5 Week Old Who Will Only Sleep in a Swing or on My Chest

Try the sleep positioners and swaddling. It sounds like he just likes to feel nice and snug! With the combo of those too, he should feel the same!

I went through the same thing. The good thing to know is that like everything it is only temporary! I would suggest getting a good sling or wrap to put him in and wear him. That way he gets the comfort he needs and you have 2 arms free to do what you need to do. Also let him sleep in the swing if that works. He is def. too young to "cry it out". He needs that love and comfort that only you can give him!!!!

M.,

I know that you have already recieved a ton of responses to this but my first son was EXACTLY the same way. He slept in his swing 9 hours through the night from 1 1/2 months to 4 months old. My husband and I even put the swing in our bedroom. It was the only place other than on me that he would sleep, I think it was because he was all craddled and snuggled in it (it was one of those Fisher Price ones). I was concerned that he would eventually have trouble adjusting to the crib but he didn't. My Dr. said if that was where he felt safe and comfortable why not let him sleep there.

Jessica

M.,

I always found that age to be nerve-wrecking as well. It seems the slightest sound or sensation can send the startle reflex reeling.

Have you tried swaddling him? I know others have used a heating pad on the bed and then moved it away so baby isn't laying on it, just so it warms the spot and the transition isn't a shocking chill.

I have also used a thick blanket so the bed is a bit more cushy. though i have always taken it away when it poses a suffocation risk.

another good tip i got with my last two.... a sound machine. my son seems to wake up at the slightest noise, but since adding his sound machine he snoozes thru a lot more than he used to.

oh, and to answer your question about letting his fuss it out... i personally think it may be a bit early to begin true sleep training, but it's definitely not going to harm him to fuss for a few minutes. in the early weeks I wuold have to let them fuss it out just to go to the bathroom or get a super quick shower. sometimes this even makes them more tired and they soothe back to sleep easier and without being picked up. maybe try letting him fuss for a minute, and then going in and laying your hand on his chest and saying 'shhhhh'.

and it could be that you're laying him down too soon after falling asleep. i learned to wait until their little arms felt limp.

Good luck! I hope i've been able to help.

Congratulations!
My daughter now 11 months old was the same way. I'm personally not a big fan of letting her cry it out. I remember letting my daughter sleep where ever she could sleep. I bought a sling which was great it cradled her just like she is when I hold and I had my hands free. I also used a snuggling but more difficult to nurse with. She also would sleep in a swing or an infant chair. Also what helped was laying her on her tummy which I know is discouraged and I only did this during the day when I could check on her 20 times. She would actually sleep for a good hour instead of just 20 minutes when on her back. Cherish these times of just holding him he is too little to spoil and will be 11 months old before you know it.
I hope this helps.
C.

yes he is too young, 3 months is the earliest to let them cry it out. Having him sleep in the swing is just fine, just recle the back as much as possible at his age. Don't put him to sleep holding him because the transfer to the crib will be more difficult if he gets used to falling asleep with your breathing, and smell and softness. Every couple weeks try him out in the crib and you will know when he's ready to make the transition.

My son wouldn't sleep in his crib until he was 7 or 8 weeks old. Our lifesavers were the swing, car seat and vibrating bouncy chair. When I asked the pediatrician about if there were issues with letting him sleep in places other than his crib, he said that if I really wanted the baby in the crib, just put the car seat in there ; )

We started transitioning to the crib at nap time. Eventually as he got older, the crib became the place he slept. Don't worry too much about it - especially since you have options other than your arms.

Good luck and congrats on the new baby!

I second two pieces of advice:

* get a moby wrap
* get a miracle blanket

I carried my daughter around in the moby wrap for the first few months and at first glance people thought I was still pregnant! No wonder dd fell asleep in there instantly!

Also, with the miracle blanket, at the FIRST sign of fussiness, the first time she would arch her back or not be social and happy, I would head straight to the bedroom and wrap her in the miracle blanket and lay her down awake. If she started crying, I would pick her up, or put my hand on her chest or cheek (don't do "cry it out" until AT LEAST four months old -- that's when their brain is developed enough to self-sooth).

good luck! and enjoy cuddling with your baby -- before too long you won't be able to!

My daughter would only sleep in her bouncy seat until she was about 2 1/2 months old. I had the same concerns as you, but my pediatrician told me that this was fine (her daughter would only sleep in her carrier at that age!) as long as we had her sleeping in her crib by 4 months.

Your baby is still a tiny thing at 5 weeks! At this stage, the goal is to get him to sleep wherever you can. If he is happy sleeping in the swing, then I say let him swing! Just make getting to the crib by 4 months the goal.

