Bedsharing to sidecar?

julieruns15

I know this isn't much of a transition but LO is almost 2 weeks old (tomorrow). The first week, we tried putting him in his crib in his own room and he would usually sleep at least a few hours in it a night and the rest of the night in bed with us (when we got too exhausted). The 2nd week we just had him in bed (between us) every night. Yesterday we bought a sidecar cradle and attached it to my side of the bed. Last night I just transitioned him from sleeping between us, to sleeping on my side (between me and the cradle--didn't even try the cradle). He slept ok but not nearly as good as in between us. Is this a warmth thing? He's over the swaddling so we switched to a "baby bag" over his jammies...but this morning he started stirring and fussing before he needed to be fed and as soon as I moved him back on my other side he conked right out again...I keep thinking how nice it will be to have him in the cradle next to me but at this point I'm not sure it will ever happen! Help!

livinirie84

Are you sure he's over swaddling? Two weeks old screams swaddle to me.

nosoup4u

livinirie84:

Are you sure he's over swaddling? Two weeks old screams swaddle to me.

 

Not every baby likes swaddling. DS2 liked the bags, but not the swaddle. OP, I still put a omesie under DS2's pajamas for an extra layer, he could very well be cold. I know both of mine would just get squirmy towards the end of the night, too.  

TiffanyBerry

And some kids don't like the swaddle but need it.  (DD always *ALWAYS* hated being swaddled.  She would not stay asleep for more than about 20 minutes without it for MONTHS, however.)

It may be a warmth thing (have you tried making sure he's warmer?).  It might be a closeness/pressure thing (have you tried partial swaddles?  wombie?). It might be a smell thing (have you tried having a shirt you've worn *a lot without washing* safely near him?).  It could be the sound/rhythm of your breath (have you tried a noise machine?).

Not that you have to try anything, of course, and can just bedshare!

At two weeks old, he is almost certainly NOT used to "the outside world" yet.

CurbsideProphet

I think two weeks sounds young to be over swaddling. Also, how do you know he was not hungry?

TiffanyBerry

CurbsideProphet:

Also, how do you know he was not hungry?

This is a good point - he's so incredibly young that just going back to sleep isn't a guarantee that he wasn't actually hungry.  Only that he was more tired than hungry and at least was able to be next to you.  He's going to be hitting a growth spurt soon (if not now) and you'd be shocked at how often they can nurse!

pixieprincss

Your baby is used to being encased by your warmth and sounds and nourishment 24/7. The ability to have space will come with time. Right now it is all about surival--do what you need to do to get in any sleep for you and baby that you can. DS slept on us for about the first six weeks. After that, he was able to handle the side-car with my arm over him. These days are short. Don't worry about habits or anything like that. Just focus on enjoying the cuddles and doing whatever gets you through. Your baby is still very, very new.

BoilerUp1

CurbsideProphet:

I think two weeks sounds young to be over swaddling. Also, how do you know he was not hungry?

DS never liked the swaddle.  He would fight to get out of it allll night long (not just when we put it on him).  He never slept longer with the swaddle vs. without it and could hear him grunting/kicking his legs and moving arms all night long trying to bust out.  We tried EVERY type too.. (miracle blanket, swaddleme, halo, etc.)  Some kids just don't like the swaddle.   

julieruns15

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I've relaxed about trying to force the sidecar before he's ready. The baby bags seem to work the past few nights and he's just been bed-sharing and giving us a 5 hour chunk of sleep followed by another 2-3 hour so we're going with it. I just have to keep reminding myself that there is no routine at this young of age and we're just all trying to figure this out together