Parenting after a Loss

1st PAL post and question RE: sleeping

Hello everyone!  I used to post on SAL during my first and second trimesters and I recognize may of you.

I had my baby boy last Friday and we are already learning a lot about him.

He is a good sleeper, but will only sleep in his bouncer chair (with vibrate on) or in our arms.  We have a PNP with bassinet and would really like him to sleep in there. 

Last night he had two 2 1/2 hour sleep stretches where I put him in his bouncer to sleep.  Since I do this, I feel bad (don't want to pawn him off on the bouncer all day) and hold him during the daytime naps, but it makes it hard to get anything done.

Any suggestions?  We have tried swaddling and he always gets his arms out which wakes him up.  I think that we may try the miracle blanket next.

TIA!

OH - here is a picture...his name is Owen

 

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Owen - January 2009 Image and video hosting by TinyPic Owen is a big brother!!! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Re: 1st PAL post and question RE: sleeping

  • Hi & welcome!  Congratulations!  He's a cutie!  Just hang in there, it sounds like you're trying different things.  I don't have much else to recommend.  It does get easier though, I promise!
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  • Welcome Owen -- he's beautiful!!

    Do you have a baby carrier? I have an ergo carrier and that thing saved my life in the beginning. She did ALL her naps in the ergo which freed me up to do all the cleaning/laundry/cooking/nesting etc. She doesn't sleep in the ergo anymore but she still loves it. GL!?

  • Congratulations! 

    At this age, I wouldn't worry about where he sleeps so much as if he sleeps.  I would get a sling (we liked the Amy Coe sling when he was tiny) and then you can get stuff done while he sleeps.  He's used to being close to you and hearing your h/b, so it's understandable why he would want to sleep close to you now.  Many of us have resorted to babies in bouncers, swings, car seats, etc... whatever will get them to sleep.  Kellen is 4 mo, and he still isn't in his PNP or crib.  We will be transitioning soon.

    GL.

  • Actually, have you tried wearing him in a sling?  That might help!
  • Congratulations, he is very cute! 

    For the first 3 weeks, DS would only sleep in his bouncy chair or swing (or on us!).  I think it's really common.  At around a month, he started sleeping in his crib at night, but we still struggle with naps during the day.  He still likes his swing or me for naps.  Honestly, the first 6 weeks, I really didn't get anything done!  They need a lot of attention, and I just tried to enjoy it because I know it's only for a short time.  I also have a great DH though, so when he gets home from work, then I take some time to do stuff.  It gets easier to find time during the day as they get older and get on more of a schedule. 

    Oh and yes, try swaddling!  DS didn't like it at first, but after a couple weeks he did.  I've heard the mircle blanket is great!

  • oh and ditto pp, we have a baby bjorn and he loves being in that, and I can get some stuff done.
  • Awww, Owen is precious.  Congrats!!

    If the swaddler isn't working I have 2 suggestions: 1) are you doing it tight enough? I mean, really really tight.  If it seems like its ridiculously tight then you are probably about there.  If that doesn't work, the miracle blanket is great, though it was pretty big on DS when he was a newborn.

    Honestly, I think Ethan slept in our arms for the first month of his life.  We simply didn't want to put him down, and enjoyed holding him, and we were also a little nervous about not being close to him.  But, I hear you, it is hard to get things done.  Do you have a Baby Bjorn or a sling? Those helped me a lot when I really needed 2 hands and Ethan would sleep like a rock in both for hours!

    Don't feel bad about putting him in his bouncer...if it works, it works.  At this point him getting to sleep and you getting enough sleep is the most important thing.  Everything will change constantly anyway, so don't think he's going to be sleeping in it for the rest of his life :)

    Congrats again!


    A

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    M/c #1 - 10/30/07 - 5w3d, DS1 - born at 36w, M/c#2 - 12/7/09 - 5w, M/c #3 - 1/13/10 - 4w6d, 
    M/c #4 - 3/16/10 - 5w1d, DS2 -  born via VBAC at 40w3d, M/c#5 - 11/5/12 - 7w2d
    BFP #8 - 5/5/13- Looks like a sticky one! DS3 - born via epi-free VBAC at 39w1d

  • I don't have any advice, other than to let him sleep wherever he wants for the first few months. I just wanted to tell you how adorable he is!! Congrats, momma!
  • Hi. and welcome! 

    Like many of the other girls said, for now, let him sleep where he is comfortable!  and where he sleeps!  why rock the boat.   he is still so young, and as he gets older you can transition him to the PNP or right to the crib. 

    as far as the swaddle... my son hated having his arm swaddled.  right from day one, he would get them out and have them above his head.  I didn't bother fighting with him about it... I just swaddled him waist down and left his arms free.  

    and FWIW... my son hated sleeping in the swing, bouncer, glider etc... he only liked to sleep in my arms or in the bassinet.... each child is different.

  • We're nearing 3 months and still not ready for sleep in any crib type of thing. The baby really likes to be "nestled" in something like the bouncer, my arms and the sleep positioner beside me at night. From what I've read it's pretty normal behavior for the first 3-4 months.
  • Welcome!!! Owen is so cute!

    Its OK for him to sleep in the bouncer, but keep trying! I've learned that you usually fail a few times before it works!

  • Welcome! How adorable!!

    pps gave great advice so just wanted to say welcome!?

    Janine image image image
  • welcome!

    the great girls here gave awesome advice!

  • Congrats on baby Owen!!!  Emma is young like Owen and we just let her sleep wherever she will.  Sometimes it is on us, sometimes the bouncer, sometimes the pack n play and sometimes the crib.  I have read that babies this young do not know how to soothe themselves and to let them sleep wherever.  They are too young to form habits.  I hope it gets easier for you!

  • Thanks ladies!!  I do have an Ergo carrier and just finished watching the instructional video.  Maybe we can use it this afternoon.

    I just felt bad letting him sleep in the bouncer...sounds like it is pretty normal not to want to sleep in the PNP/bassinet right off of the bat.

    Thanks again!

    Owen - January 2009 Image and video hosting by TinyPic Owen is a big brother!!! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Nothing to add except Congrats!
  • Congrats!  He's such a cutie.

    DD would bust out of her swaddle the first couple weeks too (we had the SwaddleMe blanket), but it turns out we weren't wrapping her arms tight enough.  Once we figured that out, and she was gaining weight, she would sleep for 4-5 hour stretches at night.

    Don't be afraid to pawn him off on the bouncer to sleep!  You need your rest too.  DD would only nap in her bouncer for the first 3 months and now she's a great crib napper- it's too early to spoil him or create bad habits.

    m/c 9/22/07 at 8w5d...BFP 12/23/07! DD born 9/4/2008, BFP 2/14/13...DS born 10/22/2013 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Congrats, Kristen!  I'm so happy to see little Owen.  He's beautiful.

    Babies just want to be held a lot at first.  Do what you have to do.  The bouncer is okay for some naps as long as his chin isn't on his chest. 

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  • Hi chickin!! Congrats on Owen, he's beautiful! 

    I agree with the others about letting him sleep where he will...I just posted above that mine really seem to like sleeping on my old preg pillow, so I put that IN the crib for them and they sleep on that.  I also though would check the environment where the crib is and in the crib. For instance, I think a lot of babies like to be slightly elevated and not flat on their back to sleep..so maybe he would like a sleep positioner.  Or the room where the crib is might be too cold or too dark or too quiet, etc. 

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