Hope this helps! : )

WAAAAY TOO EARLY! I've read that basically their brains are not capable of remembering much past a few hours until about 6-7 months old. So letting him "fuss it out" would be in vein. It has been said that the first 3 months of a baby's life is the "4th trimester". Long story short, babies should be nurtured extensively the first 3 months of life. If they cry, it's not because they are being "spoiled" or "manipulative" but because they have very real needs that are not being met.
On a different note, check out the Dunstan Baby Language DVD. It shows you how to interpret your newborn's cries. It's really amazing how much you can do to help a crying baby! It helped me a lot the first few months with my fussy baby (who sounds much like yours!). Hang in there mama, it'll get better.

My baby was bad about this too. She slept in her crib at night, but not for naps. This was awful when she started daycare...but she eventually got over it.
At that age they are too young to cry it out. I started putting her in her car seat to sleep. She loved it and would sleep for hours on end. I would even put her in there awake then go for a walk and she would quickly fall asleep, plus I got some much needed exercise. Sometimes I felt bad about her being in there thinking it wasn't comfortable, but she liked it and doesn't have any back problems. I was worried about developing a bad habit, but she sleeps in her crib for naps now just fine. She's 10 months. I think they grow into the crib. When they are so little, I think the crib might be just too much space for them. Don't worry about bad habits just do what you need to do to make him sleep! Enjoy him napping on your chest now because when he gets older you won't be able to get him too! :)

I feel your pain! My 6 mo old used to do that. I would actually warm up his crib. I used a Bed Buddy (you can find them at Walgreens and also nice to have for yourself for aches and pains)You warm it up in the microwave & lay it in the bed before putting him down, and then move it out before you lay him down & check to make sure it isn't too warm. Once I had him laid down I would stand there and keep pressure on his chest with my hand for a couple minutes... This seemed to work for us , but every baby is different:)Good Luck!

Your baby is too young for a vast crib. Lots of babies are like that. Mine didn't sleep there until she was 4 months old. She slept in a bassinet/moses basket, her car seat and then I bought a fantastic thing known as the amby bed. It is JPMA certified and recommended by Dr. Sears. It is like a suspended hammock and is nicely enclosed, so the baby feels more cosy (ie more womb like). It rocks so when the baby moves it moves back and forth rocking baby to sleep. You can get it at www.amby.com I think or google it. One of my friends borrowed mine for her little non-sleeper and it worked a treat for her too.

My son slept in the swing all the time. I felt bad about it, but I realized that he was comfortable so I finally learned to just put him in the swing.

I myself have a 2 week old - it is our 3rd. The thing that has literally SAVED my sanity in terms of the baby's sleeping and eating - is the book 'BABYWISE.' My babies have all slept SO well - they self sooth, they sleep VERY well at night. Good luck whatever you decide!

5 weeks is way too early to let a newborn cry it out. He doesn't have the self soothing techniques to calm himself yet.

Try calming music in his room, low lights, and laying him down still semi-awake. He can lay there and make noises but pick him up quickly if he starts to cry.

Too early to fuss it out.

Try a miracle blanket. Our daughter hated being swaddled but this worked like a charm. I ordered them in bulk so I would have them on hand anytime friends have new babies. www.miracleblanket.com. Good luck.

M.
I would also say to swaddle your son. We swaddled my daughter from almost the beginning and we had few (amazingly) problems with her sleeping in her crib. Good luck
J. M.

Our son was similar. He ended up having reflux and that's why he wanted to be upright.

We had the same problem with our son. He would only fall asleep in someone's arms, his car seat, or in our bed, but the minute we put him in his bassinet, he would wake up. We did eventually get a swing for him, and it was a life saver. We were comfortable letting him sleep in his car seat or swing at night. I think it felt safer and cosier. At almost 3 months his crib arrived, and although I thought it would be a really difficult transition for him, he took to it right away. He was older, had grown a bit, and was ready to start stretching out. I think he just needed our body warmth and to feel snuggled till he was a little older. I know plenty of babies who sleep exclusively in their car seats or swings because of reflux issues. When they are ready, they'll make the switch. If it doesn't bother you, let him cuddle a little longer!

I read somewhere that is you keep your hand on the baby's chest after you put him/her down and leave it there for a minute they will stay asleep.Good luck!

Do you think he has acid reflux. My oldest wouldn't sleep laying down because the acid would rise up in her throat when she was in her crib. It took forever to get her to sleep in her crib for any length of time. It was really bad at night after a full day. She would sleep in her swing, in my arms, or in the stroller, but not well in her crib...even if I elevated the mattress.

