What to do w/ a baby who only wants to sleep ON you?

tmp-195892875001867 · November 2008

C only really likes sleeping close to my body.

We watched Happiest Baby yesterday and can get her calm, but as soon as I move her to sleep, she goes wild.

I am considering a hammock. Co-sleeping makes me a little nervous for a few reasons and I don't sleep well when we do it.

Did you have a babe like this - wdyd?

NotJustAnAuntie · November 2008

Max only slept on us for the first month or so after he came home... we've only recently been able to regularly move him to his bouncer or swing, and that's ofter he's sound asleep.

SweetieP · November 2008

Unfortunately, I think it's more the norm to have them want to sleep on you. I've heard many people refer to the first 3 months as the 4th trimester. I think it's mainly because it's such a hard transition from being inside a warm, toasty, small place to a big, cold, loud place. I hate to say this but Ryan and slept together on our recliner for about the first 6 weeks. Honestly, it was the hardest 6 weeks of my life. I was always afraid of rolling on him, or him rolling off the couch, or just about anything you could imagine happening to him. And I was exhausted.

Keep in mind that newborns like the movement, smell, and warmth that you can provide...as soon as you put her down, that all goes away. I guess I don't have any advice...other than you could try the swing or bouncy chair w/vibrator. (Ryan never liked the bouncy chair). We also had a bassinet that vibrated and that helped as long as I padded the walls and such with rolled up blankets to make him feel snuggly).

Good luck - I know it's hard!

tmp-195892875001867 · November 2008

I had a feeling

We use the miracle blanket for swaddling! I love it! so tight.

tmp-195892875001867 · November 2008

SweetieP:

Unfortunately, I think it's more the norm to have them want to sleep on you. I've heard many people refer to the first 3 months as the 4th trimester. I think it's mainly because it's such a hard transition from being inside a warm, toasty, small place to a big, cold, loud place. I hate to say this but Ryan and slept together on our recliner for about the first 6 weeks. Honestly, it was the hardest 6 weeks of my life. I was always afraid of rolling on him, or him rolling off the couch, or just about anything you could imagine happening to him. And I was exhausted.

Keep in mind that newborns like the movement, smell, and warmth that you can provide...as soon as you put her down, that all goes away. I guess I don't have any advice...other than you could try the swing or bouncy chair w/vibrator. (Ryan never liked the bouncy chair). We also had a bassinet that vibrated and that helped as long as I padded the walls and such with rolled up blankets to make him feel snuggly).

Good luck - I know it's hard!

Makes sense about the comfort...I feel better on the couch than in bed, but it still makes me nervous too.

Mama_v2.0 · November 2008

During the day I did a lot of nesting with a sleeping baby on my lap. When I go out I mostly wear my babies (until they start walking). We co-sleep(ironically not co-sleeping makes me nervous and I can't sleep because I am worried something will happen & I won't be there) ....Even at 2 years Zuzu still prefers to fall asleep on top of one of us.

dirtbikemom · November 2008

I slept w/ Sara on the couch for the 1st 3 months as she would ONLY sleep when on me. ?I know it is hard as I was going through those 3 months it was very hard but I kind of miss it now. ?The lady at our Mommy and Me would always tell us that they won't be teenagers sleeping w/ you and these days while long they won't always be that way. ?

tmp-195892875001867 · November 2008

I am glad to hear how common this is.

ashleyhuney · November 2008

Glad you already found the miracle blanket, we went through 5 other brands (probably 20 total!) swaddlers that didn't work before finding the MB.

We had the same issue, we actually took shifts holding J - DH, my mom and I for the first few weeks. He wouldn't sleep for more than 15 mins flat. Luckily, he took to the swing, and slept like an angel there. 3 months later, he still sleep like an angel in the swing, getting up once 7-7 since 6 weeks, and not very well out of it, only 40 min stretches. I figure he has until 25 lbs. to have to get out of the swing and he will be more mature and better able to handle sleeping flat.

I've only heard great things about the amby hammock, little late for us now but not for you!

Celyn · November 2008

What about co-sleeping is making you nervous? Dr. Jay Gordon's "Good Nights" was enormously helpful for us in learning about safe co-sleeping.

danandkelly · November 2008

We did a lot of co-sleeping in the first few months. I was very anti co-sleeping before having N, but I realized that we both needed good sleep. Around 4-6 weeks she would go down in her bassinet and then move into bed with us after her night feeding aroudn 3 am. She still ends up in bed with us after her am feeding at 6 these days, but that is because I am too lazy to feed her and get her all back to sleep when I have to get up in less than an hour.

futrkingsley · November 2008

When C would only sleep at night near me, I started putting my tshirt in his bed with him (tucked in like a sheet). ?It worked like a charm.

bunch · November 2008

We also slept on the couch together for 3 months. I've never been comfortable co-sleeping and still am nervous about it. But on the couch I felt like we were both safe. It ends all too soon- though while in those 3 months I thought it would last forever! GL!

KellyMarierockstarwife · November 2008

*raises hand* Yup, he slept on my for a lonnnng time. Then in an Amby (I was also nervous about co-sleeping) now we are almost full time co-sleepers.

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