Putting baby down from chest position

[Em_S]

Hi, my daughter is 7 weeks old and will only sleep on mine & my partners chest. We have tried putting her down but she just wakes up. Do any of you have any tips on how to put her from the chest position without her waking up. I really want her in her own bed and for me to actually be able to do things in the day. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks

 

[MindUtopia]

My daughter was like this as well and honestly, we didn't bother. We wore her in a wrap so we could get on with things during the day, or I just enjoyed sitting with her and watching tv with a snack and a drink within reach (a luxury I would die for now that she is a 2 year old! There is no sitting down anymore!). But I do have friends who've found that holding them long enough to go into a deep sleep (usually 20 minutes after they first go to sleep) means they will stay asleep once you put them down. Or to lie them down in a way that doesn't drop them straight backwards, but moves them sideways into a sleeping space. So like instead of bending over and lying them down on their backs, lie down together on a bed and then once asleep, shift laterally onto a co-sleeping cot (or just leave sleeping on the bed if it's safe). The movement backwards and down triggers a reflex to startle - kinda like if you've ever had that feeling you were falling as you started to drift off to sleep and then startled yourself awake. It's like a survival mechanism to wake and call for help if they fall off something.

 

[Countrygirl13]

My LO was like this during the day for naps. In the end I gave up and read my Kindle for hours every day. Easy with just one baby! We got a sling in the end and she napped in that.
At night we rocked her until she was totally floppy limbed and asleep before putting her down. Took about 45 mins.
Dressing her in a 'growbag' sleep sack helped with the cold-sheets-startle thing. When she got a bit older, holding a small 'snuggle blanket' we call them gives her something to grab on to when her arms would otherwise flail about at the sensation of being put down. Good luck!

 

[SarahBear]

We bedshare and baby-wear. That's our solution.

 

[staralfur]

Very normal! We coslept, it was easier than trying to carefully put her down and then starting all over again once she inevitably woke up. I found life much easier once I just decided to roll with it.

If the stuff you want to do during the day can wait, then let it wait! Your baby is only tiny once and takes up so much of your time/energy, her napping on you gives you a good excuse to just sit and relax.

If you really need to get up and around and get things done, try a carrier so that she's still close you but you have hands free/can walk around easily.

 

[Take2]

My suggestion which is not for everybody..I put my daughter down awake so she would go to sleep in her bassinet therefor no need to transfer. I then kept the bassinet near me so she could see me and stay relaxed and then eventually I was able to put her down awake and just leave the room and she would happily drift off in her own time. I have an older child so sitting there for hours was not realistic and I live in a hot climate and had a summer baby so baby wearing was just unpleasant for both of us. Do what works for you, your baby and your life, there is no right or wrong! Don't feel guilty for wanting to get up and move around without a baby strapped to you, its not for everyone.

 

[SparklesHeart]

Haven't tested this but how about putting a blanket on your chest between you and baby, then when you lower baby into bed the blanket is there, all warm from your cuddle.

 

[zorak]

My LO likes to be rocked upright against my chest. I transfer him by waiting on him going limp then putting one hand on the back of his head and moving to the traditional cradle hold. I rock him there for a minute then put him down.

 

[SarahBear]

Another thing to try is to place the baby on his side instead of his back... I know, I know, "Back-to-sleep!" right? OK, so you have to decide for yourself if you feel comfortable choosing a sleep position for your baby that isn't recommended due to increased SIDS risk. I never worried about it because my baby never sleeps alone. Sleeping alone puts your baby at a higher risk of SIDS whereas sleeping with an adult helps regulate the baby's breathing. So, I figured I was trading one risk factor for another and breaking even.