Nap Refusal

Being 5 weeks early he may only do it for awhile. I had a 5 week one early and then she was in the nicu for 16 days and she has been home for about 3 weeks and she is doing the 10 min napr thing or none at all. Just be give it time.

As far as the putting him down until he's almost asleep part, it didn't work for us. It never became an issue for him to fall back asleep if he woke up and I wasn't there. I wouldn't worry about him getting "used" to having you there if it's not working for you.

Is he still being swaddled when he sleeps? If there are no physical issues (hungry, any pain from ears or tummy, or anything else), he may just still need the close comfort and warmth of the swaddle. Also we used the Amby bed (someone else mentioned below) and it was fabulous for us - he slept in it until he was 7 months old. By then he liked to turn over in his sleep, so the transition to the crib was appropriate and he appreciated the extra space - something a young infant does not want. Oh by the way, our baby was born 5 weeks early too.

My son also needs motion to sleep. I rocked him in my arms for the first months (dancing and music help so you both enjoy it!)and then laid him down when he was asleep.

When we are in Turkey they rock him on the legs or in a blanket (you need 2 people to hold each end) and then once he is asleep you just transfer him in the same blanket to the crib (very smoooth transition!!)

Don't worry about the swing - just try to you use it less and less - we only use it now if he just can't fall asleep and that is only once in awhile.

You should try chiropractic care. Your son may have nervous system issues which make it hard for him to rest for long periods of time. You'd be amazed at how gentle chiropractic care is for kids. There's a pediatric chiropractor at Premier Wellness Chiropractic that I take my 8 month old to. Call them at ###-###-####, you'll be amazed at the changes you'll see in your son.

Try swaddling if you haven't already. I swaddled my daughter until she didn't fit in it anymore. I also had her sleep on a positioner. They are only about 10.00 or 15.00 bucks, flat or elevated. The elevated can help if it's an indigestion thing. My daughter was six weeks early and had trouble with this. The swaddling saved us, it keeps them from startling themselves awake (I rocked her completely asleep until she was about 4 or 5 months old). Good luck!
C.

My daughter (3rd child) is almost 13 weeks and we have recently gone through similar things. First of all, I think there is a growth spurt around 6-7 weeks and 11-12 weeks that can interfere with sleeping and eating routines. I have also recently realized that my daughter needs more stimulation during her wake times than I was providing. Up until now she was perfectly content in the swing or bouncy snoozing on and off most of the day. Now she only tolerates the swing or bouncy for about 1/2 hour or maybe and hour if she falls a sleep. I have started doing more tummy time and floor play as well as walks in the stroller. She is really starting to try to interact with hanging toys and kick toys. I think this helps wear her out a bit. Good luck!

I put my son to sleep in the swing all the time. You do what works to get by. Turn the swing off after he"s asleep. He may be going through a growth spurt and when those happen anything goes. the usual sched usually goes out the window and you then develop a new one. good luck

If you are rocking him to sleep it is not self soothe. How lucky you are that he sleeping most of the night!! All mine got up every 3 hrs to eat. I hate to say tis but you need to put him in his crib and let him figure out how to go to sleep. It may be horrible with a lot of crying, but it will only take a couple of times. I think it is the crib adjustment. Put something that smells like you in with him. Naps really are important for Mom and baby. I promise it will be really hard but the PAYOFF will be huge. Imagine this going on for years, some of my friends have gone through it. Good Luck, J.

He's only 11 weeks old! Any way you can get him to sleep should be fine. He's still adjusting, your still adjusting. Especially those first 3 months, you need to get your sleep too. I did whatever was necessary, for us it was white noise, to get my boy to fall asleep. When he was 3 months, we started on the path to him falling asleep on his own in his crib. By that time they're a little bigger, your a little more used to them and their sounds. You'll know if he's just being fussy or if he's hungry. Just remember, he's only 11 weeks.

I would try an amby bed (www.amby.com) It is like a hammock and when the baby wakes and moves, it rocks and they fall back to sleep. so it isn't in motion all the time, just as they fall back to sleep. It is also nicely enclosed and for a newborn, they often hate the crib. Also, you might wait to transition to crib. Baby doesn't have to be in crib yet. Cribs are so vast and unwomblike that babies often don't like them. My amby bed, which really worked for me, has now been used by several of my friends and they have all loved it. It is out on loan now, or I would loan it to you. Yes it costs $300 or so, but for at least a months worth of sleep it is well worth it.

If you haven't tried swaddling, it works wonders. My son slept so much better when he was swaddled. It makes them feel safe and secure. We also used an air purifier in his room for white noise. I think that helped too. Good luck and congrats!
B.

Every child is different so don't go by what the book says go by what your instincts say.
As you are transitioning him from his bassinet do you have something around your son in his crib to make it feel like his bassinet? If not try that. My son never needed that because he like the open space of his crib from day one. He hated his cradle, the one my husband work so hard to make for him.

As far a the swing to help him get a little more sleep I use to do that all the time in the afternoon. I had a battery operated swing and he use to love sitting in the sunny and swinging back and forth. He did not always sleep but some times he did. So if the swing makes him happy swing away just watch that he is not becoming dependent.

S.

Sounds like the little darling went from the womb to a small bassinet ... why SHOULD he like a big cold crib? Try swaddling him... wrapping him tightly in a receiving blanket, like the hospitals wrap babies. This does really work, as I used it on both of my children, and our grandson, as needed. Kids can also not like sleeping in air conditioning, so make sure to save a few light winter blankies, and long sleeve and long pant pj's. GOOD LUCK
Ellen L

Your baby is going through a growth spurt and that is common for some babies. I would introduce activities to make him tired. Be creative. Not much you can do with an 11wk. old. Talk and sing to him. Try bathing after he eats. A soothing bath usually works. Soft music or some babies must have the noise around them for comfort. Whatever it is you'll come up with something. That motherly thing will come. Good luck and God Bless you and your family.

My now 9 yr. old would only nap for 30 min. at a time from the time she was a few months old until she was about 8 mos. old unless she was in her carseat, she'd sleep for hours.

With my toddler, when he was born, the ped. told us two of his 4 kids slept in their carseats, in the crib, until they were about 6 mos. old.

My son also had acid reflux and we actually kept him in our room (as he'd spit up and not fuss, I was scared I would not hear him spit up over the monitor) in his bouncy chair since we could keep him elevated that way. We tried the carseat, but then he'd spit and it'd need washed and we'd need to run out in the morning to go to school...but he slept in it.

I say whatever works, you all need your rest, and if he sleeps in the swing, I would not worry about it. We also, with the oldest and youngest, as they are the ones we had trouble with as infants (my now 6 yr. old won't sleep NOW) warming a blanket in the dryer a few minutes and warming up their cribs. Also, my son finally slept in the playpen, but not his crib, I think he liked the smaller space. Also when you rock him, then go to put him down, keep him close to you and bend over the crib as far as you can, so he does not startle. Good luck, but really, do what you need to do to get him to sleep, with the oldest we'd pack her up and drive, even to the 24 hour grocery store, my hubby would drive around and i'd go shop!

I would love to be able to give you some miracle that would help, but we used the swing until our daughter was literally too heavy for it. In my experience, a bath and a story at bed time helped as did a sound machine in the nursery. My daughter was fond of water sounds or birds singing. Good luck and know that this will pass. Getting past the first 12 weeks was like graduating from boot camp for us :)