https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:32:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114508 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:53:04 +0000 LAZB 2114508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I slept with L on my chest in those super early days (and even sometimes now) when she refused to be put down. I also just made sure to keep covers away from her head, and it worked/works for us. Around 3 weeks she started being ok when swaddled and with a pacifier for most nighttime sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114483 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:37:02 +0000 Peasinapod 2114483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: agreed! I really wish I could confront the 'experts' who tell new mothers bed sharing is never okay. If you have a child that will not sleep without being held, you're eventually going to fall asleep holding them! Maybe on a couch, a chair, your bed - accidentally and probably unaware you're even asleep. Which is much more dangerous than if you were encouraged to make your bed a safe environment for the baby ahead of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114304 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 11:15:49 +0000 catomd00 2114304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Plan to bed share safely!!! Everyone wants to avoid it but it is bound to happen at least on accident. Plan on it so it's safe! I'm pretty sure babies get harmed by it when it isn't planned because that's when it's less likely to be done safely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114227 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:31:47 +0000 Mamasig 2114227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try a rnp. It "holds" them close and you can rock them back to sleep. Mine had a vibration feature that helped in the early days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114221 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:30:10 +0000 avivoca 2114221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I just rolled with it. She slept on me in our bed for at least the first month. I just kept the covers down around my waist and slept in a nursing tank with arm warmers on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114207 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:24:20 +0000 yellowbird 2114207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaughLines: are you putting her down after she's fully asleep? That's the only way I could put my newborn down. Definitely not a long term solution because she couldn't fall asleep on her own for the longest time but it worked while in survival mode </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2114203 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:21:23 +0000 Peasinapod 2114203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was exactly my baby. Up until three months I got away with eventually getting her to sleep in the pnp but only after repeatedly picking her up and soothing her. And she wouldn't stay asleep longer than 2 hrs</p> <p>. 3-5 months she started fighting the swaddle and wanted to be held / nursed all night long... Then she learned to roll. Sleep is so much better now! </p> <p>So.. Not much advice just sympathy. And my one suggestion is consistently try putting baby in the pnp once they seem totally out in your arms. </p> <p>Oh! also try reading the no cry sleep solution, I googled it and found it online. She has so many suggestions of things to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2113821 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 05:43:21 +0000 blackbird 2113821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a swing??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2113808 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 05:07:13 +0000 ElbieKay 2113808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a hand-me-down Mamaroo and it was the only thing that got our son to sleep for the first six weeks or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2113795 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 02:40:29 +0000 gracecat 2113795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I so feel for you!!! Our DD was similar. I would try to borrow every other device out there to try that is safe for night time sleep or just a few hours at night at least like a swing or bouncy chair to give yourself a break. But to be sure at 1 week old it's not unheard of and you may just not have a choice other than to keep trying the pnp while soothing her. And make sure there's no other cause for her to cry like acid reflux but I guess if she sleeps perfectly fine once being held it's probably not medical. It sucks I know.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newborn-will-only-sleep-while-being-held#post-2113792 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 02:24:59 +0000 LaughLines 2113792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is a week old, she was sleeping okay in the pnp right next to my bed for a couple nights, but last night and tonight she screams when I put her down and only will quiet down if being held. Last night I had her sleep on me in my bed for a bit which I know isn't the safest thing... and tonight I'm trying to quiet her in the pnp, which works for a few minutes then she cries again. We tried the rnp too, and that didn't help either. </p> <p>She's eating a ton, is swaddled, we have a noise machine.... Is there anything else I can do to help her sleep not in my arms? </p>