Help! 4 week old will not sleep in her crib,only wants to sleep in her car seat!!

I have a 4 week old daughter who hates sleeping in her crib. She only sleeps in her car seat or her swing or propped up with the boppy pillow. I think she hates laying on her back but she is too young to sleep on her stomach yet.  She will scream for hours in her crib if I would let her.  I have tried to let her cry for awhile and then go in and try to console her (not pick her up) because this is what the doctor recommended but even this doesn't help. Any advice would be appreciated on how to get through this and how to get her to sleep in her crib!!

[kris123]

I was wondering about you.  I don't have any suggests on this one.  I hope everything else is well beside your little problem here.  It is almost time for me 36w1d today and counting down.  Hope I lose 35pounds right off like you :-)  I bet that baby is keeping you busy - sounds like it.

[GNicole]

I still have 20-25 lbs to lose yet. I went shopping on Sunday just so I would have a few things to wear, boy was that depressing!! Avery keeps me very busy-she has no sleep schedule. She still sleeps more during the day. Good luck to you,  it will be your turn before you know it!! :)

[wonderme]

Personally I would let her sleep wherever she wants.  My youngest liked to sleep in her stroller -- I think she liked feeling close quarters.  She eventually moved comfortably into her crib in a couple of months.

If you are determined to have her sleep in her crib -- have you tried the two triangle wedges?  They are joined in the middle by a thin piece of material and the big wedge goes in the back and the smaller one in the front.  It allows the baby to sleep more on her side but won't let her roll over to her tummy.

I used it with both my kids and they slept great.  

LOL!!

[Crritter]

My Dr. actually recommended the car seat with my first baby after he had a choking incident at 11 weeks and had to go to the ER in an ambulance.  I guess my little guy liked the closeness of the car seat and we were told that it was far safer than some of the alternatives like sleeping in bed with you.  The Dr. said whatever helps him sleep and feel safe.  I have my little guy nap in his bed in the daytime and am going from there.  He is getting better at night and sleeps in there until about 1 am.  Give your little one some time and she'll come around.

[neparker]

That sounds like my daughter, when she was a baby.  She's 4 now.  

Hate to admit it, but we let her sleep the majority of the time in her car seat or swing.  There were a few times though that when she got really tired and feel asleep in one of them, we would try to take her out and put her in her crib... it worked sometimes too.  It took time, but she got use to it.  

[ally76]

My first dd slept in her car seat all the time.  2nd dd the dr. said big no-no b/c its not good for their spines.  Who knows.  I didnt do it obviously b/c I was worried but my first dd turned out fine.  They must like that tight snuggled feeling apposed to being lost in a great big crib.  Cant blame them.

[rubyolivia]

We had a baby that was like this at daycare. Mom said just put him in his carseat and put the carseat in the crib! She said that's what they did at home and her doc told her it was fine!

My nephew would only sleep in his swing until he was 4 months old!! I guess just do whatever works!

[tif1]

My youngest son would not sleep in his crib till 2 months old, only slept in his swing with it on, I'd slep with him in the living room, while he swang, then i moved him to his stroller, laid down, then gradually to the crib. Start putting her in her cribs for naps, gradually she'l get used to it.

[pertykitty]

be careful with the boppy as a prob during sleep, we had a post here  a short time ago with that not being safe. it can take some kids more than a month to get a schedule, dont let her sleep so much during the day. just as she is about to sleep, wake her up. im not saying keep her awake all day, but if her sleep is disturbed enough she will be more tired and sleep during the night.

[peekawho]

The reason they don't want very young infants to sleep in car seats is the chance that they will not be able to maintain their own airways, due to the relatively large head size and lack of head control, especially while sleeping.

If you are there, awake and watching the baby, it should be ok.  Not for long periods at night when no one is awake.  

We do car seat tests on infants all the time, while monitoring their oxygen saturations.  You'd be surprised how many infants become mildly hypoxic in them.  

[mommabean]

My baby did the same thing and had to be propped or she would cry. We ended up finding out that she had acid reflux. Does your little one spit up a lot or have eating problems? Acid Reflux is more common in formulia fed babies but I breastfed and my daughter still had it. As soon as she was put on medication it was like a night and day difference with her. We didn't find out untill she was about 4 months old because she began rejecting the nipple, but she NEVER likes to lay on her back. You may want to ask your doctor. Oh, and our P.D.. said that it was perfectly fine if she slept in her seat. She did say that eventually she will have to sleep in her crib and it would be difficult to transition her later.

[GNicole]

Thank you to everyone for all of your help. I will just take it one day at a time and try to get her to sleep in her crib gradually. Thanks again!!