Early Days Sleep Nightmare

[Carla81]

My baby boy is a week old today and has not slept at all during the night in the 6 nights we've been home. Initially he wouldnt settle in moses basket at all and would only sleep in our arms, day or night. 2 days ago he started sleeping fine in moses basket during day but as soon as we went to bed he would cry as soon as we put him down (same basket, sheets, blankets etc).
This afternoon we tried carrying him up in basket when already asleep and he stayed in bedroom in basket for 2 hrs. It just seems to be nightime he wont sleep!
Is this normal, oh thinks its simply cos he is sleeping 90% of day that he just comes alive at night. Anyone else have this problem? Its only been a week but we are slowly going crazy with no sleep whatsoever during the night!

 

[El1en]

For some it's pretty normal, some things you could try

1) put a hot water bottle in the basket for a little while before baby goes in
2) put a used breast pad in the basket so baby can smell you... Or if formula feeding a tshirt of yours
3) gently put your hand on babies chest in the basket for a little while or stroke his face
4) put some white noise on

Lots of babies only sleep when being held to begin with, just keep trying and make sure you're taking turns

 

[Baby2sky]

It is normal for some babies to be this way. It's definitely not because he sleeps too much in the day though so dont worry about that.

My lo was similar at first. What helped with us was a combination of white noise on phone, elevated basket, and basket warmed before we put him down. Also a user on here recommended him sleeping in the crook of our arm.until he drifted off then transfer him back to basket after 20 mins (something to do with baby sleep cycle times). These things worked sometimes, but honestly not all the time. It's horrendous at first but it WILL pass hun. By around the 4/5 week mark our baby has slept lovely at night so there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Is he your first? If so I would definitely recommend sleeping as much as you can in the day when he does and almost turn.nocturnal for.a.little bit. Good luck xxx

 

[Lucyboo]

Some babies just don't take to moses baskets. My niece hated hers too. Our lg only slept in hers downstairs but would only ever sleep in it around ten mins. We ended up with a bedside Co sleeper where you can put the side down. Best purchase we made as she slept like a dream and we're pretty lucky from early on. I could just reach my arm over and soothe her in the night. It defo might be the smell thing as others say if your milk has come in x

 

[Lucyboo]

Oh and there's a music album. We stream it online but you ight be able to buy it called baby music. Help your baby get to sleep. It's a mix of classical style piano music. Worked a treat when out lg was teeny

Listen to Baby Music: Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Bedtime Baby on Napster: http://www.napster.co.uk/album/Alb.31834949

 

[dolly26]

My lg wouldn't sleep in her basket for the first few weeks so we co-slept for a while. But once I stopped bf and changed to ff I had a different baby. Also white noise it really works get an app. And sleep when baby sleeps don't worry about housework etc.

There is a saying sleep breeds sleep and I firmly believe in it. My lg is 15 weeks and from 3 weeks old has only been getting up once in the night and has now completely dropped her 4am feed. And I just let her sleep when she wants during the day. It does get easier xx

 

[lisastevo]

We found swaddling was the only way for our little man to sleep soundly, otherwise he would constantly wake himself up. Have you tried that?x

 

[Phoenix85]

It's normal, and the reason I co sleep

 

[Carla81]

Thanks alll, have tried swaddling but he doesnt seem to like it, wriggles till he gets his arms out!
I have downloaded an app with white noise etc so will try that tonight.
A few people have suggested the hot water bottle in basket first so will also try that.
I dont think theres a major issue with him not liking basket as he will sleep in there no problem during day.
I am too scared to co-sleep just because i am at the level of tiredness that i am scared of falling asleep and hurting him!
Thanks all, he is my first baby and i and i am just getting so down and stressed that i am doung something majorly wrong, i dont expect him to have a sleeping routing at this point its just so strange that as soon as we go up to the bedroom he instantly changes and wont settle at all! X

 

[Phoenix85]

In part it's because in utero sleep patterns are messed up. When you're active and here's noise (during the day) it lulls them to sleep. When you stop moving and it's quiet, like on a night, they tend to wake up and be active. For a while after they're born they still fall asleep to movement and noise and wake up when it's quiet.
But it's also partially because they feel safer within touching distance of you.

 

[Lolie14]

We had to get a sleepyhead to go in Emilie's crib as she wouldn't sleep at night unless in our arms. She took to it straight away. I have a baby sounds app which plays sounds like womb noises and today that still settles her.

 

[Smileygirl]

Also, in the very early days, babies are 'programmed' to wake when the best milk comes in, which is at night... I don't know how they know, but somehow they do! Your little one may be wanting to cluster freed x

 

[TTT]

Thanks alll, have tried swaddling but he doesnt seem to like it, wriggles till he gets his arms out!
I have downloaded an app with white noise etc so will try that tonight.
A few people have suggested the hot water bottle in basket first so will also try that.
I dont think theres a major issue with him not liking basket as he will sleep in there no problem during day.
I am too scared to co-sleep just because i am at the level of tiredness that i am scared of falling asleep and hurting him!
Thanks all, he is my first baby and i and i am just getting so down and stressed that i am doung something majorly wrong, i dont expect him to have a sleeping routing at this point its just so strange that as soon as we go up to the bedroom he instantly changes and wont settle at all! X

I was also scared of being too tired at first as I was induced and in labour for two days with no sleep it took me a while to recover, so much so I would sleep next to the cot and his screams wouldn't wake me.up, my husband would have to wake me to feed him. We also have a soft mattress.

We took it in turns to sleep and let him sleep on us in the frog position on our chests. Around 8/10 weeks I think I started co sleeping and he was big enough for it to be comfy to feed him lying down in bed. I got so much more sleep that way.