Maybe you can try to put the baby in the car seat and put that in the crib at night. Atleast the baby will be in the right environment and then eventually go to the crib without fussing.

I would see about acid reflux.

I had a very similar situation. My daughter would only sleep in my arms and wouldn't sleep anywhere else. We started sleep training her at 6 weeks -- I was just too tired of holding her all day. I couldn't sleep when she slept 'cuz I was too afraid I'd drop her (and she wouldn't co-sleep...just wanted to be held). It took about 3 days for us to sleep train her. We did Dr. Weissbluth's method of a gradual extinction. We would put her down when she was tired and check on her every 20 minutes. We also did Ezzo's method of getting her to sleep through the night (by feeding only every 2.5-3 hours). She slept through the night by week 11 and she knows how to fall asleep by herself if something wakes her up. Good luck.

Generally young babies don't like to be in big open spaces. We put my 10 week old in a swaddleme blanket and then put him in his carseat (with the buckles tucked underthe padding) which is sitting in the bassinet next to my bed. We did this with my first as well. Then we moved him to just be in the bassinet, with rolled up towels on the side.....then just the bassinet, then the crib with the towels on the side, then just the crib. They feel alot safer in enclosed feeling spaces. I am not sure if we will do the same with this one as he has reflux pretty bad and thus really needs the incline. HTH!

M......When my son was born...he did the samething so what I did was place his carseat in his crib. And when he got about 3-4 months he was able to sleep in his crib. Good Luck to you...

Hi M.
Congrats on the new baby! Sometimes babies who have trouble with this benefit from swaddling like in the hospital, or is it too quiet where his crib is? Also you could try using a t-shirt worn by you the previous as a blanket so he knows you are near. Good Luck and remember they are little for a short time enjoy the cuddling.
J. O

my daughter slept on my chest until she was 2 or 3 months and it was horrible. i was tired all the time and would feed her constantly in hopes that she would fall back to sleep again so i could get some rest. not good. anyway i found that the bassinet helped because it is a little more closed in. my doctor also said that i was too nice running to her to pick her up when she cried and giving her ten minutes to cry it out before checking on her. that was torture to hear her cry and not run to her. sometimes her daddy and i would argue because he wanted to run and pick her up too! sometimes and this is my own opinion, crying it out makes them sleep better! good luck and enjoy your baby --- i'm sure he's beautiful.

AAAAhhhh memories--I was there just 4+ months ago myself. You poor thing, you've done what we've all done and are now finding yourself where we all have. Sucks doesn't it?! lol I initially let my chick scream it out to get her accustomed to falling asleep on her own w/o any help and also to teach her the skill of falling back asleep on her own when she wakes in the middle of the night. That worked and I thought I was good until I noticed she would scream everytime I walked toward the bedroom to put her down. This made me feel horrible so I got the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. I liked it a lot. Make sure you don't get her hooked on any more props, like pacifiers that fall out, etc. The swing is a common thing that just kind of happens but now she's dependant on it and that is no good. Babies don't sleep as deeply and restfully in swings so you're in for a cranky one if you don't nip it. It's amazing how often you'll wonder if you might possibly have a gassy or colicky baby only to find out they weren't getting enough sleep! If you can't bear to let him cry it out then do try the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer which is a nice, middle of the road method that makes everyone happy. hth Blessings! Katie

Dear M.,

Your instinct to wait is correct. My advice is to see if you can get someone else to take a turn resting with him, it might make you feel a litte less frustrated. It's tough with another muffin to care for! Will he sleep in a sling? Then he has mama and you have your mobility. I miss that stage actually! Cozy! Maybe I'm the wrong person to answer this question? What with the baby envy and all...take care--D.

I personally think its too early to try the cry it out sleep training, though a little fussing for five minutes or so is no big deal. I usually let my 10wk old fuss for five minutes before going to her, and that includes the middle of the night. Most of the time she'll fall right back to sleep, though if she really needs something she'll let me know. By doing this she's been sleeping through the night since six weeks.
Also one tip I got from my doc was that the focus should be on the fact that he is sleeping rather than where he is sleeping. I still follow that with my 21mo son. I find him in his sisters room on the floor, on his floor, on my floor and in the hallway, and rather than worry that he's not in bed, Im thrilled that he's sleeping. He regularly slept in his swing, or carseat (which I would put in his crib rather than wake him by taking him out after he fell asleep on a drive.)
Another thing to try is a SwaddleMe blanket. My daughter won't sleep more than 20 minutes if she's not wrapped up, and these swaddlers are harder to break free from and safer than using a receiving blanket.

