
Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group
Feeding your infant and ensuring they are getting enough nutrition is one of the most important aspects of parenting during that first year. This community is dedicated to those who are nurturing a baby, whether breastfed or formula-fed.
Any advice on getting a newborn on a schedule??

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Hey I am new to this community, I had my baby almost 2 weeks ago. At night time he won't sleep, every time I lay him down in his bassinett he wakes up and has a fit. Everyone says to let him cry it out, I feel like some crying is ok, but not to the point of how mad he gets. He kicks and holds his breath and I cannot see that letting him do that is helping matters any, Any advice anyone? The long nights are starting to take their toll.
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Good luck.
I'm not for the cry-it-out method for that young of a baby. Even for my daughter when I have to put her down while she is crying, I am only able to withstand it for five minutes, tops.
You might still be in the stage where everything is a bit of chaos and a schedule is still in the future. With my oldest daughter, she was a fantastic sleeper, but that didn't start until she was two months old, as she began to sleep on a schedule. (and then, of course, there's my youngest, who likes the difficult route of things...everything, that is.)
So I think you might have a bit of time yet before things calm down with him. Coffee, tea, and late night TV...all essential...(It even rhymes!)
Congratulations on your little boy!
Just a thought, he might be waking when you put him down because he has a sensation of falling as you transfer him to the bed/bassinett. I don't really know what the answer would be for that, except to maybe move very slowly and gradually when laying him down.
My d/s did this for awhile & I would put a heating pad (on low) in his bassinett to warm up the bedding a little just until I was done nursing and rocking. Then I'd take it out before I laid him down. This seemed to help the transition & avoid waking up from cold sheets. I also swaddled him in one of my t-shirts I might have worn to bed the night before. I told myself that he'd sleep better if he smelled me but that's just a theory. (Hopefully, it was always a pleasant smell since getting a shower every single day is hard in those early weeks...lol).
There's a CD for kids that has recordings of "white noise" on it (vacuum, car engine, hair dryer, fan, etc.) I would sometimes play this, or a soft lullaby CD on very low, for background noise.
It's definitely possible that he has his nights and days mixed up, as one other poster suggested. When he naps during the day, do not make the house too quiet so he can get used to napping with some noise and light. At night, create a routine that is always the same (maybe a warm bath or something familiar) every night...this may help signal him that it's bedtime.
Lastly, swaddling is great. A nice, tight swaddle is always a plus...I wouldn't say REALLY tight & if you're baby is a squirmy one make sure the end corner is tucked well underneath his backside so he cannot get loose and pull blankets over himself.
Sorry so long, but hope it helps! Take care :)
Dancer suggested putting baby down very gently and slow...this works (at least with all 3 of my girls). I bend down slowly with my hand on her head and don't release it until the head and body are on the bed.
As far as swaddling, are you using a regular receiving blanket? If so, you may want to use a swaddler, I wish they had those 4 years ago when my first was born. I got one with my 18 month old when she was born because I could never do the burrito wrap thing correctly. The swaddler blankets have velcro and a pocket for the baby to be in, that may be an option for you.
It does get better though, I promise. Just try to rest when the baby does and hopefully in a few more weeks things will calm down for you.
It's all a learning curve and both of you will soon figure out what works best for you.
Maggie