Need advice getting Andrew to sleep in his crib

[mtemm]

Andrew will only sleep with me, night or naps. At night we've taken to pulling him into our bed because its the only way he or we get any sleep at all. Not exactly safe. I've thought about getting a co-sleeper, but honestly what I want is for him to sleep in his own crib.

For naps the only way he'll sleep is if I cuddle him on the couch. If I try to move him or get up myself, he freaks out. I just don't know what to do. He's only 6 weeks, so too young to CIO. I have his twin sister and a 2 year old to take care of, so spending hours at a time with him while he sleeps just isn't working for me.

I need help! I just see a bigger nightmare in the future if this isn't resolved soon. Not to mention a 2 year old who will begin to resent me.

Any advice?

TIA!

 

[Jolie C]

Have you tried blocking off part of the crib, so it doesn't feel so big to him? That's what our pediatrician suggested for my son. Good luck!

 

[Microcell]

Does he still like to be swaddled? It is also okay to let him cry for a few minutes or so and he can get himself to sleep that way. I know he is young, so maybe only five minutes or so, but he may be just winding himself down after sensory overload and need to cry it out a little.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

How old is he?

I had some troubles getting my baby to sleep in his crib. I basically just decided that we were going to do it. When he would cry, I would go in and comfort him and nurse him -- but then he would go back into the crib. I think I had 3 or 4 nights of sheer torture where I didn't get more than a couple of hours of sleep, but after that the crib became familiar to him and he slept wonderfully there.

I also have a Mozart CD that I have played for him at bedtime since birth. It really seems to calm him down for bed.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

What about moving his crib into your room and making it a 'side car' arrangement. That way he is close to you, but still in his crib. Co-sleeping with the Mother is fine as long as you take a few precautions.

I just read that he has a twin-can they sleep together?

I co-slept with DD, but these are some of the options that I had read about before hand.

 

[r3ngels]

This sounds funny but when my 2year old was a baby someone told me to put a heating pad in her crib to warm it then take it out before I put her in it. It worked really well for her because I would get her calm and put her in the crib and it was shocking to her, it was soothing. But... I did have nightmares that I forgot to take the heating pad out so I checked her crib at least 20 times a night (LOL) It worked for her... Hope this helps.

 

[mtemm]

thanks everyone. more info for you. He HATES being swaddled, doesn't matter if I put him in with his twin, and I have tried letting him cry for 5 minutes, no longer, and he just freaks out. I've tried nursing him to sleep and putting him down and no luck, he wakes up immediately or within a minute or 2. oh, and I do block off the crib so it feels smaller.

I should also add that in general even when he is awake he wants to be held, particularly by me. He'll tolerate a few minutes alone time. makes tummy time very hard!!!

now, they were 5 weeks early, due date was 4/18, don't know if that has to do with it at all???

 

[The Mystery Machine]

At 6 weeks I always did the bassinet. They were premies and I just felt better about it.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

It seems like he just wants to be close to his Mom.

Have you tried a sling for the daytime/naps? That way he can be close to you and you can still get some stuff done.

Personally I would just go with the flow. It seems like you have tried a lot of things and he just wants to be by you. I would give it a little longer, and maybe try again.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Did you try his car seat for naps to give yourself a break? Both my children sleep/slept well in their car seats because they were strapped in and so felt snuggled and secure. I let my son sleep in his car seat when he napped at my workplace, and my daughter slept in her car seat each night on our last trip to Disney in February. The Pediatricians say you shouldn't let them sleep in their carseats exclusively, but I always thought the more places they sleep, the easier they sleep. And it works for me. Still my daughter, who is now 7 mos and who's nursery is upstairs, sleeps in her carseat for a lot of her daytime naps. It's easier for me and she sleeps soooo well in it. If your son does well in the car riding in his seat, put him in it during the day, rock him until he falls asleep as if he's riding in the car, and tiptoe out of the room. Good luck.