How to make a newborn sleep?

Liz - posted on 04/13/2011

When my son was a newborn, he would fall asleep on the nursing pillow in my lap. I just watched a video or something. :)



Yes, slings are great! The one that was recalled -- Infantino? -- was ridiculous looking. I saw it in a shop when I was pregnant and it looked dangerous to me, and I didn't even have much knowledge about slings back then. It just looked different than any sling/wrap I had ever seen. Your baby should never be lying in a C-shape curve -- their breathing can get restricted because their chin's tucked to their chest. The Infantino hung so low (on these ridiculous straps) that the C-shape was bound to happen. Proper slings hug a baby high on your torso.



I have a very simple, inexpensive pocket sling called the Hugamonkey. It looks like just a band of fabric, but it's amazing! I carry my 17 lb 7-month-old son in it and walk around everywhere. He loves it! And he hardly feels heavy at all.

Minnie - posted on 10/24/2010

Sarah-



Infants carried in an appropriate position are held against the mother's body just like they would if the mother was using her arms. They're in a seated position, with the bum lower than the knees and the legs wrapped around the mother's body.



Carriers that hang infants by the crotch (Bjorn, snugli, infantino) can cause hip and back problems in the baby and they tend to not be very comfortable for the mother past a certain weight simply because of how the weight is distributed.



Infants have been worn on their mothers' bodies for as long as humans have existed. Traditional-style carriers are tried and true :)

Noreen - posted on 10/24/2010

Sarh- My daughter was born at 6lb 13oz and also grew very quickly! She was 12lbs 10oz by 2mo, 16lbs 10oz at 4mo, 19lbs 13oz by 6mos, and at a yr was 22lbs. The ring sling I use for her for short in and out trips (running into barnes and noble etc) and the Ergo Carrier I use for long trips (shopping, hiking, etc) are so good that I don't have any pain or uncomfortableness while using them. I also have the Moby that I used for my 2nd son for a whole year and I felt like he was very secure in it! More so then the cheap target baby infantrino front carrier or infantrino sling that both put a lot of pressue on my shoulders and back and they sagged really bad. A good rule of thumb for ANY carrier is that you need to be able to kiss your baby while wearing your baby on the front or hip.

BTW, it was the infantrino sling that was recalled! :)

Noreen - posted on 10/24/2010

Try keeping him awake while you are nursing him. That way his belly will be full when you put him down.



The sling/carrier idea is a great idea! I would suggest getting something that will be comfortable for you and something that you can use when he's bigger like a ring sling, moby wrap, or ergo (or becco) carrier. I have all 3, but I also have 3 kids! LOL With my 3rd, I took the plung and bought my Ergo and haven't looked back! Now that my youngest is 13mo, I can put her on my back and "forget" about her. And she loves it too! I don't even own a stroller anymore (besides the double jogger that I use to exercise with).



Some moms on this forum are against the baby carrier idea. I say do what is best for you! :)

Sarh - posted on 10/24/2010

Thanks for clearing that up Lisa. I myself am very interested in the wraps, but they just don't.... make sense to me I guess...? I just don't understand how babies legs don't fall asleep, how the "soft structure" is safe and secure... etc. I had a baby bjorn thing for my daughter and I was so nervous every time she was in it, and I still supported her w/both of my hands under her butt and against her back... it was really kind of pointless for me to use, but other mothers may find it mor euseful and not have the same fears as me. Plus, maybe because my daughter was born huge (9lbs 13.5oz and 22 1/2in), and she grew quickly.
Anyways good luck Janice! :)

Minnie - posted on 10/23/2010

One type of sling was recalled- and mothers were carrying their infants in them in unsafe positions. The safest position for an infant in a sling is upright tummy to mother's chest and not in a cradle position, which causes the same crimping of the airway as sleeping in a carseat can.



There are plenty of soft baby carriers that hold a baby in the safe, biologically sound upright position: wraps, mei tais, soft structured carriers like beccos and Ergos.

Sarh - posted on 10/23/2010

Slings were re-called due to suffocation! I had one for my daughter who is 4 yrs old now, and I couldn't use it because I had a fear of her suffocating. To me it was clearly obvious that is was not safe.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm...

Minnie - posted on 10/23/2010

The newborn stage can be tiring. A sling or other soft baby carrier (wrap, mei tai, Ergo) can help- your baby will get the bodily contact he needs and he will be able to nurse while being carried and you will have two free hands.

You may want to minimize the time he spends sleeping in the car seat. The airway of newborns can become restricted in that position and blood oxygen saturation levels can become dangerously low.

Sarh - posted on 10/22/2010

There is no way to make a baby sleep, they do so when they can self soothe them selves back to sleep on their own. You could put him in the swing to sleep, just don't turn the swing on. My son slept in his swing and bouncy seat for the first 6-8wks, because I didn't want to co-sleep and I wasn't able to fall asleep w/him in his room. I wouldn't do the sling thing, because your not going to be able to do that for the next yr, he is going to get bigger and he will get used to it very quickly!

Kathy - posted on 10/21/2010

Newborns are not meant to sleep for long periods - they are hardwired to feed often to boost your supply. And they love the close contact. A sling was a lifesaver for me.

Janice - posted on 10/21/2010

Right now, I use the carseat to rock him to sleep, he will sleep a bit longer on the carseat.

Natasha - posted on 10/19/2010

I agree with the moms above. Get a carrier of some sort. Swaddling helps at night.

Raquel - posted on 10/19/2010

At first my daughter would only sleep/nap in the swing and then I started to swaddle my daughter and still do. She's 4 months old now and sleeps all night.

Keep in mind though that newborns are not so sleep more that 2-3 hours at a time because their bodies are not ready to go that long without being fed. I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard. But it does get easier. At 2 months, my daughter was sleeping for 4 hours. Then it went to 6 hours about 2 weeks after that. By the time she hit 3 months she started sleeping all night.

Swaddling is probably best. I don't know that a sling is the best thing. I was given a swaddling blanket. You can buy them almost anywhere with a baby section. It all just velcros together, so you know that it's tight enough.

Lerin - posted on 10/19/2010

I agree with the sling. It's saved many mother's sanity's by letting little one sleep while mom still gets things done...

Sarah - posted on 10/19/2010

He just wants the constant contact that he had w/ you in the womb. Get a carrier of your choice (our little one didn't like the sling). Have you tried rocking him to sleep instead of nursing him to sleep?

Marcy - posted on 10/19/2010

Buy the sling. He just wants to be with you and be comforted by you. At 3 weeks old he should be on you with skin to skin contact when you can or in a sling up against you.