Do you remember your Settling Techniques to make my cranky 6 week old happy again?

Question

I want to avoid using CIO or FIO as a last resort so I'm asking you for your setting techniques.

My daugter is 6 weeks old and she wont sleep anywhere but in my arms and no more than 5 minutes (slings and pouches are not good when I'm hanging up clothes)

On some rare days when she actually sleeps she wakes up in 45 minutes crying because she is tired (I definitely know her cries).

Do I rock her back to sleep - will she become used to me carrying her at 6 weeks - surely I have until 3 months to introduce putting her to sleep awake and drowsy, right?

Answer 1

I made the mistake of letting my dd sleep on me all the time because it's the only way she would sleep, she's 6 months now and she does sleep in her crib but she still expects to be carried around every second while awake.  It's hard because she's only 6 weeks, you really cant do much at this point because they are so little and still need you, they have no idea how to manipulate you but my dd is starting to learn LOL.

Answer 2

My son was the same way!  I ended up borrowing a Fisher Price Nature's Touch Cradle Swing  (he only liked swings that could go side-to-side), and he would take his naps in that.  Using the swing was the only way he would let me put him down!  He had to have motion to sleep, and had to be upright also (because of reflux).  Night time got tricky.  He wanted me to hold him, back straight up against the wall.  I got an Amby Bed, which is a hammock like bed that's very snug, womb-like (it moves when the baby moves), very safe (SIDS proof), bed (www.ambybaby.com).  And that worked really well!  

6 weeks she still needs her mom, don't worry about her getting used to anything yet.  Don't worry about things you read either, every baby is different.  There are no deadlines, just listen to your baby and go with your instinct!  Are you going to look back and wish you had held her less?  Probably not =)  

Congratulations on your little girl!  I hope you're able to get some rest soon

Answer 3

It's natural and normal for an infant to need the comfort of a parent's arms at this stage.  And they only catnap at this stage, anyhow.  The clothes can wait.  Your baby will only be little for a short time.

Put on your wrap and take the baby for long walks.  The fresh air will do you both good.

Answer 4

I KNOW IT IS REALLY HARD.  BUT THIS WORKED FOR ALL FOUR OF MY KIDS.  I HAD ALL FOUR OF MY KIDS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY TURNED 2 MONTHS OLD.  SOMETIMES YOU JUST LET THEM FUSS FOR A LITTLE.  THEN I WOULD GO OVER AND TALK TO THEM IN A SOOTHING VOICE.  IF YOU SOUND OR FEEL STRESSED THE BABY WILL SENSE IT.  I WOULD ALSO INSTEAD OF FEEDING THEM EVERYTIME THEY CRIED I WOULD SETTLE THEM DOWN WITH A PACI.  BUT I REALIZE NOT ALL BABIES LIKE THESE.  YOUR BABY NEEDS TO LEARN TO SELF SOOTH SO THAT WHEN THEY DO WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THEY CAN SOOTH THEMSELF BACK TO SLEEP.  AND OF COURSE USE YOUR JUDGEMENT IF YOU REALIZE THE CRY IS B/C THEY ARE IN PAIN THEN YOU SHOULD DEFINETLY ROCK HER..  I HOPE THIS HELPS.  GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

My daughter was an awsome baby but the only way i could get her to go to sleep was by breastfeeding her. And that wasnt always possible, especially when she got  older, so I started walking with her. It really helped. instead of nursing i would just walk.  Also, I would just put a really thick blanket down wherever i was and let her lay there and watch me. If she was tired she would lull herself to sleep, just seeing me would comfort her. Massages work well too. Its okay if she gets used to something. but i would suggest trying to let someone else put her back to sleep. Its not so much what you do that they get used to, its who does it. My daughter was super attatched to me.