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Melons
Melons | November 2008

bedtime routine

I just had a baby girl 2 weeks ago and she is currently sleeping with me because if i put her in her bassinet she just cries and wont settle. I don't feel comfortable with her in my big bed and my partner is coming home from working away in a week and i know that he will likely roll on her by accident. does anyone have any tips on getting her to sleep in her bassinet? Also what sort of things could i do for a bedtime routine at such an early age?



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alioop040
November 2008 | alioop040
Re: bedtime routine

This may not be a routine thing at all, it may be the bassinet may not be level.... place a bottle of water in the bassinet to see if the head of the bassinet is level.  ensure the head of the child is up on a tilt.  you can place bricks or timber under the feet to elevate the head.  See how you go as this happened to me with my first child.  We found that the house was not level and the her head was facing down hill and causing blood to rush to her head.... you try sleeping with you head facing toward the floor it is quiet uncomfortable



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MistyDawn
November 2008 | MistyDawn
Re: bedtime routine

Have you tried to move the bassenet into your room?  try that and maybe just puting yoru hand in there so she can still feel you close by..  as for the rutine... its not realistic to give a baby thay young a bath every night, my doc said about 2-3 times a week is perfectly acceptable.  so what I did was just dim the lights about 30 min before bed and just sit down with her and try to settle her down. maybe sing her a song or make a cd with soft songs just for her bed time....   good luck!



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MEL192
November 2008 | MEL192
Re: bedtime routine

It takes a while for newborns to get into a sleep pattern. The first few weeks are the roughest.  I had lots of trouble with my first son - he was a bad sleeper.  I co-slept with my second son so I could get a bit more sleep. 

Could you move the bassinet close to your bed - so the baby can see and hear you.  Make sure the room is dark - so she learns that it is night time.  Have a general routine, eg bath, quiet time, bed.  Soothe her if she is upset - rock her in the bassinet  using your hand, whisper "shh" or "goodnight".  There are many good books that are available eg. the "no cry sleep solution". That have lots more hints and tips.

But most importantly look after yourself and enjoy these precious moment with your little bub. You'll work something out that suits the both of you.



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inquisitive-creatures
November 2008 | inquisitive-creatures
Re: bedtime routine

I would follow the feed, play, sleep routine. After a feed you play with her for 10 minutes and then swaddle her (wrap her tightly in a blanket with her hands down by her side) and put her in her bassinet. It is natural for babies to cry themselves to sleep, it's their way of learning how to self-settle. When my bubby was that young I would rock him in a bouncer or push him back and forward in a pram until he fell asleep. Doing this meant I never got much shut-eye though. For my next baby I have already bought a Fisher-Price baby swing which rocks the child back to forth and side to side, it also has a mobile above it and soothing lullabies. I thought this would free up my hands for when I'm cooking dinner or something as many mums have said the swing was fantastic and would put their baby to sleep. Hope this helps! Oh and also a great book on sleep routines is "Save our Sleep" by Tizzie Hall. It worked wonders for me! Good luck!



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MANDYLIEGH
November 2008 | MANDYLIEGH
Re: bedtime routine

 

THERE IS A BED DEVICE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT SO THAT YOUR BABY SLEEPS IN YOUR BED YOU CANT ROLL ON THEM MY SISTER JUST GOT ONE FOR HERE DAUGHTER SO HER PARTNER DIDNT ROLL ON HER BECAUSE SHE WONT SLEEP IN HER COT IT CAME FROM BIG W BUT IAM SURE ALL BABY STORES WOULD HAVE THEM



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kseers
November 2008 | kseers
Re: bedtime routine

At 2wks I would suggest the only routine would really be giving them a bit of awake time between each feed and sleep and before your final bedtime giving your little one a relaxing, warm bath.  You could give them a massage too if you like, but I used to do that during the day.  Keep the lights dim, talk quietly, put on some soft sounds, wrap your baby tightly and stay with them.  Pat her and talk to her quietly while she drops off to sleep.  It is natural for baby to want to be with mum and I can understand your concerns, so hopefully this is a compromise for both of you.  Is baby's bassinet in your room?



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      Melons
November 2008 | Melons
Re: bedtime routine

Thanks for the advice. baby's bassinet is in my  room next to my bed. i guess i just have to bite the the bullet and have less sleep to get her used to it before my partner comes home.



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           kseers
November 2008 | kseers
Re: bedtime routine

It's tough, isn't it?  I fought this with my first one, so he slept with us on and off but I caved in with the second baby - she slept with us from birth to about 12mths.  My husband didn't mind it though he would have preferred her not to I guess.  But she generally slept in my arms on the side away from him (I got a barrier put up).  These methods worked sometimes with mine and sometimes not, but they are worth trying if you really want her out of your bed.  They say consistency is the key and the more you do it the more they will adjust to it.  You do what you can deal with at the time to get where you want to be, so hang in there and I hope it gets easier in time.  You're doing really well for a new mum!



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                kseers
November 2008 | kseers
Re: bedtime routine

Sorry - just read your page and you're not a new mum, but I still say you're doing great - home alone with a toddler and newborn is not easy (been there too...).  Best wishes...



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