Newborn not sleeping in Moses basket

I know it’s not recommended. But I have slept in a recliner for 4 months with my baby in me because until 2-3 weeks ago he wouldn’t sleep anywhere else. So i put pillows under my arms to keep them wrapped around him. And that’s how we slept and still sleep often. However he had amazing head control early and rolled early and we’re nearly sitting up unassisted. It’s not perfect. But we both get sleep. And then my husband was able to start talking him once he was in a really deep sleep and put him on his chest for a couple hours so I could get a couple hours of deep sleep too.

I used to take my shirt that I was wearing that day and kind of use it like a sheet in her bassinet so that it would smell like me. Then just made sure she was nice and swaddled and it would work until she was on the right circadian rhythm. Also having a set night routine that we did every single night without fail helped a lot. Hope you are able to get some sleep!

@Tristan we tried to establish a routine but we were all so overwhelmed and so over the place. I’m jealous of people who can get routines before 4 months.

I read somewhere that putting a bit of breastmilk on the sheet can help to settle and comfort if they’re strongly attached to the smell of you, some people use a spray bottle with their milk in to lightly mist the crib sheet before laying baby down and have said their baby slept better. Can’t find a brilliant source but I’ve seen bits on google in case you wanted to look into it x

I would definitely definitely advise against allowing baby to sleep on you. You're so sleep deprived it's so easy for baby to squirm into an unfavourable position and for you not to realise until too late, God forbid. Have you tried a dummy? Day 3 is very hard as baby is adjusting to being apart from you and is likely cluster feeding to get your milk supply up. Hang in there xx

I’ve found that setting the mood always works best for my son. We use a sound machine with ocean sounds—his favorite—along with low lighting and a humidifier with Frida Baby drops. It creates a calm, cozy environment that helps him relax and settle in for sleep.

Sounds like cluster feeding which is totally normal (but my god it’s hard!). Are you able to get rest during the day? And have you tried any other sleep settings for the evening to differentiate, like a next to me or pram bassinet if approved for safe sleep? X

I would set up the bed for safe co sleeping. You can safely put baby on your chest and both fall asleep if your bed is empty, covers no higher than hips, pillows propping you up to 45degrees ISH, but no other pillows on your sides. Happycosleepy on Instagram has good information on this. It's a biologically normal thing for babies to want to be there, so making it safe is the best possible scenario. I absolutely wouldn't recommend sleeping in a recliner with pillows propping up your arms like previous commenter, that is a known risk.

I had some success: (1) holding the baby for at least 5 mins after a feed while asleep before transferring her to a next to me cot, so she was in a deeper sleep. She never slept in long stretches but I could make her 30 mins sleep in between feeds this way (2) if you aren’t swaddling, if you look up on the internet there is a way to hold there hands to their body as you transfer them which makes them less likely to activate the startle reflex which can wake them as you transfer. But good luck, I also really struggled with getting mine to sleep anywhere not on me at night. After a few months I resorted to co-sleeping (despite not wanting to) as I kept falling alseep in unsafe positions - lullaby trust has information on how to do this more safely.

Mine had horrible acid reflux so he would only sleep on our chest with us sitting mostly upright from the time he was 2 weeks old up until he was put on medicine at 2 months old. then he had gotten so used to sleeping on our chests that it was still the only way he’d go to sleep up until he was almost 5 months old. Only difference was we could finally lay flat. 😵‍💫 I wouldn’t recommend making a habit of it for that reason alone tbh. If need be it is always safer to cosleep on purpose than on accident but only do what you’re comfortable with and what works best for yall. 💘

Ours was a velcro baby, couldn't put her down at all, not even to change her nappy. I'd recommend looking into co sleeping as that was the only thing to get us through x

There is not such things as Velcro babies 🧐 This is the most natural thing! They need you and want your closeness! There a save ways for cosleeping, especially if baby sleeps on mums side! You are doing great! Keep feeding :)

Hello! This is more common than society will lead you to believe. There is something called the fourth trimester - you may have heard about it - it’s the idea that baby still thinks they are part of you until at least 12 weeks old. Use the lullaby trust website to research safe cosleeping. It’ll help your worry to know if you have to do it, you’re doing it safely. Cosleepy on Instagram is also informative. I am sending all my love to you, it’s so rough at first, nothing can prepare you 😭

Also, people will tell you it’s natural and it’s normal and it is BUT that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck!!! No amount of ‘hang in there’ and ‘you’re doing great’ messages will make you feel okay when you’re sleep deprived. Just survive!!! Do everything you can to survive

Can you get someone to help you at night? They sleep while you feed the baby, you sleep while thry hold the baby until they need to feed again. Also look into safe co sleeping and side lying position for breastfeeding. This saved me from sleep deprivation in the early days and its still how we sleep/feed at night. It still has risks but its much safer than falling asleep with them in a chair.