Hang in there! It will get better, I promise!
My advice is - do what works now, dont worry about "getting into bad habits" or what she "should" be doing... (unless its really bothering you, of course)
As she becomes more active youll probably find she will sleep better in the day - well thats what both mine did anyway!
Youre doing a great job!
Having her sleep is the HAB is only a problem if you've got a problem with, don't listen to everyone else! She has been sleeping in your belly for so long, thats all she knows...but it does get better! You're doing a great job!!
She wakes after 30 mins because that's her sleep cycle and she doesn't know how to put herself back to sleep.
It's totally up to you whether you persist with trying to resettle her in the bassinette when she wakes after her first sleep cycle (ie 30 mins) or you'd just prefer her to sleep in the HAB.
Most babies go through a stage of waking after one sleep cycle. Both of mine did (only duirng the day too thank goodness!) and I persisted with the resettling because that's what I prefered (although it did my head in at the time). Eventually they both learned to resettle themselves after they woke, so for me, it was worth it.
It seems we have similar children, feeding and sleepwise.
DS1 slept fine in his bassinette until he was about 1 month old, then would only sleep for about 30 mins at a time during the day, but very well at night. DS2 looks like he is going to be a bit the same. The MHCN said with DS1 that as long as 1 of his daytime sleeps was a longer one, and he was sleeping well at night, then it was fine.
Carrying him always got him to sleep longer, but I found that the vibrating bouncer usually did too. Maybe an option if you want some time of your own. Also If I was having a daytime nap I would have him sleep with me and then I could just rock him a little when he stirred and he would go back to sleep.
I have read that it is a good idea to have babies sleep somewhere other than their bassinette during the day so that for them the bassinette becomes associated with longer night time sleeping. I don't know how true that is, but it would certainly mean that you aren't being a bad mum by not having your baby in their usual bed.
Don't worry... if you are happy carrying bubs then that is all that matters. Before you know it DD will be all grown up and not needing so many daytime sleeps anyway. Enjoy the closeness while you can.
Thanks guys. Went to the MCHN today and she was telling me to put her down asleep etc. This won't work, she will just literally stay awake all day!! She seems to have so much trouble getting to sleep, and fights it.
It's hard to know what I want to do, some days I don't care about carrying her around all day but then I would also like her to know how to sleep in the basinette. But when I try and make her she just gets over tired and cranky and is not her usual happy self so then I feel like a bad mummy coz she's not happy. Usually she doesn't really cry, she's pretty happy.
I think I just don't have enough patience, I just get so frustrated trying to teach her to sleep in the basinette and then I give up. Maybe I'll wait for a time when DH has a few days off work and he can help me teach her. I think I might go crazy trying to do it on my own!
Relax, hun, she's only 10 weeks old! If she sleeps better in the HAB and you are happy to use it, then do so. She gets a lot of comfort from being close to you, and who can blame her? Only a little while ago you held and carried her 24 hrs a day, now it's down to maybe 5! The fact she is so settled at night time should prove to you that you are not forming any 'bad habits', it's just when it's day time she wants your closeness and security.
Babies tend to draw confidence from the increased security when they are little and you will probably find as she gets older she will be more than happy to sleep in her bassinette.
Hi Heaven...I could have written your post when DD was 10 weeks old.
I too had a battle in my head between what to do. I used to say "nothing works" because I seemed to be fighting a loosing battle with her sleep. I used to say to DH "I spent the whole day trying to get her to sleep".
I think you need to ask yourself if it bothers you she only sleeps for 30mins? Is she happy when she wakes up? Are you coping?
It is really hard not to get swayed by the "should" brigade. She "should" be going down awake, she "should" be able to resettle etc.
Ask yourself. What do YOU want? If you want her to go down awake and resettle, then there is help. I sought assistance from a lovely mentor here in Melb who taught me all about self settling (and not the MCHN way). That's the technique I have been sharing, but its tough to do it alone.
Sometimes having someone come to you and talk it through helps you make up your mind. i found once I made the decision, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders and there was direction at last.
Where are you based?
Last edited by Arcadia; May 15th, 2009 at 09:42 AM.
Jennifer- thank you I have to spread the love, but our post made me feel better about what I'm doing atm so thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey anna, I just read your post in Dee's thread!! Great info.
When she only sleeps 30mins and wakes up she's not as happy she's just grumpy and cries more and isn't her usual smiley self. I'm coping fine when I use the HAB because it's easy to get her to sleep and she sleeps for ages. It's the days when I am over carrying her around and trying to make her sleep in the basinette that I get really frustrated. I really would like her to self-settle and sleep on her own bc it would be so much easier and I could get things done!! But I feel bad when I try bc she's unhappy and doesn't get enough sleep!
I haven't worked out how to settle her in the basinette well, I've tried before and she just gets distressed and I have to pick her up and then she cries as soon as I put her back down again. I feel like if I don't put her in the HAB she just won't sleep all day!! lol. She doesn't get that it's sleep time! Hmm.......I think I need to try harder but I'm going to have to do it when DH is home coz I get so frustrated!! I will need his help! Do you reckon a weekend would be long enough to get over the hardest part??
I'm in Brisbane.
Last edited by Heaven; May 15th, 2009 at 11:48 AM.
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She has been sleeping in your belly for so long, thats all she knows...but it does get better! You're doing a great job!!
she's just grumpy and cries more and isn't her usual smiley self. I'm coping fine when I use the HAB because it's easy to get her to sleep and she sleeps for ages. It's the days when I am over carrying her around and trying to make her sleep in the basinette that I get really frustrated. I really would like her to self-settle and sleep on her own bc it would be so much easier and I could get things done!! But I feel bad when I try bc she's unhappy and doesn't get enough sleep!
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