How to get baby to sleep alone?

Ques­tion: As soon as I lay my six week old baby down he wakes. I’m so tired from nurs­ing him all night — help!

Answer

After nurs­ing your baby to sleep in your arms or chest it can be dif­fi­cult to lay him down in the  moses bas­ket or crib. All to often, baby senses a change in warmth or smell and wakes up the moment you put him or her down.

This may hap­pen despite your best inten­tions to fol­low the advice on “get­ting babies to sleep” because babies are just like us, they would rather sleep some­where warm and safe than a cold bed. Here is what Mind­ful Mum did to help her lit­tle one sleep alone.

Sleep­ing Tips

• Place a hot water bot­tle in the crib or moses bas­ket for 5 min­utes to heat the mat­tress and bed clothes. This will reduce the shock of mov­ing from your warm arms to a cold cot. Remem­ber to take the hot water bot­tle out before you put baby in!
• Before you throw your t-shirt in the linen bas­ket wrap it round your babies mat­tress for a few hours before bed time and your baby will be com­forted by your scent when you lay him down.

(14/02/10)

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