Give it some time. Some babies are more sensitive than others temperamentally and need the time next to you. Crying it out is really very detrimental to a child psychologically, especially when they are so young. At 5 weeks, 2 minutes is an eternity.
I would suggest investing in a wrap (or sling) so you can have free hands. I'm a wrap proponent, but they take a few days to get the hang of. They are useful all through the toddler years though. This site gives info on all types of wraps, slings, shawls, types of cloth, etc:
www.mamatoto.org

5 weeks is way too young to try sleep training. Babies this age only have needs and not wants.

If you need to do stuff during the day, I would highly advise getting a sling/wrap. I have the Moby and I wore my son until he was about 9/10 months old. He didn't like to sleep anywhere but in my arms and this came in so handy. He got his sleep, I got my stuff done.

Win-Win.

http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Wrap-Carrier-12-Color-Pattern/...

First of all, do not worry about this. My son was the same way, and people stressed me out. My pediatrician said that as long as your baby is sleeping anywhere, that is fine at that age. It is definitely too early to let your son cry it out. I think 3-4 months is the earliest. My son slept in the Fisher Price papasan chair and the swing until he was 3.5 months old. He also loved swaddle me sleep sacks. When we did transition him to the crib (which went really well), we always had him in a velcro swaddle blanket because it prevented him from being startled (waking up too easily). This will all work itself out as your son gets older! Good luck!

Our baby week one - only slept at night while being held in the recliner, otherwise he was a screaming mess.

Our baby weeks two through eight - wrapped him in a swaddle and strapped him in a vibrating bouncy seat. Slept fantastically, waking only to feed.

At two months, we moved him into his crib. He still was swaddled and we also put him on an inclined sleep positioner. By three months, he would go to sleep around 9:00-ish at night and sleep until about 5:00 or so. Nice!

We didn't do any 'sleep training' until about 6 months. Now that he is 16 months, he sleep wonderfully. For now, if he's happy in a swing then let him sleep like that. While I'm no expert, in my opinion I'd rather have a well-rested baby that is healthy than one who is lacking sleep and cranky. Good luck to you!

I had big success with swaddling when my little one was that old. She would immediately calm down. I stopped when she started to try to free herself out of it. Now the sling is definitely the way to go! My little one (5 months) just recently started to hate her crib, coz I was trying to get her on some schedule lying her down and trying to get her to sleep. Big mistake! Now she fusses when I even come near the crib! But I found that the sling calms her and is becoming a sleep cue. The trick for me is to wait until she is 15 minutes or so asleep in the sling before putting her in the crib and then to stay put on the 30 minutes and 45 minutes mark where she usually wakes up a little, just to immediately calm her down until she falls asleep again. I don't know if she will become dependent or not to the sling, the fact is she sleeps and trust me and that is more worth than anything else. I think soon she will 'trust' her crib again, and eventually grow out of this need she has now.

My son did this until he was 3 mos old... I thought that it may never end until one day he pushed himself off and that is when I thought "get back on here!" As I look back I wish I had him checked for reflux because there were other things that I told my Doc and she wasn't concerned about. I didn't realize this could be a sign of reflux.

It makes me sad to see all of the posts regarding "crying it out" and sleep training. As Dr. William Sears points out in his book, "The Baby Sleep Book," training is something you do with a dog, not a baby, and letting babies cry it out teaches them that their needs, which they express by crying (the only language they know), are not important. I don't claim to be an expert (I'm a first-time mom), but my gut tells me that letting a baby cry alone is just cruel. It's one thing to let them cry a minute or two to see if they can self-soothe, but any more than that, and I think your baby will start to lose trust in you.

My son is 2 mo old and I had the same problem with him. They told me it is because he feels alone outside the womb and needs that closeness....they also said he was too young to comfort himself and crying it out would not help. We swaddled him tightly, warmed his crib up with a heating pad (take it out before laying him down) and placed him on a sleep positioner. it seemed to make him feel like he was on someone warm after warming his positioner up for him. Good luck..it will get better.

My advice is be persistent in placing him in his crib and rub his back softly for a few minutes or lay him on his side and prep him up with a nice soft pillow. It is almost like you have to retrain him by getting him use to and adjusted to the crib.

put baby down and rub his back or legs for awhile and let him FALL asleep in the crib,it may take time but then that way you don't have to disturb him to move him.Try some soft instrumental music and have the room dark.

Try again when he's older. Or try that Fisher Price papasan chair, which is what my son slept in for the first three months or so. Lots of good advice here, but don't let the sleep books freak you out that your kid will never sleep anywhere else if you don't get him to sleep in his crib NOW!