What is the best way to get a newborn baby to sleep at night without needing to be held constantly to be content and fall asleep? Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
**sleep deprived mom**
2007-04-24 06:16:14 · 25 answers · asked by angie 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I had to do this with my first son for months and am not really looking forward to doing it again, as much as I love to hold and love on him during the day, at night I need as much sleep as I can get to keep up with him and my 4 year old.
2007-04-24 06:23:22 · update #1
****I know that baby needs fed, we breastfeed so we are up every couple of hours anyway, thats not what i was asking, but was wondering if it is possible to train him to sleep in the bassinet during his down time instead of being in my arms all night. I am also scared that if I fall asleep while holding him I will drop him.
2007-04-24 06:27:18 · update #2
Just put the baby in the crib!!! Let it cry a little. It'll be fine, I promise!! One thing that did help me was taking a shirt that I wore the day before that still had my smell on it, and putting it in the crib/bassinette with her.
You just have to be tough mama!! ;) You can do it! See below...
2007-04-24 06:25:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Have you tried swaddling? How about a swing, and using soft lullaby music or a white noise machine. We have an aquarium in our baby room, which provides both a night light and the sound of running water which is very soothing.
A one week old is not going to sleep through the night, but I know what you are asking.
You should get the book or video "Happiest Baby on the Block". It shows you step by step how to swaddle (not as easy as it looks) and how to use the 5 S's to get your baby to calm down and go to sleep.
I am pregnant with my 2nd baby now. I held my first baby, a preemie, all the time, and I'm determined not to make that mistake with this next one. I'm going to buy this "amby baby" bassinet/hammock thingy and see if it works!
Check it out!
http://www.ambybaby.com/
2007-04-24 06:34:42 · answer #2 · answered by purplebinky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 5 month old and I started laying her in her bassinet when she was about two weeks old. I lay he in it and she falls asleep on her own or either is aleep when I lay her in it. When she is awake and I lay her in the bassinet I turn on a mobile and most of the time she falls asleep listening to the music... I have a three year old so I know how you feel about needing sleep!!! But the newborn will start sleeping allnight long soon and it will be great!!! I didn't think mine would ever sleep all night but she is!!! Good luck.
2007-04-24 06:33:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try sleeping in a comfy armchair, or doing shifts with your husband.
At that age the world is SCARY and they need reassuring a lot. Also, you should be feeding a newborn every 2 hours or so anyway - you aren't going to sleep through the night for a long time.
Babies do grow up so fast, and the joy of holding a tiny bundle in your arms and knowing that s/he trusts you totally and that you are the reason they are content is wonderful. Make the most of it.
And yes, get used to napping in a chair.
Good luck.
2007-04-24 06:25:51 · answer #4 · answered by donedeal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Come on!!! Newborn babies don´t sleep through the night...they need to eat every 2-3 hours. During the day try to swaddle him in his crib or bassinet for the baby to sleep and also for you to rest a while...try to rest when your baby sleeps...If you don´t want to be up at nights when your baby is awake, pump your breasts (or prepare the formula bottles) and let someone feed your baby...but never expect a newborn baby to sleep all night for at least 3 more months.
2007-04-24 06:39:50 · answer #5 · answered by nenaramirez 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best way to get any baby to sleep on their own (they are not going to sleep all the way through the night yet) is to lay them down when you can see that they are getting sleepy. This may happen after feedings, so be sure that you don't feed them until they fall asleep. This will just get them in the habit of eat to go to sleep.
What has worked for me as well, is to put my babies in a swing when they get sleepy and let them nap there during the day and then set a different routine for nighttime (bath, pjs, feed, then bed).
Take my word for it, holding your baby until they go to sleep will be h*** when they get older.
Oh yeah, another idea, keep a nightlight in baby's room that allows you to see to change diapers and do night feedings without turning a bright light on.
2007-04-24 06:27:01 · answer #6 · answered by teachingpk2008 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was sleep deprived too, Leibling
I slept for the first year of each of my son's lives, upright in a rocking chair. I simply took my sleep when they did, I sometimes slept on the couch with baby sleeping on my tummy. they both finally started to loosen that dependancy a bit at about 6 months and were finally sleeping in thier bed/crib all night at about a year. I guess I was a bad mom cause I couldn't let them just cry themselves to sleep, I always feel that babies that young need the comfort of Mommy or Daddy. And I have 2 well adjusted adult sons now, so I guess I wasn't too far off.
2007-04-24 06:24:05 · answer #7 · answered by PrincessPlum 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was afraid I would roll over on my babies because I was such a deep sleeper, but I found out that I turned into a light sleeper after giving birth. So I slept with mine in bed with me, right up against me, but like I said, it was a light sleep so I still didn't get the rest that I needed.
Those first 3 months are so hard! And I don't remember very much from the first month of either of my kids....it was like a bad dream... glad I took pictures because they were so cute, but I don't remember it really; sleep deprivation is terrible on memory I guess.
2007-04-24 06:39:50 · answer #8 · answered by Kaliee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel. What helped for me is the following. Firstly wrap your baby in a nice blanket, that way your baby feels safe. Move the baby into the same room with you, they need to be with you. During the day let the baby sleep in a different room. Routine is the key. Try this first. When the baby sleep sleep
2007-04-24 07:05:15 · answer #9 · answered by Douw S 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Impossible! Babies won't sleep throught the night without needing something. Try swaddling the baby. They love to feel the closeness or tightness from th womb. I keep mine swaddled and then put in the swing with soothing music. Some say let them be put in there bed awake still but drowsy, I say do whatever you can to get the to sleep, every second counts.
2007-04-24 06:23:53 · answer #10 · answered by usmcvalle 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
New Born's dont sleep all night! They cant! They must eat! TRUST me I know what you are saying I have 4 kids! The first week at home you must develop a routine! Are you giving the baby a bath before bed time!? Try that! Then you must now not hold the baby why it sleeps! You will never get them to stop! WE had one like that! You are in my thoughts and prayers! AMY
2007-04-24 06:22:30 · answer #11 · answered by Amy E 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