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Need sleeping advice for 2-month-old

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2004 Nov. - 2005 Jan.: Parenting Place {ARCHIVES}: Need sleeping advice for 2-month-old users admin

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Beckyann
Member

06-23-2004

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 9:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ever since we brought Emily home from the hospital, I have had trouble getting her to sleep in her bassinet and crib. Then about 3 weeks ago I went to my mom's and she had found this bouncy seat. It's kinda like a carseat with no buckles and it bounces when the baby moves. She found it at a yard sale and I think it's kinda old cause I couldn't find one on the Internet. Anyway, while we were at my mom's I put Emily in the seat and she absolutely loved it! She would go to sleep in it on her own and would sometimes sleep 6-7 hours at night!
Well, two nights ago she was sleeping in it next to our bed and she was grunting like she does when she is first waking up. I reached over and bounced her a little hoping she would go back to sleep but she was still grunting. Then I looked and she had flipped herself over and was laying facedown in the padding of the seat and was trying to raise her head to breathe! She had never rolled over before while on her back but I guess where this seat is kinda tilted, she was able to. I should have known better than to let her sleep in and get used to that seat. I'm sure it's not designed to be used for sleeping in. I'm just glad we we were lucky and she wasn't facedown for long. So last night of course I didn't put her in the seat. I tried her in her bassinet again and it was awful. Everytime I would feed her and get her good and asleep and lay her down she would startle and cry like crazy! I ended up getting a couple hrs sleep on the rocker holding her but I can't keep that up!
Sorry this is so long but I wanted to go into the details of the situation. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get her to sleep in her bassinet or crib??
TIA!!
-Becky

Danas15146
Member

03-31-2004

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Becky: Thank God you woke up in time! I am sure that you couldn't sleep the rest of that night! Have you tried swaddling her before putting her in the crib or bassinet? That usually worked with Samantha. Good Luck

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hey, they sell plenty of those bouncy seats at Target, babies R us and they all have straps so you can buckle her in securely.

Also, I let my son sleep in his carseat from 2 days til about 5 months old. It cuddles them and I think that is why they sleep better in a carseat or bouncy seat.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yep, never underestimate the power of swaddling!

Many tiny babies just prefer the close feeling they get in a bouncy seat, swing or carseat (or swaddling) than the "free" feeling they get from a flat surface like a crib or bassinett.


Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Beckyann, Here is the link for Target for those bouncers. If this is what you're talking about, these have straps to keep them safely on their back.

Beckyann
Member

06-23-2004

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the quick response!! I have tried swaddling but she gets frustrated and kicks and flails until she is unwrapped no matter how tight I swaddle her. The bouncy seats with a strap are a good idea. We actually got one as as shower gift. I was just unsure of it cause it doesn't have any sides like this older one, It's more like a sling, but at least it does have a seat belt. My husband is trying to talk me into letting her cry it out in her crib in her room. She's not waking up out of hunger because I feed her and she gives a couple sucks and immediately falls asleep in my arms, but I still don't think I can let her just cry even if I know she is OK. She is only 9-weeks old and I would prefer that she still sleep in our room - in her bassinet preferably.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thank goodness Becky...I have had this experience before with my first child when she was 3 months..and when I got to her she was not breathing...The worse picture I could ever have. and don't want anyone to ever experience the feeling/fear that I had.

I don't know if it was from the flipping over on to her stomach or she had just stopped breathing (she was a premie and then put on a monitor) I called it a near sids...scarest thing I have ever encountered and never want to encounter it again.

I always wrapped my babies in a blanket tightly - swaddling and laid them on their side/back. You can use towels rolled up beside them to keep them from rolling over on their tummy or back.

Your baby may be a bit gassy when they first lay down and with the moving it moves the gas around for her.

Sometimes you just have to let them fuss a bit too (this will be hard because you are in the same room with her)they will eventually learn that they have to go back to sleep.

Good luck

Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Beckyann, Another thing that our dr. recommended for Melodie was to put the car seat or bouncer in the crib for her to sleep.

Beckyann
Member

06-23-2004

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well, she fell asleep while I was feeding her just now and I put her in the new bouncy seat but she woke up and wants to play now :-) at least she's not crying. I may try the carseat because she always falls asleep whenever we put her in there to go somewhere. Julieboo, did you have to strap your son in the carseat when you put him on there to sleep? I am afraid the buckling would wake her up. Skootz, I do think it's gas that bothers her because she is a very gassy baby. She prefers to be tilted a little and would rather be on h er tummy than on her back. I think laying on her tummy puts pressure there and helps her pass the gas.

Kaykay
Member

01-21-2004

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 11:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hey there, My son had the same issue. What I did was prop the bottom of the bassinet with a receiving blanket. He like to have his head slightly raise.

My sisters son slep in his car seat everynight from 1 week old till he was 5 months old. it was the only way to get him to sleep.

My daughter took naps in her bouncy seat all the time.

Hope this helps :-)

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I didn't strap him in the carseat. I wouln't let her cry it out at that young of an age. But I would advise to let her sleep in another room. All her little baby sounds may keep you awake. Good luck!

