I have a 23 day old baby, he will not sleep at night unless he is with me or my wife, any Ideas?

Question

At night, my 23 day old baby will not sleep unless he is on top of me or my wife...usally on her chest...Once he falls asleep if we put him in the basinet, he wakes up in mins. wanting to be with us again. She is breast feeding him. Does anyone have any tips, ideas or anything that we can use to get him to sleep on his own?
This is our first kid, thanks for any help! :)

If he gets really fussy then putting him on my wife's breast will put him to rest, and he will not even suck, just being there helps in that regard.

Answer 1

When you have him sleeping, do you have him bundled up tight?

Maybe he likes the warmth from your bodies.

Instead of letting him fall asleep on you. Put him in his bassinet FIRST and let him fall asleep on HIS own. Patting his back. Letting him KNOW you are THERE.

Bundle him up TIGHT so he feels more secure.

Answer 2

Sometimes it just takes time, since each baby has their own way of "coping" with sleep.

But here are a few ideas that worked for me and friends:
1. Try swaddling with a "miracle blanket"...you can order it online, many parents swear by it.
2. Try the "Happiest Baby on the Block" book... very specific swaddling, swaying, etc. method
3. Try a blankie or lovey that you sleep with for a few days that aborbs your smell...then put it with the baby so he can still smell you when you put him in the bassinet.
4. Try a CD with the heartbeat or womb sound in his room

Also, continue to try putting him down in his bassient whenever he falls asleep. He may eventually get used to it... especially if you use the same routine everytime.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well I am a mother of three and recommend that you lie him down in his bassinet to sleep during the day but you have to be consistent. Do not rock him to sleep unless you want to rock him all the time just lie him in the bassinet to sleep You may have a collick baby which I do understand Your breast milk might be upsetting his stomach just keep an eye on him if this continues than ask your doctor he may recommend putting him on a soy formula which I had to do with my oldest Good luck with your new arrival

Answer 4

Some breast feeding mothers do sleep with their babies in bed with them although they do need to put a wedge between them and baby as not to accidentally roll overonto baby. It is okay up to about 18 mos then its time to move them into a crib beside the bed.
There are lots of products on the market that contain a simulated mothers heartbeat and there are special foam rubber wedges that baby can sleep next to for support.
Hang in there! We parents have all been there.

Answer 5

Been over 20 years for me so I don't know how helpful this will be for you. When my son wouldn't go to sleep in his crib, I'd rock him until he was out and then put something with my scent & wrap him up (or cover him). You might also try using a hot water bottle (it works for puppies, should work for kids....lol). Maybe find a tape with a steady heartbeat and put it in his crib with him.

If all else fails, throw in the towel and let the little guy sleep with you. What does his doctor suggest?

Answer 6

i have a 2 month old. for the first month she wouldn't sleep unless she was next to me. i tried this and it worked. have your wife carry a baby blanket around with her and since she's breast feeding have her wipe the milk that leaks out onto the blanket. just have her put it under her shirt so even when she sweats it'll get her scent on it. at night before you put the baby in the crib have her put it down and have the baby sleeping on it so he can smell it. also wrap the baby tight in a blanket before putting him in bed. it makes him feel like he's still in the womb. i know it sounds wierd to carry a baby blanket around but it works. i did it and ever since then my daughter sleeps in her crib. i even still put a shirt or something with my scent on it in there with her and she sleeps better. good luck and congrats!!!!

Answer 7

Well your lucky, imagine having two kids like this at the same time like me and my wife did!

We found swaddling the baby with blankets the best way to make the baby feel secure enough to sleep on their own.

You have to realize the baby was used to being in cramped quarters where it was dark and warm. The swaddling of the child in one or two blankets helps them to feel warm and safe.

I hope this works for you!

Good luck,

m

Answer 8

I buddied the crib next to the bed with the side down when they fussed you don't have to get out of bed usually you can just reach over still half asleep and rub his back or hold his hand...the more you let him sleep on you or with you will become a habit your going to have to break later on.

Answer 9

it is the sound of your heartbeat that the baby wants to hear it makes them think that they are still in the woomb.....put a clock underneath the cot bassinet what ever the baby has to sleep in and try that.....even if you cuddle him for a few minutes to get him to sleep then put him to bed with the clock there it will probably help.....if it is a thin matress put it under but if it isn't put it under the sheet a little bit further away from his head.....let me know how you go

Answer 10

This is a tough one. Babies naturally want to be as close as possible. There is a kind of baby bed that attaches to the side of mom and dad's bed. Maybe gradually (gradually so baby gets used to it little by little) baby can be seperate, yet close enough to still feel safe and comfortable? I have had 4 babies, I know how hard it is. I wish you the best.