Safe way for baby to feel cozy?

[LittleBirdy]

Hi mamas, I need some help.  We are part time cosleepers.  DS starts the night in his own bed and then comes to bed with me when he first wakes up.  He also takes most of his naps in his own bed.  For a long time, he was fine with sleeping in his crib.  Then maybe a month ago, the crib was a no go.  He'd sleep for 30 minutes tops and then wake up screaming.  So we went back to his bassinet (which is the rock n play sleeper).  Problem sovled... except that if he grows another 1/4 inch, he is not going to fit in the thing anymore!

I think he likes it because he feels sort of "enclosed".  I've noticed that in bed with me I can't roll away anymore, either - he needs to have the length of his body touching me.  I attribute these changes & the rejection of the crib to him becoming aware that he is little and the world is BIG.

Does any one have an ideas for recreating that "encolsed" feeling that is safe?  I desperately need him to do that first part of the night on his own... number one I am not ready for bed at 6:45 p.m. and number two I WOH and need to get a few things done before the next day!  He naps in this at daycare, so my last resort plan is to get one for home but it's not really meant to be a bed so I'd rather not have him sleeping at night in it.

He is swaddled in a Woombie, btw which doesn't seem to do enough to make him feel secure.

[Asiago]

Sorry no helpful suggestions but it sounds like you are describing 'proprioception'.

Babies like boundaries, like when in the womb, so that they can feel oriented and not just floating in endless space. Here is more info, you may find it interesting (scroll down to the passage on Proprioception)    http://tinyurl.com/4kj2w2p
 

[LittleBirdy]

That is fascinating, that you for the link!

[SeattleRain]

Perhaps try a loose "swaddle" with a nice cozy blanket. I have a Little Giraffe blanket that I wrap around Daniel and he loves the warm snuggly feeling. You could even try swaddling his lower body. How well does he sit up on his own? If he's not sitting up all the way from down to up all by himself, I suppose you could try a regular bassinet, but I don't know if that's totally safe as we never used a bassinet.

[Laurski]

Originally Posted by LittleBirdy 

Hi mamas, I need some help.  We are part time cosleepers.  DS starts the night in his own bed and then comes to bed with me when he first wakes up.  He also takes most of his naps in his own bed.  For a long time, he was fine with sleeping in his crib.  Then maybe a month ago, the crib was a no go.  He'd sleep for 30 minutes tops and then wake up screaming.  So we went back to his bassinet (which is the rock n play sleeper).  Problem sovled... except that if he grows another 1/4 inch, he is not going to fit in the thing anymore!

I think he likes it because he feels sort of "enclosed".  I've noticed that in bed with me I can't roll away anymore, either - he needs to have the length of his body touching me.  I attribute these changes & the rejection of the crib to him becoming aware that he is little and the world is BIG.

Does any one have an ideas for recreating that "encolsed" feeling that is safe?  I desperately need him to do that first part of the night on his own... number one I am not ready for bed at 6:45 p.m. and number two I WOH and need to get a few things done before the next day!  He naps in this at daycare, so my last resort plan is to get one for home but it's not really meant to be a bed so I'd rather not have him sleeping at night in it.

He is swaddled in a Woombie, btw which doesn't seem to do enough to make him feel secure.

I swear you are describing my daughter (Woombie included)!  I don't have any suggestions, however...I'm subbing to this thread with the hope that someone will have a brilliant solution.

Asiago--That's fascinating!

Originally Posted by Asiago 

Sorry no helpful suggestions but it sounds like you are describing 'proprioception'.

Babies like boundaries, like when in the womb, so that they can feel oriented and not just floating in endless space. Here is more info, you may find it interesting (scroll down to the passage on Proprioception)    http://tinyurl.com/4kj2w2p
 

[Snapdragon]

you could put some rolled up towels next to him so it would create a soft boundary. We used to use those for sleep positioners.

[SilverFish]

what about using those long rice pillows that you're meant to heat and use on your back (or the kind that you keep drafts out with)? or some kind of firm bolster? same thing as rolled up towels i guess. we have a bunch of those draft stoppers around, i can see them making a very nice little nest... if you covered them with a sheet, they would sort of stay in place too, so you wouldn't have to move them around baby when you put him down.

[Laina]

Has anyone used the nap nanny? http://www.diapers.com/product/productdetail.aspx?productid=25300 I just found it on diapers.com and I'm curious about whether anyone has used it. It's expensive but I think my baby would love it. She has always preferred to sleep semi upright and wakes up very easily when flat. She's also growing out of her swing and bouncer where she has been napping. At five and a half months I think she is probably beyond the window of time when it would be most useful although I would love to have it at night.

I like the rice pillow idea for creating coziness. I'm going to try that one.