Arm sleeper advice please!!!

LaxMOM44

So my 5 week old has only ever slept in my arms,night and day. We want to start transitioning her to her basinette but don't know how or when. I've heard six weeks is a good time but I am so afraid to screw up her naps because she is such a bad napper. She only sleeps for 3045 mins max and most if the time it's ten minutes. Please help....I feel like I've already screwed everything up and that she has bad habits.

emolm

This is so normal for little babies. There's no real reason for them to not create their own schedules. It'll all fall into place eventually. Day sleep and night sleep are controlled by two different parts of the brain. I'd rec starting with nights and then getting a sling or wrap for the day naps. Little babies need to be held a lot and it's easier for everyone to just go along with it.

NicoleSB80

Just a note, ours wouldn't go into the bassinet until recently. At the recommendation of several posters here we bought a rock an play which LO loved. It cradles LO much more than the bassinet. She slept in it for most of 8 weeks and we just transitioned her to the bassinet. To make it feel more like the RNP we rolled a blanket and put on both sides or under her legs for the first few now we only have the one under her legs.

LaxMOM44

Thanks I was really hoping that she was still too young for bad habits but every time I read a sleep book it talks about all the mistakes I am making right now. So hard because she hates her swing and the vibrating chair thing. She will sleep in a babybjorn but gets too hot and then wakes up. It's also so frustrating because all my friends with babies have these easy babie that sleep anywhere. Mine even hates her carseat so driving anywhere results in screaming. She literally wants to constantly be held. Thanks for the advice ladies I'll see what I can do to encourage a little independence.

botanicalbliss

Have you tried swaddling?

LaxMOM44

botanicalbliss:

Have you tried swaddling?

Not consistently, so I will definitely try. She also seems to get very annoyed with the swaddle in the middle of the night.

PrimRoseMama

Nicb13:

You cannot create bad habits right now. Please get that out of your head. It literally is not possible. At that age, you get your baby to sleep wherever you can and worry about the rest later. Use a swing, RnP, vibrating chair or wear her. It's all about survival at that age...for you!

Yep

bamom50bad

I mostly lurk but wanted to throw in my two cents.  My DS is 5 weeks old and hated his swing/bouncer and being put down in general.  Someone recommended Happiest Baby On the Block so I found the DVD at the library and started swaddling him before putting him down anywhere....magic!  When he started kicking out of blanket swaddes I bought some Swaddlemes which are fantastic.  Now I can get one or two one hour naps out of him a day either in his swing or bouncer.

Team Kimball

To endorse what was said in a post above, the rock and play cradle is a great move! My son was sleeping for 2-3 hour stretches at night and when we switched him to the rock and play he instantly began sleeping for 4-6 hours- literally the first night we put him in it! I always put him in a swaddle for naps and before bed, never during awake times, and started a routine of eat, play, change diaper, rock and talk to him, bed (he's usually still awake but quiet when I leave the room). Prior to this it took him a long time to fall and stay asleep and he was reliant on being on someone to do so and then would wake when transferring him to his sleeping spot. 

ksmama13

BonnieK10:

laxminavkar:

botanicalbliss:

Have you tried swaddling?

Not consistently, so I will definitely try. She also seems to get very annoyed with the swaddle in the middle of the night.

The Halo sleep sacks have been great for us.  LO liked her arms out so for a while we just wrapped her in it with her arms out and she slept better than with no type of swaddle.  Now she'll sleep either with her arms in or out, it just depends on her mood.

Definitely try the Halo sleep sacks or the SwaddleMe!  They have been a lifesaver for us.  DD will NOT sleep for more than 20 minutes unless she is swaddled.  GL to you!