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HELP!! Son won't sleep unless you hold him! :(

Stephanie VarnerStephanie Varner
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

My 1 week old was awake from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., at which time we were FINALLY able to get him to go to sleep (he wasn't being fussy at the time, just looking around and not interested in sleeping).  From 10:15 p.m. until no (4:50 a.m.) he will NOT sleep in his bed or pack and play...he will ONLY sleep if someone is holding him.  I haven't even gone to bed yet :(  I've tried swaddling, bottle feeding and the pacifer...he's totally fine while holding him, but within 5 minutes of laying him down somewhere he starts to fuss and then cry.

Help!  I feel like crying myself...I am soooo exhausted :(  And it's not his diaper, I've changed that numerous times.  He's not gassy, he's burped/farted enough.

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Re: HELP!! Son won't sleep unless you hold him! :(

  • the_magic_numberthe_magic_number
    DS was like that for the first week or two.  We started laying him in the guest bed and either DH or I would lay next to him.  Once that started working, we moved him to his crib.  Good luck.  I know you probably hear this all the time but enjoy this time because my now 2 year old hates being snuggled :(
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  • J&A2008J&A2008 member

    Normal.  He still wants to be attached to momma.  Hang in there, it gets better. 

    Try sleeping with him on your chest.  I spent many nights/days/afternoons with DS like this last month.  We slept on the couch together. 

    Stay at home mom to a house of boys: two amazing stepsons, 12 and 9, and our 4 year old.
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  • mommyofmilesmommyofmiles
    I don't have any suggestions because my son was the exact same way. Will he sleep when others hold him? We just took turns and slept when someone else was holding him. It lasted about 4 weeks. But I wanted to offer some hope. He is now 11 weeks and sleeps through the night (9pm-5am) in his crib! I think they just want to be snuggled. Do you have a swing or seat that kind of snuggles him? That started to work for us around 3-4 weeks which was nice. Good Luck!
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  • monkey520monkey520
    He s only a week old. Of course it is going to be difficult but just cuddle and snuggle with him. Enjoy this time. Sooner than you know it he won't "want" those cuddles. Try sleeping with him on your chest or laying him in your bed next to you. It will get easier Smile Try napping when he naps durign the day to make up the loss of sleep. Soon enough he will get his days and nights figured out. GL!
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  • smfinallymgsmfinallymg
    My son was the same way. He's only a week old. He misses being inside his Momma. We co-slept at that point. It was the only way we all got a good night's sleep.
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  • pamela-mattpamela-matt
    Not at all uncommon for that age. ?They are still adjusting from being in the womb. ?Give it a little time. ?It will get better. ?Hang in there.
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  • cville-rncville-rn

    My son was like that as well. And I was totally against co-sleeping until I had him but honestly it has been the best thing for my family. I think its pretty unrealistic of us to expect a tiny baby to be comfortable sleeping alone after being with us his whole existence.

    I slept with him in my bed for a month and am now transitioning him into a Snuggle Nest so my husband can sleep alone with him when I work. I will miss having him next to me though because I got to sleep through the night, just lifted my shirt to bf and then drifted off. 

     

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  • MrsKatieHMrsKatieH
    Brendan was like that too.. I blamed it on the NICU.? But anyway for the first couple nights he slept on my chest.It worked for him and for me. You may want to try that.? ?
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  • hmmshmms member

    My DS was the same - it's frustrating I know!  Too many people gave me the advice, "You have to put him down, he'll get spoiled" which only made me feel guilty.

     We tried the bassinet every night (putting DS down when totally asleep).  He'd be OK for a bit, in the night I'd get frustrated and ended up sleeping on the couch with him, I needed sleep.

    It was key for me that he tried the bassinet each night.  Eventually he ended up sleeping in there longer (and after nightly feedings).  He now sleeps in his crib - I never believed that could happen at one-week old - he even goes to bed awake now - but he's 3 months old!

     Hang in there - get sleep however you can - you need it too!

    Lilypie - (vulX)

     

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