So much for the cosleeper....

My DD is 3 weeks old. The only way she'll sleep soundly is either ON one of us or with me curled around her. I know that I need to get her to sleep by herself at some point, but with being so sleep deprived, I'll do ANYTHING to get a few snatches of sleep.

If I put her in the cosleeper, she shifts until she wakes herself up. She's slept in the car seat (IN the cosleeper ) a few times, but she's got to be really zonked when I put her in it.

HOW does anyone get their newborn to go to sleep/stay asleep on their own? Is it OK that I'm doing this- how do I avoid establishing bad habits?

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

I think in the beginning, anything goes. So anyway that you can get any rest at all is the way to go.

Things will work themselves out. I used to put in a shirt that I was wearing (but it didn't work) I used to warm up the bed before I put him down (but it didn't work) I used to lay him down gently and pray he would stay asleep (but it didn't work) I made a nest with rolled up blankets so he felt closed in, and guess what...that seemed to work!!!

In the end, with some time, he just slept on his own. Never for more than an hour or two, but thats normal for a newborn.

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

I think every baby is different - mine falls asleep on her own no problem and actually doesn't like sleeping near me ...which is ok, because i was never planning on co-sleeping anyway!
But for the first few months - any way you can get them to sleep is fine! as long as they sleep and you sleep! Remember - you can't spoil a newborn! You'll have plenty of time to instill good sleep habits in the later months.

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

We slept with DD for a couple of months b/c she had colic and it was the only way for any of us to get rest. Believe it or not, the transition to the crib wasn't so terrible. For a week or so before we had planned to move her out, I would put her in her crib a couple of times a day and play with her. Soon enough she started getting more and more comfortable in there and she would even doze off half the time. I think the age that your DC is at should make it less of a concern. My DD was 2.5 months when we started co-sleeping and we did it until she was about 4 months. I say...do whatcha gotta do!

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

I did the same thing and DH would get so ******. Now I let her fall asleep with me in bed and move her to the cosleepoer when she is SOUND asleep. And I swaddle her very tighly.

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

Are you swaddling her? Try the Miracle Blanket -- it really helped Asher sleep in his co-sleeper.

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

Logan needed to be swaddled to sleep on his own.

He flails around too much and wakes himself up otherwise.

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

DD was the same, she would only fall asleep on the boob or next to me or on DH. It was and is the only way we can all get some sleep! She never took to the co sleeper, cradle or crib... 15 months later... Whatever works

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

at this age, however you can get her to sleep is how you should do it...eventually, she will be able to sleep better in her crib, bassinet

Re: So much for the cosleeper....

Noah only sleeps in his swing...and swaddled. And even then sometimes he needs to be in the bed cuddling with us and when he falls asleep we move him to the Swing. He likes the motion.

He hated the bassinet after about 5 days.