Hi all

Ava is now nearly 3 weeks old and i am having a real problem with getting her to sleep in her moses basket. I have to hold her all night for her to sleep, if i put her in her basket she wakes up straight away and cries, if i leave her she just cries louder and louder! We have discovered that she will sleep in the carry seat from her travel system, it must be becaus it is more snug and safe feeling - but is it ok for her to sleep in it all the time? I just dont know what to do as she screams the place down when i put her in her basket...

Thanks

Kerry and Ava 3 weeks

I had exactly the same problem with my daughter. We took a pillow case off one of our pillow that we had been sleeping on and slipped it over the mattress in the moses basket so she could smell our scent.

I also started taking the moses basket downstairs during the day (pain I know!) but after feeding her I put her in the moses basket and she would scream, I would go into the kitchen and wait 3 minutes (make sure you time it on a clock as it seems to last forever), after 3 minutes I then went back to her and held her hands tightly together & spoke to her to let her hear my voice, she would then settle and nod off, 5 mins later she would start screaming again so I kept doing the 3 minute wait and going back to her - I had to do this 6 times before she went to sleep!

On the same night when we went to bed I gave her a bottle and put her straight in her moses basket within 15 minutes (& no crying) she went straight to sleep! and she has fallen asleep on her own ever since. I think it can take a few days for this to work but I had been lucky!

I personally think moses basket are not very nice and the mattress they come with are horrible. My daughter is now 10 weeks old and a few weeks ago we bought a travel cot with a basinette & a mattress for it, it cost £75 altogether and I would definately recommend one she had loads of space to kick about and wave her arms about.

Hope this helps

Livvy is exactly the same!! first it started with her not settling in her moses basket in day but now its at night too. so what we do is co-sleep... i know its not best idea but if its only way for some sleep and a quiet life hten we will do anything.

one of my friends puts her daughter in the car seat at night and it works for her... the hospital told her to do this.

hope this helps
Stacey & 7wk Olivia
x x x

My little boy was exaxtly the same and it left me so tired!! My health visitor suggested a few things...

Roll a towel up so it sits either side of baby (making sure they don't overheat though) - I laid it under the mattress so it didn't move and then rolled it either side my Kieran, it makes them feel more secure.

An item of you clothing in with them, close enough to be able to smell your scent but not so they'll be smothered.

Also Kieran was really bad with wind quite alot and my HV suggested raising the top end of the basket on a few books to help him bring it up without being sick.

Or swaddle her so she feels nice and snug!

I don't know which it was but something worked!!!

It will pass though, Take care.

Ellie.x

hi hun, Emilie is 10 weeks now and was just the same. i wait until a last feed say between 8 and 10pm, wrap her up really tightly, then feed her, once she's asleep i put her in her basket, because she is still wrapped up she thinks she's being held. it works most of the time and she sleeps longer, and when i dont do it she lasts about an hour then cries! Emilie loves the car seat too, think she spends a bit too long in it really but it really settles her.
good luck x x x

Have you tried putting an item of your clothing in with her? she may find something with your scent on comforting?

The carry basket thing is it like a moses basket that you click onto your frame? If its flat I wouldnt worry too much both of my girls refused point blank to sleep in a moses basket so I put them both straight into the cotbed in my room then moved them out at 5 months and they are both fine, also have you tried using a sleeping bag on her or warming a towel under you while you feed her or on a low radiator because sometimes its the shock of going from warm and comfy mum or dad to freezing cold mattress shocks them awake. Not sure if it helps but maybe just put her straight into her cot take care xx

Its not flat its the carry seat that also is a car seat so its slightly raised at the head...they are ok from birth but obviously they are not intended to be slept in all the time so i dont know, iwill try the warm towel thing thanks.

Sorry I got confused then lol no the car seat is only advisable for short periods of time as if babs is left too long it can affect their spine.

When are you putting her down when she is already asleep? Are you putting her down after every feed? Feeding and sleeping go hand in hand. I would feed her and not let her fall asleep on bottle/breast. Then after her feed put her down. She will get used to being on her own. If she needs reasuring sit with her and hold her hand then the next time just sit with her, then the next time sit away in another chair. Eventually you will just be able to put her down. Try not to let her sleep in car seat as she will not get a full sleep. Make sure moses basket is snug. They like to be reminded of being in the womb.
Blimy i am going on

Good luck
sam x