Baby's sleep habits, HELP!!!

Hi all! I'm so tired and need your expertise. Logan won't sleep for very long in his bassinet unless he is swaddled and it's been too hot to swaddle him lately. He'll sleep for hours in his swing but I can't imagine I should be having him sleep in the swing at night? I worry that if he won't sleep in the bassinet for long he won't do much better in his crib when we transfer him. Dh and I don't want to bring him into our bed, that's not an option but any other advice would be greatly appreciated. He is 6 weeks today and eats every 3 hours (half breastmilk, half formula in a bottle) just so you have the facts.
Thanks so much!
Debra :o)

[boycrazy]

We live in AZ so I know what you are talking about HOT! Today 108, yesterday 110.  I too had babies around this time and they loved to be swaddled.  Put a onsie on him, wrap him in a receiving blanket, tight, and put the fan over or near his bassinet, no hat. He probably won't wiggle out, mine did not and will be just cozy. At times after nursing, he would fall asleep in my arm in our bed and had blankets, plus me to keep him warm, slept like a champ.   Remember, he was in your belly and it was blazing hot in there too and he was happy.  I think it is fine to swaddle him with minimal clothes on, I did and my kids were just fine.  I hope you get some sleep

[gonza]

Well, I can tell you that when AJ was 4 weeks we put him in his crib and he loved it.  He had gotten to where he would not sleep in the bassinet also.  When we switched he slept longer.  I think it has to do with being in a quite room by himself and the bigger bed.  I also think it is more comfortable for him.  Good luck.

[little piggy 2]

this may sound weird- but my x- husband and his wife had a baby 9 months ago and it was there first so they would call me for advice.(everyone gets along) o.k now back to the point!! there son owen would also be restless in the bassinette so they would have to move the swing into there room every night so he could sleep or so they could sleep. around 6 months she transfered into the crib some babies like room and almost all babies like mommies bed so if in your bed is not an option then i would let him be where he is most comfortable. i made fun of her for letting him sleep in the swing and now pregnant with twins i will honestly say they can sleep were ever thry want. good luck.

[IWantToBeAMom]

We put my DS in his crib at 4 weeks old.  He slept very well in there.  We had him in the bassinett portion of a pack n play in our room in the beginning, but I think he liked the crib mattress a lot better than the pack n play.  If your son demands to be swaddled then I think you should be able to swaddle him in a receiving blanket if he is only dressed in a onesie.  A fan would be a good idea if you don't have air conditioning.  The white noise of having a fan might help too because he obviously sleeps with the white noise of the swing going.
Listen, I have been there, I know exactly what you are feeling with getting no sleep.  From 3 wks old to about 6 wks old was the toughest time for me because I was so tired.  Honey, do whatever you have to do to get sleep!!!  If it means letting him nap in his swing during the day so you can sleep, then by all means do it!  But at 4 wks old, he should be getting better at sleeping during the night regardless of where he is.  If he wakes up after only a cat-nap short time at night, try removing his night-light.  Every baby wakes up during the night, but if they have a hard time telling that it's nighttime versus daytime then they don't put themselves back to sleep.  Do anything and everything you can to get sleep - At a later date you can work out any problems that may arise from what you do to get sleep.

[cinnamonheart]

What works for one doesnt another
If he sleeps in his swing maybe its the rocking motion? Does the bassinet rock? Mine had a vibrating motion on it
You can try the crib.
I dont know being that young if i would directly put a fan on him maybe around to get the air flowing but not on him It has been SO HOT here too..Cody is 8 months and I still dont like the fan on him directly
But like I said whatever works
If he is safe in his swing let him sleep there. Heck they were bunched up inside us for 9 months so Im sure that he isnt hurting by it.
Happy Sleeping little Logan

[mgi]

debra
mine was born (12years ago)  on may 22.  On 4th july weekend we realized he'd sleep longer if it was in his carseat  (this is [probably about same weeks as yours)  so we debated and decided heck - let him sleep in his carseat - it worked!

[nanakay]

let him sleep how he wants, if he wants to be swaddled....(my dd, now 6 months, loved for the temp to be very warm or even hot before she slept really good...we would go to ds swim lessons where all the mom's and dad's are fanning themselves and without fail she'd fall asleep in there and sleep so good)...so if swaddled is what he wants strip him down and swaddle him up! if he get's hot he'll let you know!
~nanci

[Debra_Maine]

Thank you all for your comments. I have to think about what to do next.

Venus - Hey there! Congrats on your little one! Logan was born on June 1. I was induced on May 30 (my due date) because of my having gestational diabetes. I had 14 hours of labor, 5 of them I was pushing. It was rough but so worth it. Now if I could just get him to sleep longer! We'll have to try some things. Glad all turned out well for you. Sorry I missed your previous post. It's so hard to even get online these days. I go back to work in 6 weeks and I'll be able to be online all the time then.

[Venus8]

Hi there!! How are you? I tried posting to you a while back, but I don't think you got to read it b/c it wasn't in one of your questions. I assume the latter part of your pregnancy and birth went fine?? I'm so happy for the both of us. I remember us both being so worried in the beginning. I went into pre-term labor at 33 weeks and was on lite bed rest, but everything went ok w/ us in the end. Nicolas Elijah was born on May 25th by c-section. He was breach, so c-section was the best option for my first child. Nicolas weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Let me know about your little one. I know we were both due around the same time. I think I was a week ahead of you,and it looks like Nioclas is aweek older than baby Logan.

As for your question, I had the same problem until about 1-2 weeks ago. Nicolas wouldn't sleep at all though unless it was in my arms. I would lay him on his back and he hated it, so I tried his side and he didn't like that either. Finally, after talking with many people and reading a lot of articles, I decided to let him rest on his tummy. You'll probably think I'm crazy b/c of the increase risk in SIDS, but that is what works for my baby and I feel alright w/ it despite what research suggests. Every baby is different though. Nicolas doesn't like to sleep in his swing longer than 20 min. or so... I wish he did. I would let your little one sleep in his swing as long as he is comfortable. Another thing you might try is letting him sleep in his car seat. I know it sounds crazy, but that is the only other place Nicolas will sleep other than on his belly next to me. Hopefully something will work out for your baby. How much are you feeding him every 3 hours? I am breast and bottle feeding also. Nicolas will take about 4-5 ounces of formula each feeding and if I breast feed he will feed about 10 min. or so. He gets most of his nutrients from formula. If it all doesn't come back up (something I am having a problem with), he does fine every 3 hours, but it is so hard to get it to stay down. I think he has a problem with reflex.

[gracek]

Consider reading Baby Wise.  It is an excellent book and all of the women I know who have read it have babies that sleep through the night and are on a very regular schedule.  I am 6 weeks and assuming all goes well, will be using that system myself.

[gonza]

Hey, we had the same length of labor.  14 hours!  Woo, it was long and hard.  I cant believe you pushed that long.  They would have let me push 4 more hours (i pushed 2.5), but I couldnt.  They had to use forceps.  The doctor said I probably would not have been able to push him out anyway.  Bless you and yours.

[Debra_Maine]

They tried the vacuum with him, but it kept popping off. I was about 10 minutes away from a c section when he came out! We deserve medals if you ask me!