Sleep Advice

My one month old is unable to sleep on her own. This started in the last week-week and a half. We put her down and she will sleep for anywhere from 30-60 minutes and then she gets fussy and cries. I rock her, give her the paci, rub her back, but she won't go back to sleep unless I hold her. I in no way expect her to STTN and we are up every 3 hours for feedings. I just want her to be able to sleep in between those feedings. She sleeps wonderfully if my husband or I hold her and will make the 3 hours till her next feeding (sometimes will even go 4). I know they say you can't create bad habits at this age, but I'm just afraid she is never going to be able to sleep on her own. She doesn't like being swaddled, so I don't know if maybe its a security thing. She just seems to be a really restless sleeper unless she is held. Anyone else ever go through this??

Re: Sleep Advice

This was my nephew. Someone had to be holding him at all times until he was 8 weeks old or so. My brother, sister-in-law, mom and SIL's mother would take shifts (obviously bro and SIL taking most of it and the grandmas going over for support). It was tough but at that age, unfortunately, there isn't much you can do but let them sleep however they sleep. He is 15 months now and sleeps wonderfully. By 6 months or so he was sleeping 5-6 hour stretches (he was EBF, if your baby is FF it may be longer) but those first couple months were very trying. I'm so sorry I don't have better advice except that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Re: Sleep Advice

It's totally normal! DS was like that, too. We tried everything. Sleeping in his crib, his bassinet, his bouncer. The way we eventually got him to sleep on his own was to swaddle him TIGHTLY. I'd get him to sleep in my arms, then gently put him down when he was in a deep sleep. Time consuming? Yes, but I didn't have to sleep with him on my chest anymore. Also, he slept in his swing a lot. Just keep trying new things and you'll eventually hit on it.

And I know it's hard to believe - but it does get easier!

Message edited 12/20/2013 7:19:14 PM.

Sleep Advice

Normal. Your baby is only a month. Do whatever it takes. If you need to hold her then hold her.

Re: Sleep Advice

I'm almost in tears hearing this is normal. None of my friends have had this issue and I envision DD never being able to sleep on her own. We have tried her cradle, rnp, swing, bouncy seat and I even got a snuggle nest for our bed to see if that would help- nope, just wants mommy or daddy to hold her!

Re: Sleep Advice

Think of it from the baby's POV. You were holding him/her 24/7 for nine months. It is all the baby knows. Every second not being held is different. So for the baby, they are already used to being held. You need to slowly ween the baby from being held all of the time to being able to sleep by him/herself. For now, I would focus on trying to keep DC awake during the day and "sleeping" at night.

Re: Sleep Advice

Normal, At that age we held him and bounced him all the time. They need to be soothed, you can't spoil a baby that young.

Re: Sleep Advice

Sleep Advice

She is so young! It's hard but how she is at one month old is not how she'll be forever! I would probably try to swaddle her nice and tight (leave her legs loose though) and then bounce or rock her and then put her down. Sometimes it would take a few tries when DD was that young which felt like forever but eventually she always went down. But two months she was putting herself to sleep easily (sttn was another story though). At a month, you do what you have to do.

Sleep Advice

We were having similar issues with DD and we thought she didn't like being swaddled. Turned out we just weren't doing it tight enough. At her 1 month checkup her ped showed us how to do it and from then on we didn't have an issue. We still had to hold/rock her to sleep, but then once asleep we could put her down.

Re: Sleep Advice

I highly recommend reading The Happiest baby on the Block By Harvey Karp. When a baby fights being swaddled , they mainly do so because they don't have control of their movements yet. Swaddling helps babies to feel snug and secure, like they were when in the womb. Most newborns sleep better when swaddled. Takes a few months to adjust to "life on the outside", and some babies have a harder time than others. His book gives you detailed instructions how to do a good swaddle. He also has a few other suggestions, and I specifically think that white noise might be helpful. I think if you follow his recommendations, you might get DD to sleep on her own for a few hours. I seriously cannot recommend this book enough. A HUGE lifesaver for us! Good luck!

PS even if she sleeps on you or DH for a while, she will eventually learn to sleep on her own. They all do eventually :)