how do I get my 3 week old baby to sleep without her HAVING to be on my chest to do so?

Answer 1

well..remember, your baby has spent 9 months in you..hearing your heart beat..feeling your warmth..hearing your voice..everything about you..is all your baby really feels comfortable with now.

Do not expect he will just be OK by placing him in a huge crib..(huge for him since he just came out of a small womb!!!). It doesn't work like that. There is nothing wrong with nurturing your baby, and letting him fall asleep on you. Putting him in a crib and letting him cry is just plain cruel. You are taking away all he knows right now.Enjoy the peaceful times with your baby..they are soooo precious, and before you know it..he will be walking out the door.

Answer 2

If she has gotten into this habit you will have to break it slowly. If you have been laying down with her on your chest, try sitting up with her on your chest for a couple of days. Then move her over a bit towards your arm and then into your arm, etc. After a week, you should be able to put her in her own bed. This may take patience on your part....if she cries, let her but not for more than a few minutes. Then just rub her tummy and let her know you are there but don't pick her up unless she continues to cry. Keep working on it and you will succeed. Babies are very flexible. For those that said rub her on her back, you can't since babies need to be lying on their backs until they can roll over by themselves. The bear is a good idea but you can't leave it in her bed and left alone. I personally think that a baby falling asleep on your chest is one of the most wonderful things in life. It shows trust and contentment.

Answer 3

At three weeks old, your baby is going to want to be held all the time and probably will for a while. My daughter was the very same way and it was very hard to get her sleep on her own. She literally slept on me or my husband for the first two months of her life. Eventually they get too heavy and you want a little freedom , so it is best to start now. Try putting her down in her crib or bassinette when she is drowsy but still awake, and pat her back. You can try different things like singing to her or doing a shhh-ing noise. See what she likes. Be patient with her/him as they are jsut getting used to being in the world. Believe me, it won't last forever.
And please do not put a cuddly toy in her crib with her as one person suggested, it is not safe.

Answer 4

She's only three weeks old and you're worried about this? Treasure a sleeping baby in your arms because they grow up way too fast. My mother always said that you spoil a child by holding her too much, but modern studies show that's just not true. Holding a baby gives her security, safety, trust and faith. If you are truly concerned, simply lie her in her own crib or bassinet and rest one hand on her chest or the top of her head until she falls asleep. She still has contact with you but learns to sleep without being held. Is she warm enough? Is she bundled tightly? Would a soother help? There are so many possibilities, too many to list. But if I could go back in time and rock my children to sleep in my arms just one more time, oh how wonderful that would be.

Answer 5

Swadling (wrapping tightly in a blanket) will help a lot. You will want to wrap her very tightly, even though it may seem mean or restricting, thats what babies are used to and it will calm her down. Rocking, swaying and shushing are also very helpful. One of the best ways to put a baby to sleep is to feed them. Breastfeeding or bottle feeding are not just about EATING, its about the sucking and the closeness the baby feels to you when you're feeding her. Don't pay attention to those stupid "only feed your baby at this time" crap, because a baby eating is about so much more than eating. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

I understand the need to get things done around the home while the baby is sleep. First don't over do, try to nap when she naps, however when you really need to get things done try this.
Place an item that you have worn around her. Wrap a sweater, pj top near her along with the bear suggested in the earlier answers and this should help baby girl to believe she is still safe in mom's arms. Good luck!! Congratulations!!!

Answer 7

Wrap her up nice and warm because that whats babies like the most to feel like their in the womb. The hospital should have shown you how to wrap her up with a blanket in a papoose. If not just wrap the blanket around her and kind of tuck in under her so that it is tight. lay her on her back and let her fall asleep by herself. Believe me you do not want to start this pattern because you will never get any sleep because she will and probably already is used to it so just let her fall asleep on her own nice and warm and try some soft music or a mini water fall in her room.

Answer 8

Feed her change her nappie burp her then lay her in her cradle with something of your that you have worn like a tshirt or blanket of hers that you have had next to you she will be use to your smell so let her think your there then if you want gently rock her or just sit by her she should go off to sleep soon but if you don;t break this habbit of the chest now she will have you where she wants you all of the time.

Answer 9

Your baby has just spent 9 months listening to your heart beat, it soothes her....I can offer no help to you accept stick it out, once she is a little older she will go to sleep by you just putting her down. By the way, hold her close now and enjoy when she will lay calmly on your chest, because it won't be long until she only wants you when she has a bo bo or is sick.....that is the worst!

Answer 10

Parents can assist infants to sleep at night by handling and stimulating the child less in the late evening and keeping the child's room dark at night, which is important in the development of normal vision. Infants should be encouraged at an early age to fall asleep on their own and not in a parent's arms. In this way, they will be able to quiet themselves when they wake in the middle of the night.

The excerpt above is from the medical source below: