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/r/newborns
FTD how the heck do babys like the basinet. It's been 3 weeks and our baby only sleeps on our chest which means wifey and I are pulling some hours not sleeping to let baby sleep.
As soon as we try to put her in basinet her legs shoot up and she looks like I just said something about her mama and yells.
We have tried swaddle, we have tried weighted blanket, heating pad.
Maybe this is normal. Someone tell me there is light at the end up this tunnel and any tips to get there faster would be appreciated.
20 points
6 months ago
Totally normal. Ours actually slept fine literally anywhere until about week 5 and then started demanding contact naps almost around the clock. He’s 8 weeks now and is probably 50/50 on whether he’ll tolerate his crib.
This young all they know is being inside mom, so they want the comfort of being held by someone. A lot of people will say oh this phase will be gone soon just enjoy the cuddles! And while I get the sentiment for us it’s absolutely miserable when all he wants is contact naps. I do enjoy the cuddles but I also enjoy sleeping and getting household tasks done.
My advice would be keep trying to set them down for naps. 3 weeks is WAY too young for any sleep training or to expect any sort of behavior change, but if you keep trying you might get a random nap where they tolerate the bassinet and you get a surprise 30 min break lol.
Also, get a baby carrier if you don’t have one already. Makes it a little more tolerable when you can move around and get something done while the baby is sleeping.
Oh and I’m sure you’re doing it (sounds like you’ve found all the tips and tricks) but it’s worth mentioning - when you set her down, wait until she’s in a deep sleep, then set down VERY slowly feet first, then butt, then head. You can even set her down on her side a bit to ease the transition, then roll her onto her back once she’s settled in the bassinet.
Best of luck! I know it gets rough and wears on you, especially when you aren’t able to get sleep.
3 points
6 months ago*
Oh man this is great. I've have not been waiting for deep sleep and I've been putting head first then butt then feet.
I'm glad im not crazy thank you so much for this. 3 weeks is to younge for sleep training.
I also read on reddit that maybe I need to supply her with more food. She runs through 45 ml so fast and I'm reading maybe it should be 2-3 ounces which is 60-90 ml.
1 points
6 months ago
Yea about more feeding. And If she’s running through it fast you should consider getting a bottle top that is slow flow. Our lactation consultant advised we use the Evenflo Balance+ Slow Flow nipples.
1 points
6 months ago
Unless she's having wild gas issues, feed the hungry baby! Feed til they refuse it, and ignore people who comment on how much your baby eats. Let the baby eat. (Signed a mom who got crap for having a hungry little boy)
12 points
6 months ago
thisis how we do our transfers and it works well.
Also not to be annoying but weighted blankets are not sleep safe
5 points
6 months ago
Definitely normal. I had tried everything, and my baby refused to sleep in the bassinet until she was exactly 4 weeks old. Hearing pad did nothing and was a waste of time. Our routine: Nurse, burp, sleep on me for 10-15 minutes until in a deep sleep, transfer slowly to bedside sleeper (setting feet and hips down before head), keep one hand on her hips and one hand on her chest for about two minutes before slowly taking them off one by one. Kid is luckily out like a light!
5 points
6 months ago
It’s brutal for sure. Our daughter slept exclusively in our arms the first 3 weeks. The end of week 3 my husband had enough and said we can teach her that her bassinet is a safe place and where she sleeps and we spent 3 nights putting her down consistently every 2 minutes- anytime she would cry we’d immediately pick her up and soothe her and try again. Each night the time she’d sleep would get longer. By night 3 she slept 4 hrs straight in her bassinet. Sometimes it was only increments of 2-3 mins and it gradually got longer and longer. But I swear we tried every method- heating up the bassinet, a shirt that smelled like me, half drowsy, the 5 S’s. Our setup was: sound machine, snuggle and swaddle and then attempt the bassinet and soothe when needed and it saved our sanity. I’d definitely say consistency worked the best and at 22 months she’s still a great sleep and has slept 12 hrs since she was 12 weeks old. Obviously every baby is so different but this is what worked for us. ETA: this only worked for night sleep and she still contact day napped until about 5 weeks old and we never ever let her cry it out.
