newborn wont sleep in crib - need advice!

MyBell524 · May 2015

Hey there! FTM here and slowly losing my mind from lack of sleep. Baby girl is 4days old and will NOT sleep away from my person. She quickly sleeps after breast feeding if in my arms or bed-sharing but if i go to put her down in her crib (which is in our room) shes awake again within minutes and crying. Normally i cant get her to sleep again without breastfeeding, but now my breasts are tender and I know I can't go on like this. I worry about bed-sharing and even tho she'll sleep, i have a hard time out of fear of hurting her or just hearing every lil gurgle sound and wondering if she's still breathing.

( I am soooo overwhelmed and tired. Please please any advice from STM+ really sincerely appreciated. Prayer also appreciated. Thank you!

ALITAYLOR23 · May 2015

Try a warming pad or a rice bag warmed up so she gets the heat of like a body. I did that with my first baby and it was a life saver. Just warmed it enough t was my skin temperature and put it against her

CordeliaD87 · May 2015

I put a shirt that I had worn under my LO, so he could still smell me. It only worked for 2-3 nights, but maybe you'll have better luck with it.

SewSewBlessed · May 2015

Go get a Rock n Play! Both my boys slept in them from day 1 and I couldn't have done it without them. You can always return it, if it doesn't help.

brookew86 · May 2015

Maybe also a sleep machine that has a heartbeat sound to it?

soofttie · May 2015

We use a rock n plY and sound machine. Once my first was about 4 months I used a blanket in order to put him down in the crib. I put a blanket behind and in front of him. My doctor actually told me too. The blanket in front was layed flat so he could kneed it but it wouldn't suffocate him. Good luck!

knightmansmama · May 2015

Have you tried a swaddle sleep sack? I had the same issue with my now 2 week old the first few nights home. I got a sleep sack and she sleeps like a rock in her rock n play for 4 hours at a time now.

Evanscutiepie · May 2015

I had the same problem with my daughter and it lasted for a month before we found the rock n play. That thing saved my life and sanity. My daughter hated to be swaddled so we would wrap her in a blanket but keep her arms out and then nestle her in the rnp and she would sleep on her own. It was glorious.

shelles423 · May 2015

Glad i came across this. My LO was born yesterday do we are still in the hospital but having the exact same problem. I have not slept more than an hour since she was born over 24 hours ago. I'm so thankful we have a rock n play at home even though i didn't plan on her sleeping in it over night. I did hear they were good for naps which is why i bought one.

ElleMuffin · May 2015

Id def tryvthe Rock and Play if you have one or any bouncer/ swing/ rocker/car seat that you do have. All of my children (3 boys) dlept better on an inclune than flat. Also, if you're cool with cosleeping, pick up a cheap co-sleeper for your bed...we ended up cosleeping with 2 out of 3 of our boys out of desperation for a few months each and ended up kinda loving it.

keitlin415 · May 2015

Definitely use a rock n play, bouncer, Mamaroo, whatever you've got. Mine slept in her Mamaroo for the whole first month. And try swaddling if you aren't already.

keitlin415 · May 2015

Also, you may look into the Arms Reach cosleeper. It is basically a little pack n play that attaches to your bed, so they are not actually in bed with you. I felt like it was very safe, and it gave me a lot of comfort to be able to check on baby and nurse without getting out of bed.

Pumpkineyez · May 2015

I second swaddling. My first baby wouldn't sleep in a crib and I was so worried about co sleeping. I know plenty of people that do it safely but I am just too much of a worrier. My mum bought me a swaddle with Velcro which was so easy to use in the night and has a nice loose compartment for their legs so you don't have to worry about their hips. Was sceptical but it worked and we all got some sleep and our sanity back! Might be a cheaper thing to try initially.

ladyteach0505 · May 2015

I literally have everything everyone has mentioned- crib, Arms Reach Co-Sleeper, Fisher Price swing, Rock n' Play, Halo sleep sack, Pack n' Play with sleeper insert, Snuza alarm...

At this point, the Rock n' Play is the ONLY thing my three week old will sleep in. It makes me nervous because the pediatrician told me not to have her in anything other than a flat-surfaced place, but her startle reflex is so strong she wakes herself up every 20 minutes when she's flat. I was at the pediatrician's office yesterday for something else and explained the dilemma. The doctor told me to use the Rock n' Play cautiously and to stop using it for sleep as soon as she can roll herself toward the edges of it. So at this point I use the little bear insert of the Rock n' Play to tuck a swaddle blanket under. It seems to give her that swaddle feeling like I'm holding her.

But my end goal is to use the Halo sleep sack with the Co-Sleeper and then transition her to the crib around 6 months. Hopefully!

