Only sleep while being held?

[wife&mommy]

My baby will only sleep when we are holding her. This would be fine, I really enjoy holding her, except I have a VERY active toddler, and the baby doesn't like the sling! I had planned to use the sling to have her in a lot of the day to play with the toddler and get things done while she slept or whatever. But now I don't know what to do. The only way she will sleep is being held.

I think she would sleep way better lying down if she were on her side or her tummy but I feel so much guilt doing it that way I don't think I could do it (SIDS).

What is working for everyone else and trying to get their newborns to sleep on their own a little? I guess most people are probably using slings, I wish she liked it! I've tried 3 different kinds.

[Code Name Mama]

kieran is the same way, and i haven't been slinging that much b/c i feel like he's smothered in them. i don't mind holding him all the time (usually), but dp is starting to get ideas that maybe we should put him down and let him cry a little so he can figure out it's ok to lay on something other than mom or dad. it breaks my heart to think about letting him cry, so i've refused. i'd also love to hear suggestions.

[VickV]

Isabel's first few weeks of life we like that - I vowed it would be different with Olivia, and it is, a little. I can get her to sleep on her side in the Boppy for most of her naps, but I do spend the night on the recliner with her in my arms, as she just can't sleep as well even lying beside me. But, aside from nursing, she's been sleeping on a chair in her Boppy for the past 6-7 hours.

What worked with Isabel when nothing else would was a papasan-style bouncy seat that had a vibrating setting. Olivia hates the darn thing, but Isabel loved it.

Have you tried a wrap or Mei Tai instead of a sling? Here are some 'make your own wrap' instructions if you want to try it with a cheap piece of clearance fabric: http://www.mamatoto.org/Default.aspx?tabid=121

I bought cheap cotton fabric and used that with Isabel, which led me to buying a mei tai. This time I bought a gorgeous Gypsy Mama wrap and it's definitely Olivia's favorite carry. We went to a holiday party and she slept soundly thru the whole thing in her wrap; but she also tolerates a sling really well, whereas Isabel would not.

[look11]

I'm not telling you you should, but my DD slept on her tummy from very early on because it was the only way she would sleep even a little. However, she had great neck strength from day one and it was spring, so no heavy blankets or anything, so i didn't worry too much about SIDS.

I know... BAD mama!

[crsta33]

All of mine have slept better on their side/tummy.

I'm sitting here holding my sleeping one right now. We aren't having a whole lot of luck getting him to stay asleep if we put him down.

Christa

[ivymae]

Do you have a bouncy chair/swing/etc? I hated the idea of the these things before I had kids, because I didn't realize that there is a difference between putting them in a seat when they are sleeping and I need two arms, and leaving them there all day. Both of my kids are arms-babies, and the only time I can count on them staying asleep anywhere but in my arms was in their bouncy chair. You can always find them at second hand shops for cheap, so it's worth a try. Alice still only will sit for 5-10 minutes, but if that is long enough for me to help the toddler use the potty without Alice laying on the floor screaming, than I'll take it.

[VickV]

Another tummy sleeper here ... I haven't done it yet with Olivia, but Isabel was tummy sleeping by about a month old. I've tried it a couple times with Olivia, but she hasn't taken to it as much as Isabel did.

[mama2rey]

We have the same problem. Luckily, we have a Maya Wrap-that so far has saved us.