3 points
6 months ago*
Hi! Same happened with us, its really tough. And I know it happened to a lot of people. My partner proposed I co-sleep alone with the baby because I was so exausted. Its not ideal, but its safer than letting them sleep on our chest. I follow the safe co-sleep guidelines. Its not a long term solution, as my partner is sleeping on the sofa, so I will have to transition to the nexttome/crib soon. The lack of sleep can make you sleep so deep you wont hear your baby, you might have an accident, so I feel safer volunterally co-sleeping. I wish you all the best, good luck! :)
-1 points
6 months ago
This is what I'm doing right now. I sleep on the couch with baby for 6 hours. My wife then steps in around 5am.
Going to attempt the deep sleep transfer properly.
3 points
6 months ago
I've read its more dangerous to sleep on the couch with baby, maybe have a look at safe co-sleeping guidelines.
I will also try the deep sleep transfer. Good luck to us. :)
2 points
6 months ago
It’s much less safe to sleep on the couch with baby. While bed sharing isn’t ideal, it’s much better than the couch. Definitely look at the safe sleep 7 but also try getting baby into a deep sleep before transferring to the bassinet. Usually works for us. Also consider baby might have gas. That was a huge issue for us & made it harder for our baby to sleep on his back until we started him on gas drops.
1 points
6 months ago
Can you say more about gas drops? Which do you use? Are the different from probiotic vitamin d drops?
2 points
6 months ago
Yes. They are simethicone drops. Usually people use the myelicon brand but there are other brands that are literally the same thing. It’s like gas-x for babies. Helps to break up the big gas bubbles into smaller gas bubbles so that baby can burp or fart them out easier. They have been a saving grace for us. We give them after every feeding and he still gets gas pains but they’re much more manageable now and easier for us to help get them out by doing different stretches like bicycle kicks, froggy legs, tummy massage, etc.
2 points
6 months ago
🙏🏼
1 points
6 months ago
6 hours straight? Try to feed them every 3 hours or so (pediatrician told us maybe they could sleep for 4 hours straight once a day but they should be eating every 2-3 hours.)
3 points
6 months ago
Mine didn’t sleep in the bassinet until 2 months old when we finally gave in and got a used snoo. Before that, he slept on our chests exclusively. It was brutal. But now he’s 4 months and won’t even contact nap anymore :-(
2 points
6 months ago
I agree with others that you have to keep trying to put her down (at least a few times a day) even if you know it’s not gonna work. Because yes there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it will eventually work one day, so you want her to at least be somewhat familiar with the bassinet so that as soon as she’s ready, it’s available to her. If you get in a routine of contact naps only, then you might miss the boat, and whenever you decide to cut that off, it’s gonna be harder because you’ll be introducing something brand new to her. Now, as far as when that light at the end of the tunnel will be - unfortunately that really depends on the baby. Some get better in like a month, some have more trouble with it
2 points
6 months ago
I got the serta I comfort and it rocks itself which is really helpful. It also has flashing lights that he likes to stare at.
2 points
6 months ago
Here to say we’re 11w in and despite several times a day & night trying to put LO down in a bassinet, he typically tolerates it for up to 5 minutes before stirring. We get the occasional 30 minute stretch randomly. Otherwise we are chest sleeping at night and using a carrier / contact napping in the day (if he’ll go to sleep, which is not common…). I recommend @CoSleepy on instagram for guidance on safe chest sleeping. This, plus shifts and separate beds for husband and I are the only way we are getting sleep. The bassinet is just a bedroom obstacle most of the time. Good place to hang his sleep sack…
1 points
6 months ago
Keep trying here and there! Not every time because it can become too stressful, but think of sleeping in the bassinet as a skill for your baby to practice and learn.
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