can't put him down..

Is my son too young to be put on a blanket on the floor or on a playmat? He is 5 weeks old. He only sleeps for 2 two hour sleeps during the day - morning and after noon. i have found he stays awake for an hour or so over lunch time, and i usually take him for a walk in the pram. Due to Melb weather this isn't always possible, but i can't put him down otherwise he screams.
Different people have said their children happily lay on the floor 'for hours' at this age, others have said he is too young - just hold him. If i hold him, he just goes to sleep in my arms.
i am assuming he needs some kind of awake time.

Hi there!

I don't think it is too early at all. I have put my DS on his playmat pretty much since we got home from hospital... he loves being able to kick his legs around and seems to like looking at all the bright colours.

My daughter is a bit older but Ive had her on her back on a playmat or sheepskin from a few weeks old. I use a bouncer occasionally but developmentally - flat on the floor with toys (or nothing!!)around them is the best thing - the can explore, kick legs and gradually will end up rolling etc. I realised a few weeks ago that I needed to give her more time on the floor and she loves it! Tummy time - a few minutes a time building up to longer periods is important too!

i agree with Tan, he will get used to it, it's better to start now than to leave it til his older wneh her really cracks it!!
My dd has been on the floor from birth, never used the bouncer

It sounds like he doesn't like lying flat. Is it possible that he has reflux? Otherwise it might just me something that he needs to get used to. I would just try it every day. Give him a minute and if he doesn't stop crying pick him up again. Try and get him used to it, but don't force it. It won't hurt him not to spend time on the mat yet if he doesn't want to. The daily tummy time is important though, so do this every day, just for a short time to start, and you can stay with him if he gets upset.

Things get easier as the bubs get bigger and more used to this world, and as we get used to being parents.

I spent heaps of time on the ground with the kids, still do. Jovie seems to be able to play happier when I've spend 5 minutes down there with her showing her toys etc...

I put Jovie on a mat & in a rocker or swing early on... I also wore her in the HAB on those days when you couldn't put her down. Even now though, 9 months later, she always complains when I first put her on the ground... and then she settles after a minute and starts playing.

I had the same thing with Charlie, first bubs & didn't really know what to do. It felt like all I did was held him & got nothing done all day. Just keep trying each day so He gets used to it, if he really doesn't like it try something else, as you need the time out too. Do you have a bouncer? or a swing of some sort? they can be great too. It's not too early to lay him down.

I agree with Christy the best transition is for you to get down low and play too. And then eventually you'll find he'll get more and more comfortable with the idea. Like anything I think bubbas need to be eased into most things ;)

*hugs*
Cailin

I think the girls have all given you great advice but if bubs is really distressed by being put down I don't think that you need to push it (unless it's for your own sanity - it can't be easy holding bubs constantly).
In some cultures babies aren't ever put down on the floor until they're at toddler age...

My bub was five weeks early and HATED going on the floor! He also wanted to be held all the time. He still like to be held, but is much happier to spend time on his playmat now. He still mostly whinges when I put him down, but usually settles quickly. If he really cries I don't push it, only when he's happy.

Do what feels right for you and your bub!

My DS hated being put on the floor. I thought there was nothing stranger than seeing my little 5 week old son struggling on the floor - he looked so helpless, but the CYH nurses kept telling me he'd be fine. I persisted, and made sure that I was down there with him and tried to make it sound REALLY exciting.

Now he's six months old and doesn't have a problem with it. Rolls around like a little sausage.

In regards to the falling asleep thing. I was made to feel very guilty that I was holding DS while he was sleeping when he was very young. Now that he is six months old he happily goes to bed and self settles - mostly because I made a point that, if he really wanted me to I would hold him, but your bed is where you should sleep. I reckon hold him if he wants to be held. He's only little and the world is a new place, and there are so many expectations put on the little bundles. Just think, five weeks ago, he was still in your womb and now you've got people telling you how you should "train" him. If he wants to be awake, he'll be awake. If he doesn't he'll sleep, preferably with you close by.

I loooove my little boy, but I really miss holding my newborn - they're just so amazing. If I could go back in time - and knew what I was doing - I'd never let him go. He's just the cuddliest little thing now, but is starting to show independance - which they learn all by themselves. "I don't want hugs from you - I want that remote!!"

You're his mummy and he just wants you to hold him. When he's 21 and you go in for the hug he'll wonder what the heck got in to you!! Sorry, bit of a rant there.

Great advice Lestypuss!

5 weeks old is still really little.... I wouldn't be so keen to give up those beautiful moments when they are so happy to just be in your arms and fall asleep with you.

I know it can be hard because you may feel like you have other things that need doing or that sittingaround for hours while he sleeps in your arms is "wasting time" but really.... there isn't much that is more important...

I think the best advice I got was that they will only want to be held by your for such a short time... so let the house work go to hell, and just set yourself up with drinks and snacks and sit down and watch a movie while he sleeps, or better still, rest yourself!

Enjoy those lovely cuddles!

I'm not saying you shouldn't try and put him down on a rug so he can kick his legs etc.... but there is plenty of time for that!

I'm not sure if this applies to you, but I know for me, I felt a lot of pressure from myself to be an active mum....that we needed to be doing something or going somewhere or that becuase i wasn't "working" i should have a spotless house and dinner cooked etc..... but DH never expected any of that... he just wanted me and the baby to be happy....
so I just realised hat no-one other than me really cared if the floor was swept everyday, or that if the dishes just piled up in the sink during hte day ...once you take some off the expectation to be a certain type of wife or mother, things get easier!

Just remember that before you know it, he will be running around and happy to spend time away from you and will be happy to sleep in bed or where ever..... but you won't get another chance to have him as this gorgeous tiny being! Enjoy it!!

Thankyou so much girls for your advice and words of support.
it really helps. I honestly believe this site is the best one around - it is wonderful to hear supportive advice from mothers who understand rather than people who say 'this is what your baby must be doing' and there is something wrong with him if he isn't!
I think your advice was spot on Laura! I do feel alot of pressure, not from anyone but myself, that my house should be perfect and i should be running around doing things. I just need to relax and enjoy with my little man!!:hug:

EXACTLY mrsdaisy. Take a seat..... pull up a packet of Tim Tams and a movie or - even better - some Judge Judy (har, har) and hold him while he sleeps - or even just sit there staring at him. You'll never get those cuddles with him again - you will get cuddles but you won't just be able to gaze at him and wonder where the heck this beautiful little human being came from.

Bugger the housework...... erg....... when he's older there'll be plenty of time for that. You'll be yelling at him to put his dirty socks in the washing machine......... " I told you half an hour ago.... put your socks in the wash.....!!!!"

we have been doing floor and tummy time since birth.
And despite the cold weather he actually settles more without many clothes on.

We too go down there with him, and leave him there just long enough untill he gets annoyed, then pick him up so he doesn't associate the floor as being a bad place to be.

I used to put my first five babies down on their play mats very soon after they came home from hospital, and they loved it.

My last baby was born almost 3 months prematurely though, and has a huge 'lump' on his eyelid, something called a 'haemangioma' = some sort of birth mark.

While medics all advice that this 'lump' will disappear in time, at the moment its still growing.......ds is now 17 months old.

We have only put him on his playmat on the floor in last few months, as we felt he would 'bump' his head and were worried in case his older siblings hurt him accidentally etc. The result being that he just won't stay on his mat, its as if he's petrified, he trembles like mad and screams the house down.
So naturally we don't leave him there, we pick him up every time...which means that he is not even crawling yet. Surely its better for his crawling/walking to be delayed than for us to risk his 'lump' bursting though.
Sorry for rambling, just got carried away.