Kimmo
Member

05-02-2003

Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 12:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Beckyann, like Kaykay I also slid a folded/rolled receiving blanket under the head of the bassinet mattress to elevate baby's head. I also swaddled. I also rolled up an adult-sized blanket as a big roll and lined the inside of the bassinet with it so it was snug and not something baby would roll around in.

Have you tried putting her in sling/baby carrier and carrying her with you to get her to sleep?

Beckyann
Member

06-23-2004

Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Well I stuck a small pillow under her bassinet mattress and lined the bassinet with a blanket last night. She went down at 11:30 p.m. and woke up at 1:30 a.m. I was worried that we would have a repeat of the night before but I fed her and put her back down. She woke up a little when I laid her down but I rocked the bassinet a little and she went back to sleep on her own - I was so proud of her! She also slept until 6:00 a.m. after that! I almost feel like I got a good night's sleep last night now! I have tried putting Emily in this wrap that I have but she doesn't like to be in it unless she is already asleep (She won't fall asleep on her own in it)
Thanks for everyone's advice! I hope that the rest of the nights can be like last night :-)

Kaykay
Member

01-21-2004

Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 10:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hip Hip Hooray :-) I'm very happy for you. Now if I could get my son better maybe I can get some sleep!!!

Not1worry
Member

07-30-2002

Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 1:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Becky, you are getting some very good advice here! I understand, my DD wouldn't sleep anywhere for the longest time. I got into the very bad habit of nursing her on the sofa in her room in the middle of the night and we would both fall asleep. I'd wake up with a stiff neck and she'd get used to sleep while being held.

I know some will say let her cry it out, but 9 weeks seems a little young to me. However...give it another month or so, then start delaying your response time a little. Sometimes they wake themselves up (mine used to whack himself in the face), and if you run to nurse them, you prolong the night waking.

I did end up putting my DD on her tummy to sleep at about 10 weeks. She absolutely would not sleep any other way. We were both exhausted. One day I laid her on her tummy so she could raise her head and she promptly went to sleep and slept for 6 hours. I was very nervous about it, but my mother pointed out that no one in our house smokes, she was a healthy baby, we didn't have any blankets or anything in the crib. Mostly she told me that millions of kids slept on their stomach until the 90s. I have a friend in the same situation and she bought a monitor that sounds an alarm if the baby stopped breathing for something like 20 seconds.

I remember that feeling of getting more than about 4 hours sleep. I felt like I was breathing pure oxygen and could leap tall buildings.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 10:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Not1...I had a premie (4 1/2 weeks) and he would ONLY sleep on his tummy. I remember those exhausting weeks only too well...every 2 hours feeding and then trying to get him to sleep on his back. Doc finally said if there was not any pillows, fluffy bedding, etc. in bassinet I could let him sleep on his tummy.

BEST gift I got...a ROCKING seat that was similar to a bouncy seat but totally cushioned / cuddled baby. One tap of my toe and it would rock for 5- 10 minutes. We used it until DS outgrew if for feeding, napping, etc. I can't find any links for a similar product (and I have no idea now of the name brand) but it sat right on the floor..not up off of it like the ones on babysrus.com.

Best of luck with the sleep issues! It truly does get easier!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 10:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just found a picture on ebay...here's what it looked like.

Baby Seat

Enbwife
Member

08-14-2000

Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 12:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Becky - I had the exact same problem with my son when he was born. He would fall asleep nursing, then I would lay him in the bassinet beside my bed and he would wake up and cry... then I would have to start over. By night 2 I was so exhausted I brought him into my bed and we both slept great until he was 4 1/2 months old and I moved him to his crib.

I would strongly recommend against letting him cry at this young age. This is the time he is building trust and security in you and your husband, and learning that when he needs you, you are there for him. I read every sleep book but the best one was Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. He recommends waiting until 6 months to let them cry it out but we did it when we moved Nate to his crib, and we used the Ferber method that says to go in every 5 minutes and comfort without picking up. It only took 2 nights and he was sleeping through the night for 11-12 hours!!! Good luck to you and your little one.

Not1worry
Member

07-30-2002

Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 4:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I recommend the Healthy Sleep Habits book too! I think that is what we ended up using. Be aware that you may have 3-4 pretty rough nights, so try and plan a week that you can nap a little during the day.

Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Friday, July 09, 2004 - 1:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Beckyann...I just had a thought this afternoon....are you breastfeeding...some babies that are nursed can get really gassy from the things that you eat. I know that I had problems with cabbage and cauliflower with one of mine.



Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Friday, July 09, 2004 - 4:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
My dd is 11 months old. At my shower I received a kick & play bouncer, It vibrates, and lights up and she loves it. I know they also make a papisan bouncer that holds them securely, but reclines more for easier sleeping, etc. Get online to http://www.babiesrus.com and check it out. Also, how does she sleep when she is in bed with you? I slept easier and better and so did dd when she was in bed with me. Don't let anyone tell you this is bad, use your own judgment. My dad gave me hell over it,saying I was spoiling her, and she would never sleep in her own bed and blah blah blah, I took a lot of crap from a lot of people, but I didn't listen. She slept with us for at least 6 months, which was great while I was nursing. Then we moved her to a cradle that I put right next to our bed, so when she grunted or began to wake up, I just rocked it untill she fell back asleep. She was still really close to us, but not in our bed. Now she sleeps in her own bed, and all night. She is a very secure and cuddly baby, and I think her being so close to us while she was a tiny infant deserves the credit. They make baby sleepers that will go next to you in bed to prevent you or DH from rolling over on her, they are soft bedding material, they also make bassinet/playpen style Co-sleepers that fit right up next to your bed, so you are never more than an arm's length away, but she will be in her own bed.They also have these at http://www.babiesrus.com She probably just wants to be close to you.

Enbwife
Member

08-14-2000

Monday, July 12, 2004 - 8:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Escapee - isn't it funny how people think they have the right to tell you what is good and bad for your own baby!! That used to drive me nuts when people would tell me I shouldn't be sleeping with my baby boy because he would get spoiled. Mind your own business, I would think!!! I'm like you - I believe my son is so secure and cuddly and SO sweet because he had such closeness the first 4-5 months of life. And what a special time for me to be able to have him so close to me for so long - I might not have felt that way at the time but certainly in hindsight, and will remember that for baby girl due in November. :-)

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, July 12, 2004 - 1:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Congrats to you! Here's the funniest part of that. At the time, I would try to put DD in her own bed. ( she was still in our room, but in her own bed ) Then I would wake up at about 3-4 am and she would be nursing. I would think, how did she get here. DH swears he didn't go get her, and an infant can't crawl out of her bed and into ours. I know I must have gotten up and gotten her, in my sleepy state, but we always got a good laugh out of it in the morning.

Enbwife
Member

08-14-2000

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 8:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Can't say that ever happened to me. :-)

Kimmo
Member

05-02-2003

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 1:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yay, I'm glad people are talking about sleeping in bed! That's what we did the first 2-3 months. I also just let Rowan nurse to sleep a lot of the time (no sleep schedule for first 2 months, just had him with me all the time). He started sleeping through the night right around the 2nd month.

Nursing to sleep didn't seem to cause any problems-- I would wrap him in a light blanket or baby sheet (to cover the back of his head) and when he fell asleep, would transfer him to the bassinet or crib. The blanket/sheet on the back of his head made the transfer to a different place less noticeable so that he wouldn't wake up (as opposed to if his head was naked and he was suddenly laid down on a chilly crib/bassinet sheet, the chill might wake him up).

Beckyann
Member

06-23-2004

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 9:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hey everyone, sorry it's been so long since I checked back in. Not much to update on. Emmie slept a couple of nights for 7-8 hours in her bassinet and then I went to visit my parents and that messed her schedule up. Teachmichigan, that looks like the seat that she turned herself over in, She still loves it and I let her nap in it during the day when I can keep an eye on her. It's never happened again, may have been a freak thing but I am still keeping her in her bassinet at night. I am glad you all agree that she is too young to cry it out. We think we will do the Ferber method when she is older and moves to her crib in her room, still not ready to let her leave our room. Escapee, I have let her sleep with us a few times but it has made me so nervous that I don't sleep well at all. We have one of those Tempurpedic (however you spell it) mattresses that is soooo soft and sinks down when you lay on it - That weird foam material - it's great for us but not-so-safe for babies.
Skootz, I tried breastfeeding but Emily kept losing weight, Dr said we needed to supplement formula and once we started that, she did a lot better. I dunno if I was nursing wrong or if I didn't have enough, I didn't get much support, just told to give formula. Oh well, As long as she grows right? Speaking of that, she still doesn't eat much and that concerns me. We tried the Babywise method and that is when she slept through the night but she wasn't increasing her daytime feedings to make up. So I would rather her still wake up in the night as long as she is wanting to eat. She is only eating 2-3 oz every 3-4 hours and that is just during the day. Dr. says that's OK as long as she is still wetting and dirtying diapers which she is - Who knows, maybe she is just destined to be a petite little thing. Sorry to go on like this but as a first-time mom I seem to worry about every little thing - Thanks to everyone for the advice!!

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 1:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I too am a first time mom, and I nursed dd till she was 10 months. Nursing is not a complicated things, although many people feel it is. You will produce as much milk as the baby stimulated from the day before. Therefore, there is really no such thing as not having enough milk, unless there is a health problem, or what not. Then supplamenting is ideal. The more your baby nurses, the more you will produce. It takes time and patience. I am glad to hear you gave it a go. In the long run, you do what is best for your child. Congrats to you, and if you are still nursing and bottle feeding, don't give up on that nursing. Keep at it. Not only for the health and bond you'll get, but for the great weight loss plan. You burn up to 1000 extra calories a day from nursing. I weigh 20lbs less than I did before I got pregnant!

Enbwife
Member

08-14-2000

Friday, July 16, 2004 - 11:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lucky you Escapee. I nursed for the first whole year and it didn't help my weight loss one tiny little bit!! Oh well.