How do you get newborn to sleep?

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Infants

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amother

OP ↓

Today at 9:26 am

This is my sixth baby and I don’t understand how people get their newborns to sleep without holding them? I have friends who are out and about between feedings because their newborn is sleeping (with a babysitter/husband). I try changing diaper, swaddling, nursing, burping well and then a few minutes after I put the baby down she’s again crying. She doesn’t have reflux - there’s something I’m missing on how to settle a baby without holding them for a nap. I have to do it safely or else I won’t be able to nap. So I won’t put the baby on her stomach to sleep, I won’t put her to sleep in a swing, not in a car seat, won’t co sleep. So is it possible to have a newborn sleep on her back for an hour or more?

Hashem_Yaazor

Today at 9:29 am

Chances are your friends are doing one of those things you won't do...

amother

Amber

Today at 9:32 am

It depends on the baby. I had one that needed to be held a lot. My other children didn't. If they are comfortable and needs are met most children can fall asleep. The trick is to put them to bed before they are over tired. I didn't really learn this until my 4th. My 2nd had reflux and could only sleep on a slant the first month. But she slept well on her stomach.

amother

Chartreuse

Today at 9:36 am

Hashem_Yaazor wrote:

Chances are your friends are doing one of those things you won't do...

My newborn slept, in a bassinet, swaddled, on back.

Some babies just sleep well, doesn't mean the parents aren't following safe sleep rules

mizle10

Today at 9:44 am

Hashem_Yaazor wrote:

Chances are your friends are doing one of those things you won't do...

Why would you say that?

A newborn who’s fed, dry, and swaddled should definitely be able to sleep for an hour. Something is obviously bothering her. Is she gaining nicely? Does she spit up a lot?

amother

↑ OP

Today at 9:51 am

mizle10 wrote:

Why would you say that?

A newborn who’s fed, dry, and swaddled should definitely be able to sleep for an hour. Something is obviously bothering her. Is she gaining nicely? Does she spit up a lot?

Gaining well. Yes she spits up. Don’t all babies spit up?

thepickled

Today at 10:04 am

Can you keep her head a bit more elevated?
I echo other posters - fed, swaddled, baby should sleep. As they transition out of the newborn stage I do more rocking and shushing, pacifier. They definitely are usually held to fall asleep but once asleep they generally can stay that way for at least an hour.

I keep my babies on their back although at night I’ll sometimes put them next to me in bed without blankets nearby because they sleep better that way.

Two things to be careful with: wake windows (not up for longer than 45 mins to an hour) and making sure baby sees sunlight to get their day and night straight.

My babies are not great sleepers but not terrible in the newborn stage. Your baby might be different even with similar treatment.

smss

Today at 10:15 am

You'll have a better bet if in addition to what you're already doing, you make sure she's tired enough, but not overtired. But honestly this is very typical for newborns!

amother

Leaf

Today at 11:05 am

Just here to say that my newborn can only fall alseep while being held and can sometimes stay asleep when transfered to her bassinet. You're not alone

amother

Turquoise

Today at 11:17 am

amother Chartreuse wrote:

My newborn slept, in a bassinet, swaddled, on back.

Some babies just sleep well, doesn't mean the parents aren't following safe sleep rules

This.

They all slept like this, and I actually tried not to let them fall asleep on me or other people often, even when it would have been convenient, since I wanted them to get used to sleeping in their bassinet so I wouldn't be tied to them during naps and bedtime.

But it didn't always work. Sometimes it did, and yes, I found that each of them had a "sweet spot" -- the amount of time that they should stay up before I swaddled them and tried to put them down. And sometimes it just didn't, and I had to keep on going in and calming them down, putting in a pacifier, until they'd finally drift off. It was hard, but honestly either way is hard I think.

Sometimes I'd change them, swaddle them tightly, nurse them, and then put them down, and they were more likely to fall asleep and stay asleep that way.

And some of them just slept better than others. Or went through stages. There's no right answer to this...

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