Getting 2 week old to sleep

My bub is 2 weeks old and the only way that I can get him to sleep is by feeding him until he is sleepy/falls asleep and then holding him until that sleep is a bit deeper. I then swaddle him and put him in his bassinet.

Everything i read tells me that he should be awake when i put him down but it just doesn't seem to work. He just starts crying until he is picked up again.

Is it really a problem at this early age that he relies on me to sleep? How do other people get their newborns to sleep?

Keep doing what you are doing! He is only two weeks old and he needs his mummy. As he gets older he might start waking up after you put him in the cot asleep(not all babies do this). If he does thats a good time to start finding another way to put him to sleep but thats months away. Kepp doing what works for you and forget the book for now! smile

hello

I dont think it is a problem in my opion. the way i see it is a baby grows in us and is close to us for 9months. Then all of a sudden one day they are excepted to fall asleep in a cold lonely bed. Doesnt make sense to me. If your baby is happy to lie their awake then thats great, but if your baby still needs that comfort and safety of being close to you then whos to say that is wrong.

Some suggestions to get a newborn to sleep.

wheatsack in the bassinet just before your baby goes in ( this way warms it up first).

Use a t shirt over the mattress ( make sure it fits well) this way bubby will smell you. Some people wrap their babies in a t shirt of theirs.

I personally had my babys basinet in the lounge during the day and did the routine of feed, burp, change, wrap feed again then put in the cot. Sometimes id sit with her for half an hour before i got up to put her to bed ( as I LOVE baby snuggles). It has not effected her sleep at all and is now 5 and a half months old and goes to bed good as.

Good luck and I say do what works for you and your baby they are only little once and need lots of loving, snuggles and security. smile

Babies arent stupid.. If you keep doing it they'll expect it.

At two weeks I wouldn't stress about what you are doing. If you want to try to self settle than look for tired signs, wrap bub and put in bed. You are probably going to need to pat bubs as well. Try to remember that crying is the only way they can communicates and grizzling is different to crying. Dont stress at 2 weeks bubs is still learning pretty much everything about the world. There is plenty of time to develop good habits and this takes time.

PS don't forget that whatever you do. It is only a problem, if it is a problem for you. Don't feel pressured by other peoples expectations/judgement.

Babies arent stupid.. If you keep doing it they'll expect it.

I agree with the above.

If you are happy to do what your are doing stick with it but remember that they all grow and become really heavy and harder to carry and if that's the routine you are in they will expect it all the time.

You could just try another routine. Play, Nappy, feed, wrap, bed. We always put our kids to bed awake and they all self settled. If they have trouble make sure all is okay (Nappy, wind etc) then stand or sit near cot and pat to comfort. If you need to pick up to settle do that but put them back down awake. It may take a few days but you will find it will be worth it.

We have three kids and have not had a sleepless night with any of them. They are all happy to go to bed and know that bed time means bed time. you just need a good routine.

Good luck enjoy your little one they grow so fast.

I stressed about getting it right from day 1 with my first....I feel like I missed out on enjoying him. With ds2 I just went with the flow for the first 6-8 weeks and then started my routine. He was a great sleeper and is a much more relaxed child than ds1 (which may just be his personality). This time, being my last bub, I plan to go with the flow and enjoy it longer. It goes too quick and I am comfortable knowing that I will have to 'undo' any bad habits that I create. It really is about what you are comfortable with for you and your little bubba. Enjoy xx

Keep doing what you are doing! He is only two weeks old and he needs his mummy. As he gets older he might start waking up after you put him in the cot asleep(not all babies do this). If he does thats a good time to start finding another way to put him to sleep but thats months away. Kepp doing what works for you and forget the book for now! smile

Agree with Kubota! Just do what works for you and remember bub is only 2 weeks old. Still so new to this big, wide world!

Thanks for the feedback guys! Makes me feel much better to know that I am not completely stuffing things up by letting him fall asleep on me at the moment.

This whole parenting thing is a whole new world to me!!

I fed my DD to sleep until she was 13 months old. I loved that special time smile From 13 months she has self settled and sleeps all night. I have no regrets smile

I had my third baby 2 weeks ago too. I had been told and have found, that anywhere up to 10-12 weeks, do whatever works for you. After that, do your routine and stop habits that may become problematic in future.
Anyhow, it's only a few sleepless nights if you do need to change routine... And as PP said, they were in us for 9 months. It's a huge adjustment to the outside.

I agree with Sarah A do what ever works for you don't worry about routine until 12weeks or so, DS slept on me for probably the first month. he's fine.
Just keep doing it until you find it a problem then change it.