Help! I can't put DD down!

[emermel]

I'm hoping that someone has a suggestion here. DD #2 is one week old today and WILL NOT sleep for more than 15-20 minute at a time once we put her down. In the swing, or being held, she'll give me a couple of hours. The problem is that I have an active 2 1/2 year old and I cannot hold her all of the time...any suggestions on how I can get her out of my arm and into a bed?

[Toonces]

Would she sleep in a sling/pouch? That would at least give you some freedom. Sorry... no other advice. I'm going to be there in a few weeks though.

[Cali_Katy]

A sling or a pouch is my only suggestion, too. When my son was tiny, he would sleep very well in the Baby Bjorn.

Good luck!

[Tracie]

If she sleeps well in the swing, why can't she just sleep there?

[alisong]

If she sleeps well in the swing, why can't she just sleep there?This was going to be my suggestion too. ;) I also second a sling/pouch.

[Kanga]

Ditto the sling. Or just let her sleep in the swing.

[maplekitty]

My DD is the same way...so I spend most of the day with her in my wrap. If she starts to fuss a bit, I stop and give her a little rub on the back, and sway back and forth and she's back out like a light.

[goldfish]

I agree with others who suggested a sling. My peanut shell sling was a LIFESAVER when DS was newborn and I had a 2 1/2 year old to run after. He would literally sleep in the sling until I would take him out. Plus my hands were free and I was able to do lots of stuff with my toddler. I also agreed with others who said to just let her sleep in the swing...pretty much at this stage I would just let DS sleep wherever and whenever. Congratulations and good luck to you! :)

[nicks]

Congrats! Do you swaddle her? That is what worked for us but I had to use the Swaddle Me blanket, it was the only one that was big enough and I could get tight enough. Good luck!

[mommydearest]

Good luck! You might try reading The Happiest Baby on the Block. It is a lot of common sense, but a lot of it really works.

[Camara]

I was also going to suggest Happiest Baby on the Block. We had this exact same problem and once we started swaddling dd like the book said, she was much better when we put her down. The swaddling helps give that tight cozy feeling like when you're holding her. If that doesn't work, then I agree with all the previous posters to use the sling or swing. Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.

[Sophia]

When DD2 was very little, the sling helped so much. So did swaddling. Both DD1 and DD2 only slept well in the swing (especially at night), so I just went with it.

[daisysue62]

I'd echo the suggestions to wear your baby in a sling :)

[jbemommy]

What if my baby doesn't like the sling??? So far I've gotten about 30 minutes at a time max out of it, and usually it just makes him cry. I've tried a Hotsling and a bjorn. I don't want to keep buying slings if they're not going to work. I have a 2.5 y/o too and it is really tough!

[Scooter]

My DD liked the Mei Tai better than a sling until she was able to hold her head up well enough to see out of the sling. Now she's in a sling phase.

Happiest Baby on the Block is great for suggestions, the swing, swaddling, and maybe a vibrating bouncy chair all also worked for us. We really liked the Miracle Blanket for swaddling. That thing was really hard for her to wiggle out of, and you can get it tight and secure around the baby.

[cosmic]

I "third" the recommendation for the book Happiest Baby on The Block (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Happiest%20Baby%20on%20the%20Block&tag=africanamer04-20&index=books&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325) (I plan to get the CD later) and especially SwaddleMe wrap/blankets (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=swaddleme&tag=africanamer04-20&index=baby&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325).

[Candy]

The Miracle Blanket was a life saver for us. DD wouldn't sleep unless she was tightly swaddled. Many nights she would sleep swaddled while in the swing. Once in a deep sleep we were able to move her.

I agree with Scooterabout the Mai Tai carrier since your daughter isn't a fan of the sling yet.
My DD HATED my ring sling when she was an infant. She never liked being cradled. The MT was a different story. She slept "like a baby" in it. ;)
We got ours at www.rosiebaby.com

What carry are you using with the sling? Have you tried different positions? Once I got the hang of it with my sling, DD liked tummy to tummy.

Candy