Getting newborn to sleep

[Molly]

Hey ladies,

I have a 2 year old and a 5 week old that was born a month early. The newborn is fighting going to sleep. I am only keeping her up for 45 minutes to an hour at a time and trying to get her to sleep as soon as she starts yawning but she fights sleeping and it sometimes takes 2 hours to get her to stay asleep. If I didn't have a toddler I would just continue to walk her around, but that is impossible to do when my 2 year old needs me also. Sometimes she will sleep in her swing, but not always. I am swaddling her, but every time I put her down she screams. I then have to start the process again. Has anyone had this problem and how did you manage to get the newborn to sleep without totally neglecting your older child? I am not looking for a miracle, just wondering if anyone has any tips. Thanks.

[Johnye Burns]

Have you talked to your pediatrician? 

I know a couple of things that have worked with my children and grandchildren. 

One is very softly running your fingertips back and for thacross her forehead just above her eyebrows - this makes her close her eyes, and also relaxes her. 

Another thing that I recently learned, and which works for my grandson who was difficult to get down for a nap or at night, is rubbing the top of his foot with your fingers (where the foot bends at the ankle) is a circular or figure 8 motion.   

This too shall pass, it's hard right now though. 

[Molly]

My pediatrician said she looks healthy and is gaining weight and its just something some babies do. I do the forehead trick and it helps some, but I'll try the foot. We put her in her swing for 15 minutes before moving her to her crib and that worked for two naps today, but no such luck tonight. My husband is rocking her as she fusses right now. Thanks for the advice.

[Misty Mathews]

Have you tried wearing her? Like in a wrap or carrier? This helps my four-month-old a lot. Another thing is to put her in her carseat on top of a running dryer. It's basically the same effect as taking her on a car ride. We had a tough time with napping early on, too.

[Heather Milam]

I was also going to suggest a wrap. It saved my sanity when my 1 year old was a newborn. My oldest was 4 when I had Mariska and my 4 year old was very attention needy. I made a wrap and wore Mariska around the house - and even when I went back to work (I work/teach at UA) I was able to wear the baby while teaching. The movement of walking around and even my voice would just lull her to sleep. And when in a wrap you have both hands.

[Molly]

I was thinking about getting a wrap because she sleeps so well when you hold her close. Everyone I have mentioned it to, scares me away suggesting it will teach poor sleeping habits and I will never get her to sleep in a crib, but I know their are others that swear by them. We had a much better day today with her sleep. Its amazing how quickly I forgot how challenging newborns can be.

[Kristin Shelton]

My son was the same way initially, we finally gave in and put him on his tummy and gave him one of those singing/light up seahorses from toys r us and it worked like a charm, he has slept through the night since about 7 weeks old after we started that. good luck I know it can really try your sanity

[Jennifer Thomas]

Aw Molly I hope she is sleeping better now, but I second wearing her. It really helped when my baby was little. My sister in law also gave her son the light up seahorse and she said it worked well.

[Jessica Tuggle]

I am one of those who swears by wearing! When my second was born my oldest was 22 months! She would go to sleep almost instantly when I put her in my "pouch." I could then have 2 hands to tend to older child, fix food or whatever I needed to do. You can't spoil them and it won't ruin them at all! In fact wearing your child is very beneficial to them. I use a mei tai and it is wonderful!  Here is a link that will give you some more info on baby wearing!

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/baby-wearing/what-babyw...

[Molly]

Thanks for all the responses. I am trying to find a sling that will work for us. She hates the front carrier and I could not master the moby wrap and was burning up in it. It looks like she has colic and we have improved her tummy issues, but she still gets very overstimulated  unbelievably easily. At this point I don't care about spoiling I just want my baby to be comfortable and feel secure and will do whatever I need to do to achieve that. She is just having a really difficult time adjusting to the world around her, but it will get better.

[Laura Buysse]

I worked with infants for 5 years before having one of my own and a trick I used was with others as well as my own was hold them so their ear was right next to my mouth and make a shhhhhhhh sound not so much a "shh" be quiet, but more like a soft soothing "sound of the ocean" type, it worked wonders because it was consistent and calming. I would also try a white noise machine or a soft gentle lullaby cd. I hope some of this works for you. I was not a fan of "wearing" my baby the first time around so I know how uncomfortable it can be. Good Luck my dear

[Laura Buysse]

I also forgot to mention that, the Shhhhh sound mimics the sounds in the womb. Speaking of that have you tried a wombsounds bear?