10 day old and will only sleep on mom

neya28

So my newborn will only sleep on me and since I'm terrified of falling asleep and dropping him, neither DH nor I have slept for more than an hour a night. We didn't have this issue with DS#1 so I'm at a total loss here. I'm also recovering from csec and ebf and neither is going so great on lack of sleep. Incision has opened up and bm supply is dropping. Last night DS fed every 1.5-2 hrs. Help...

kristin172429

That must be stressful (as cozy as cuddling with a newborn might be).  I haven't had this issue, but I have heard two different methods for trying to address this:

1. When the baby starts to get drowsy, but isn't quite asleep yet, gently move them to their crib/bassinet, etc. and let them try and fall asleep the rest of the way on their own.

2. Wait until the baby is in deep REM sleep and then move them (they are less likely to wake up when they are moved in this deep of a sleep).  

Good luck!  I hope something helps soon.  I can't imagine operating on that much sleep, especially with two LOs at home!

ghdst1

Both my DS's prefered to sleep on me or DH and would sleep much longer if they did.  It is very tiresome though to do that and it makes it hard for the baby to adjust to sleeping on their own.

What I have noticed with both my boys is they do better when they feel snug and secure as well as somewhat upright.  Sleeping in the car seat, swing, bouncy chair, or boppy gives them a deeper and more long sleep.  My DH and I used the bouncy chair and boppy inside the bassinet.  I even did the car seat with DS1 when he was first born.  We have a PNP with bassinet feature so it is very large and easily fits our car seat, boppy or small bouncy chair.  This works well for us.

also I don't know if your LO likes to be swaddled but usually DS2 (and DS1) sleep better when they are swaddled in some sort of blanket.  Good luck!!  It will get better you just have to keep trying!!!

Jen0204

We've been having this issue recently with ours and a few days ago we started taking them in bed with us. I was against this before they were born (mostly because there are two of them and my H is a bed hog and we only have a queen size bed) but they sleep better and longer with us. We just lay them next to us, not on us, but snuggled in against us and usually on their side. The days are still tough, but if we get them swaddled and cuddle them until they're asleep they'll usually stay asleep in their RNP's. 

Good luck! 

poobear2015

kristin172429:

That must be stressful (as cozy as cuddling with a newborn might be).  I haven't had this issue, but I have heard two different methods for trying to address this:

1. When the baby starts to get drowsy, but isn't quite asleep yet, gently move them to their crib/bassinet, etc. and let them try and fall asleep the rest of the way on their own.

2. Wait until the baby is in deep REM sleep and then move them (they are less likely to wake up when they are moved in this deep of a sleep).  

Good luck!  I hope something helps soon.  I can't imagine operating on that much sleep, especially with two LOs at home!

I tried doing this when LO wasn't sleeping in her cradle. She only preferred sleeping with us or in her bouncer. After every night feeding - I try the cradle. If she says no, then I wait til she's out cold then move her. Sometimes, if she's fussy in the cradle, I just rock it til I conk out and she's usually out by then too.

nonoemily

My guy is the same way. He wants to be held constantly, even when he's asleep. He starts out at night sleeping in the rock n play, but after his first night time feeding I usually just let him sleep on my chest for the rest of the night. It's not ideal, but if he's sleeping, I get to sleep, too. Whatever works.

Some nights he's so tired and fussy he won't sleep and I have to put him in a little swaddle suit. We just got one of those vibrating bouncy chairs and so far that's working for us, too.