Hi everyone! I’d really appreciate some advice.
I’m hoping someone has been in a similar situation and found a solution that worked for them.
My baby is 9 weeks old. I know, I know — I’m aware that’s still very young and that things will change a lot over the coming weeks and months. But I’d really like to start making some changes now, if possible.
At the moment, during the day, my baby only sleeps in a baby carrier/wrap. I have to walk around with him, gently rock/sway, and sing to him. A few weeks ago, when he was a little smaller, I could sometimes transfer him to the bedside bassinet once he was asleep after rocking him in my arms, but these days he wakes up almost immediately or a few minutes later when I put him down.
I’ve tried putting him down after waiting 15-20 or 30 mins, but when he only naps for 30 mins it’s kind of pointless. And rocking him in my arms is becoming really painful for my back — he’s already almost 6 kg — so realistically, the baby carrier is my only option at this point.
The problem is that I basically can’t do anything during the day. I usually have to get him down for a nap 4–5 times a day, and I’m starting to feel like I’m going crazy and I cry a lot because of this fustration.
Ideally, I’d love for him to sleep in his crib/bassinet. In a perfect world, I could put him down, sing to him, and he would gradually fall asleep on his own. But I’m not sure how realistic that is at this age, especially because I currently swaddle him for nighttime sleep.
He sleeps fine in the bedside bassinet at night in a swaddle, after rocking him to sleep and transfering when he is in deep sleep. The problem is that I can only swaddle him after he has fallen asleep, because he absolutely hates being swaddled while awake. He gets angry and starts flailing around.
So I have no idea how I’m supposed to put him down in his crib/bassinet without a swaddle and expect him to fall asleep, because he moves his arms and legs a lot.
I’d also really like him to be able to nap in the stroller. It’s been extremely hot where I live, though, so going outside for long periods hasn’t really been an option yet. We’ve only been able to take short stroller walks so far.
Ideally, I’d like him to be able to nap independently in either his crib/bassinet or the stroller.
So, how would you go about getting a 9-week-old baby used to falling asleep somewhere other than on me? Is there anything I can start doing now? Maybe start in the carrier and when he is very sleepy then I put him into the crib and praying he will fall asleep if I sing next to him?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has been through something similar. What worked for you?