What is your sleep strategy with newborn?

Question

I am on night five since baby’s arrival and we are struggling to get by on so little sleep. Our son won’t sleep anywhere safe so we basically take shifts holding him. I think most days I get 3-4 hours of sleep throughout the day, mostly little naps. We are breastfeeding and I also pump after every feed so my windows of time are not very long. Anyone have tips for sneaking in more sleep or getting babe to sleep in the bassinet (the bassinet feature of our pack and play) or crib?

Answer

Sending support. Have you tried different swaddle blankets/wraps? Is it a possibility to hire a night nurse or doula? The first couple weeks are a doozy, but keep trying to set the baby down, they change so fast. What didn't work yesterday may help today. Hugs!

Answer

I’m sending my support to you. I am in the same boat. We’re 3 weeks in. My little one hates swaddling. We’ve tried them all. We don’t want to bed share because of the risks and we have a family member who passed from SIDS so we really don’t want to risk it. I can say I wish we had tried to put our little one down more. These are some things that are helping us. It might help you: 
- we started to being more loud and awake during the day. Lights on, TV on, interacting with our little one as much as possible. During the evening we slowly start to calm down, lights low or off, voices soft and we make sure to do a warm wipe down and feed. 
- we put her down a little more often, even if it’s for 5 minutes and then we pick her up to comfort her so she knows we’re there. 
- I started to sit with her basinet mattress and cover so it will smell like me. 
We have not got sleeping mastered and some nights are so rough but you’re not alone! You got this and it will get better!

Answer

I suggest swaddling too. has helped so much and I read on average Babies sleep an hour longer. I gave up swaddling too soon with my first two. Babies like being snuggled tight and secure! I use a halo sleep sac at night with velcro flaps (less likely to break free and have a loose blanket in the crib.) during the day when we can keep an eye on him, we use a muslin blanket to swaddle and have him nap in a bassinet on the ground floor. 
If he’s feeding okay , maybe try a pacifier to help sooo and keep him asleep As you lay him in.

Answer

We actually stopped swaddling our girl and she sleeps so much better. I was getting no sleep and now most nights she only wakes up twice for feedings! So maybe if you are swaddling try not to or vice versa

Answer

We have struggled too, but now our baby is 3.5 weeks old we have a bit more of a handle on sleeping although some nights there's still no winning. We found that our little one likes to sleep swaddled with his arms tightly down, a pacifier, a good rock, background noise and the lights on but dim... a lot of trial and error to get to this point! Our little guy gets reflux and pains if he isn't burped well after feeding so we do this too. Hope you get some rest soon!

Answer

I sleep with my daughter, I’m a very very light sleeper so every little move I feel, every little sound wakes me up and it could be the smallest sound lol. My daughter won’t go to sleep unless she’s with you, she likes to sleep and feel around with her arms to make sure you’re still there. If she can’t feel you she wakes up blowing her head off, crying so I sleep when she sleeps which is also 3-4 hours sometimes even two times.

Answer

My husband and I take the baby in shifts at night to be able to get some sleep. He goes to bed at 9pm while I handle baby until about 2-3am, then I pass baby off and go sleep myself until about 8am. We are in separate rooms and have pack n plays set up in both to be able to lay our son down in either place. We also use lightweight Halo swaddles while he sleeps.
I'm breastfeeding but just pump a bottle so my hubby can take an early morning feeding. My lactation consultant said that in these early weeks of establishing milk supply, it's ok for a mama to take a stretch of sleep 5-6 hours long--mostly because it helps reduce stress. I know some would disagree with that but I've found that lack of sleep is extremely stressful for me personally, so I'm ok with catching extra zzz's and missing a feeding. 
Hoping you find a strategy that works for you soon! These early days are HARD. My best advice is to try some different things and see through trial and error what works for your sweet family! ❤️

Answer

I agree with swaddling too. The day we brought our baby home I only swaddled at night and just payed a blanket across her. So now she associates swaddling with bed time. However she doesn’t like her arms down by her side so we got a sleep sack that allows her to have her arms by her head and I put a Velcro swaddle from her waste down. This has worked wonders for my girl.

What is your sleep strategy with newborn?

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