mum's tummy (where she was held tight, fed on demand, surrounded by noise and rocked to sleep by mum's every movement) because it bugs you is abhorrant.

I was lucky to have an angel baby in my son. He co-slept with us in our bed exclusively for just under a year (he slept on me for the first 4 months). We didn't own a moses basket. He had the odd night where he couldn't settle. This really helped us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddRkI5wVIqQ

By the way, it's thought that the only reason babies are born after 9 months is because if they went to full term (a year) women wouldn't be able to push them out. The first 3 months after birth is known as the 'fourth trimester' and you should be trying to recreate the conditions inside the womb for your baby. You can't spoil a newborn with cuddles.

dantheman2010

mildred1978 wrote: »

She is 9 DAYS OLD!!!!

I know that, hence my post, which is also why I asked what should we do at night time when she wont settle in the moses basket as everyone says to leave them to settle themselves.

There is so many conflicting opinions on what to do.

mildred1978

dantheman2010 wrote: »

I know that, hence my post, which is also why I asked what should we do at night time when she wont settle in the moses basket as everyone says to leave them to settle themselves.

There is so many conflicting opinions on what to do.

Who exactly has said that?

It's very early days, but you and your wife need to start trusting your own instincts. Think of it as going from sleeping in a warm cosy bed to being put down to sleep in an outdoor car park. Would you like it?

What do you think is right for you and your daughter? Bu99er what anyone else says.

(Co-sleeping can help, especially if breastfeeding. There's lots of information about how to do it safely.)

dantheman2010

I would prefer to try and settle her in the moses basket and if it doesnt work, then co-sleeping so we can all get some rest.

mildred1978

dantheman2010 wrote: »

I would prefer to try and settle her in the moses basket and if it doesnt work, then co-sleeping so we can all get some rest.

How long are you expecting her to settle for? Swaddling can help, but don't expect her to go more than an hour at a time for the next few weeks. Her tummy is the size of a marble and will need topping up regularly.

Did you do any antenatal classes?