How can I get my 1 month old to go to sleep?

Question

I just asked a similar question but i guess i need to rephrase it. i HAVE a 18 month old- i know my one month old will not sleep through the night ALTHOUGH my 18 month old did at 5 weeks. I am asking for tips on getting my one month old to go to sleep and also to stay asleep when i put him down. I rock him- he falls asleep- i put him down and he wakes up. his bassinet is in my room cause i do not want him to wake my other son.

The past 2 weeks the only way he would sleep is in his car seat and i have to prop a bottle up for him to fall asleep in there. The past 2 days the only way he will sleep is laying on his stomach on top of me. How can i get him to sleep and stay asleep? I can't keep doing this!

Thank you

Answer 1

give her a nice hot bath just befor she goes to bed

Answer 2

Well, been a while....

First, I wouldn't put him down with a bottle; this can cause pressure to build in his Eustachian tubes and he can get ear infections.

Your baby might enjoy a comforting bath prior to going to bed and just quiet down the house so he doesn't get jazzed.

He may require more nutrition than he is getting; you could ask his peditrician if you could try a little watered down with formula baby cereal before he goes to sleep and this might hold him through the night a little longer.

Try to relax about it, because he is probably picking-up on the fact that its upsetting you.

You are probably exhausted, after all, YOU JUST HAD A BABY! I hope you are taking good care of you and getting real help, lots of rest and time off from little ones. You'll do better if you get a moment to restore.

Good luck, although you don't need it; this is the most amazing part of life, when these precious ones come into our life; enjoy every morsel little mom, you're doing great.

Answer 3

When my first 2 were born the didn't have all the neat things they have now, with my last 3, they have far more things, I had the bouncy seat with the fish (whatever its called) my now 2 yr old loved that and so did my 1 yr old, but with my last one who was born in feb. I have a bouncy seat that has 3 positions, it lays flat and then goes up a little and then sits up. I love it! She can sleep in it because it lays flat and it is con-caved so it comes up around her. And it has the vibrations and sounds, I rock her to sleep and if she starts to wake up when I put her in it, I turn on the rain sound and the vibration and back out she goes. Then I turn it all off once she is back to sleep.
She had to go into this because she will no longer sleep in her bed during the night. And she uses a pacifier when it is time to go to sleep. And for a one month old swaddling may stay work. I still swaddle mine as old as she is for naps, or if she is in the bouncy seat I tuck it under her real tight.

Answer 4

Hello my lovely! Sounds like you need a good night sleep and baby just won't let you! Wouldn't that be the way too, you have a dream baby sleeping at 5 weeks of age and now one that won't. I can't say your 4 week old baby is doing anything a 4 week shouldn't. Baby is still so very very young and his patterns are not yet determined, they will changed so many times before settling. But, one thing that came to mind as I was reading your question was the possibility of reflux. All babies have a level of it, but if they are more acidic then it can create sleep, feeding, irritability and/or medical issues. My little one (now 6 months) did the same thing, he'd fall asleep upright on me or in his car seat but as soon as I lay him down to sleep he'd wake up screaming (laying flat makes reflux worse and upright makes it better). He had a few other symptoms - congestion, coughing, runny nose, restless sleep and waking up often and screaming. This was ongoing for 4 months and clearly not a virus - and this all ceased as soon as we started him on an antacid med. You might want to keep an eye out for reflux symptoms and see if this might have anything to do with it. If not, then it could be his nature, just loves the warmth and smell of mom! So I'd try the following:
1. putting him to sleep with a piece of your clothing so he can smell you even though you aren't there. For eg. if you nurse him a pre-washed bra is ideal! Stinky but does the trick!
2. putting him to sleep in the car seat and bottle if that's what he prefers (who cares as long as you and he catch a few more z's!),
3. using a pacifier as he's falling asleep.
4. Giving him a "top up" feed.

Good luck to you. One thing is for certain though, don't try to make him "cry it out" at this age. He's too little!

Lots of luck your way my friend! I hope these suggestions help!

One more thing...........try getting him to sleep in a baby swing.

Answer 5

I let my baby sleep in his car seat for 2 months because I had the same problem. It was the only way he would sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time. When he was 2 months old I slowly got him used to sleeping in his pack and play. Actually he only sleeps in it from 10 pm - 2:30 am, then he gets his way and comes into my bed (he is 4 months old now).

Answer 6

My daughter had a very difficult time going to sleep as an infant. My doctor suggested to dim the lights and keep the noise level down in the early evening. The warm bath is a good idea. I don't think propping a bottle at this age is wise. Although, for some children a pacifier helps them to relieve stress.

Answer 7

Every baby is different and a baby that young has no sense of schedule. You need to start making a schedule for your baby.

Warm bath
lotion massage
sing a song or read a book
bottle/breast
sleep

something to that effect.

My son slept on my chest for about a month and then he started sleeping with me, then in his bassinet. Now he is 3 months and he sleeps in his crib.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Even though I KNOW this is a bad habit to start, try going to bed with him, letting him sleep in your bed. In a few weeks, when he's hopefully used to sleeping without being held, and you're not as sleep deprived, try putting him in the bassinet, right next to your bed, then keep moving him further away until he's used to sleeping without you. My daughter refused to sleep in her bassinet at all when she was born, because the mattress was so thin, so it may just be that he's uncomfortable in there.

Answer 9

Do you Swaddle your baby? Many times this is greatly helpful. The blanket should firmly wrapped around him. It gives a baby a since of well being.

When he wakes..... gently pat him. Do you use a pacifier? That may help as well.

At one month he is still going to wake at least once during the night for a feeding... But don't try feeding him every time he wakes....

Answer 10

Try wrapping (swaddling) your baby in a little weight blanket; move the bassinet close enough to your bed that you can lay your hand on the baby for a few minutes after laying him down

Answer 11

All babies are different.Just cause your 18 month old doesn't mean this baby will sleep threw the night at a ealry age.I wish you the best of luck.And I do reccomend don't let your baby sleep on you.I did that with my first baby and that is how she got to sleep alot and wouldn't fall alseep any other way.And don't let him sleep in your bed.