ChrissyluvsPuppies · May 2015

My sister in law uses a rock n play for her infants at first. Babies sometimes like a smaller sleep place. Rock n play also has a bassinet which I ended up buying because we have small dogs that sleep with us and it seemed more secure for baby. It also packs and travels well.

We also have a crib that we will use during the day and will move our baby into.

mamadeuce · May 2015

Swaddle her. Trust me it works wonders. They are use to being in a tight warm place. So being in a crib with so much space is completely foreign to them. Also a toy or stuffed animal with a heart beat sound would probably help too. Warm the blankets or swaddle me a little too.

karenmaxon · May 2015

My second baby was like that. I only slept with him in my arms for about 5 days. Then I borrowed a friend's rock n play and started getting 3-4 hour stretches. He was 7 months before he'd sleep flat or in a crib. The rock n play saved my life. Worth every penny.

jennygirlmt · May 2015

ladyteach0505 said:
I literally have everything everyone has mentioned- crib, Arms Reach Co-Sleeper, Fisher Price swing, Rock n' Play, Halo sleep sack, Pack n' Play with sleeper insert, Snuza alarm...

At this point, the Rock n' Play is the ONLY thing my three week old will sleep in. It makes me nervous because the pediatrician told me not to have her in anything other than a flat-surfaced place, but her startle reflex is so strong she wakes herself up every 20 minutes when she's flat. I was at the pediatrician's office yesterday for something else and explained the dilemma. The doctor told me to use the Rock n' Play cautiously and to stop using it for sleep as soon as she can roll herself toward the edges of it. So at this point I use the little bear insert of the Rock n' Play to tuck a swaddle blanket under. It seems to give her that swaddle feeling like I'm holding her.

But my end goal is to use the Halo sleep sack with the Co-Sleeper and then transition her to the crib around 6 months. Hopefully!

DD slept in the RNP until almost 6 months when she would try to sit up in it. It was a lifesaver. She also had reflux so I was happier with her on an incline.

I don't know many babies who are happy going from snuggly womb to huge flat crib. All the suggestions above are great! No one sleeps for the first few months (or if you're lucky like me, the first 16 months.)

Find and do what works for survival!

TheEA · May 2015

My DS had very strong startle reflexes so I had to swaddle him. It worked really well! However, DH would freak out if DS slept for more than an hour and would wake me to check on him. 8-} I hope he is more relaxed when this baby girl arrives!

CateOfChicago · May 2015

I didn't hear about the rnp with dd until she was older so I didn't bother. I was so bummed about it. Then I heard all the girls on that board having issues transitioning away from it. So, I've been in denial for this guy. I haven't bought it yet but I suspect it will be in my amazon list early on. We will see....

stargazer530 · May 2015

My second had colic and reflux. She would only sleep in my arms or for short bursts swaddled very well. Also she would sometimes sleep in a swing. The papasan swings are awesome and were a life saver for me. They are expensive, but well worth it. I also second the swaddle me and even a woombi.

SewSewBlessed · May 2015

CateOfChicago said:
I didn't hear about the rnp with dd until she was older so I didn't bother. I was so bummed about it. Then I heard all the girls on that board having issues transitioning away from it. So, I've been in denial for this guy. I haven't bought it yet but I suspect it will be in my amazon list early on. We will see....

I used a RnP for 6 months with both of my boys and didn't have any issues slowly transitioning them to their cribs.

supersarah77 · May 2015

Check out Harvey Karp's book, Happiest Baby on the Block. He talks about the "fourth trimester" (first three months outside the womb) and gives some great soothing techniques. Worked for DD and now working for DS. Basicallu, it's the 5 Ss:

Swaddle

Side or stomach position: hold LO in your arms tummy to tummy or on LO's tummy (just for soothing, not sleeping)

Shush: make a "shhh" sound over and over to mimic what they heard in the womb.

Swing: make movements that swing or jiggle LO, similar to what they felt in utero

Suck: try a pacifier or finger to suck on instead of your breast. Sometimes you have to hold it in there.

Good luck!

mechanicwife · May 2015

My baby came two weeks early and caught us without a crib. I planned on a cosleeper, but won't be able to get it for another week. So for now she's sleeping in a boppy lounger, swaddled, on the bedside stand beside me. It's worked wonderfully. She feels like she is being held, and is right there for my peace of mind durring the night.

Mari621 · May 2015

We are trying these swaddles. My son hates having his arms down and tight while being swaddled. These allow for his arms to be up while having the swaddle feel. I have a cosleeper but he isn't sleeping in it so I broke out our RNP that my older son used.
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Dream-Swaddle-Original--Medium/dp/B005ULUZIQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432340661&sr=8-1&keywords=love+to+dream+swaddle

Wish us luck!

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