How to get newborn to sleep in cot or side sleeper?

I’m not much help as I did lay awake both times my kids were newborns but I did end up getting the Eufy baby sock (similar to owlet)
Just helped and gave me piece of mind, I know it’s not 100% but it did help

I've had minimal to no luck with getting my babies out of my bed. Some babies just want/need to be close. You couldn't transfer my first he could be in a deep sleep and do all the tricks to transfer him and it wouldn't work. We quickly learnt to cosleep safely... Second is a different ball game but he gives more space at night but still technically cosleeps. Some nights his right next to me, other nights he rolls over and settles into his side car that's next to me.

If you can't transfer your baby or settle them into a seperate sleep space and you are struggling due to lack of sleep I suggest you look up the recommendations for safe cosleeping so your child can get what they are wanting -contact with mum and you are getting the good sleep you need, whilst also reducing unsafe sleep environments.

I used to tuck my daughter in the bassinet the way the midwives did when we were in hospital the first few days. Basically wrap baby in a tight little burrito/sleep sack like ergopouch or love to dream, then use one of those stretchy jersey wraps like a blanket to tuck baby in/strapped down to the bed. Make sure the blanket/wrap is tucked in at the bottom of the bed and baby is always placed in the cot/sleeper with feet as close to the end as possible. Only have the blanket reach up to chest height. That way if baby wriggles, they shouldn’t be able to get it over their face. Another thing, check if your baby is too warm. I always heard babies need one more layer than you do but found my daughter runs hotter than I do and she was more restless if she had an extra layer like a singlet or something under her onesie. White noise machine that plays all night. Put baby in bed bum first then slowly lay the rest of the body down, but lean in with baby as you put bub down.

My other tip is to look into the safe sleep 7 tips for bed sharing. Even if you are very against bedsharing/cosleeping, it is good at least have the knowledge to minimise risks especially if you’re exhausted. You are safer to lay down with your baby in a space you’ve made as safe as possible then you are if you think you can stay awake feeding in a chair/on the couch or whatever for a feed but end up accidentally falling asleep and dropping baby. Remove all loose jewellery, tie hair up, wear firm fitting clothes, tuck your shirt into pants so it can’t come loose, remove all extra pillows and blankets and just have one pillow under you and blanket up to your waist. Learn the c curl position and if you’re breastfeeding, learn how to latch baby in a side laying position.

I was very against bed sharing until I saw the value but at least having a light nap in the middle of the day while bed sharing saved me so much. But I completely understand if it makes you uncomfortable 💕

Some babies just want to be close to their mum.

My little one would only sleep on me or in my bed with me which I was really concerned about. She now sleeps in her own bassinet.


It took a bit to get her to sleep in her bassinet but when she was in hospital at 5 weeks old the nurses in the Paediatric ward taught me how they usually get babies to sleep in their own bed.

I wrap my little one up in a swaddle blanket then lay her in the bassinet slightly on her side (I have rolled up towels either side of her to stop her rolling) and stand there patting and gently rocking her until she fell asleep. Sometimes this took quite some time and I had to do it a few times before she would stay asleep but for the last 2.5 weeks she has slept in her own bed.

There are times where I have to hold her for an hour or 2 to get her to sleep but that's usually when she's overtired.

I did have someone suggest that putting something that smells like you in a bubs bed will help them to settle and sleep in their own bed.

where did you get that from please? 😊

it’s just a normal cot. You take the side off and make sure the cot is at the level in line with your bed, you can sometimes use a cut pool noodle down the side to push it closer to your bed too, just make sure the sheet is over top of the pool noodle. I did this with my daughter once she outgrew her co sleeper and it was great.

yep exactly what Sarah said. This is just a photo I found on google as an example of how it looks 😊