How I Got My Newborn to Sleep at Night

I don't know what I would have done if my mother didn't have one of the best ideas I ever heard. You see I was a new mom 2 years ago, now I am an old pro. But at that time I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't even know how to change a diaper. When we brought my son home from the hospital I didn't know what we were supposed to do with him, it was like OK, now what.

My son didn't seem to like to sleep at night. He had no problems sleeping during the day but not at night. I would dread the evenings when we had to try to put him in for bed. I knew that I would be up all night and I was exhausted. I had taken 5 months off from work so I was the primary caretaker at night. My poor husband still had to get up and go to work so I tried to do all the night feedings. But after the 2nd week I just couldn't take it anymore. I needed to sleep.

My mom lives in Florida and had come up to visit to see her new grandson. I would just cry to her because I was exhausted and my son wouldn't sleep no matter how or what I tried. I even tried co sleeping which I know people have mixed opinions about. But that didn't work either. My in laws had bought us our beautiful bassinet but after the 2nd week, I don't think my son had any interest in sleeping in it.

Then came the night that was the turning point for me. My mom told me that she would keep the baby with her in the guest room for the night so my husband and I could get some sleep. At first I wasn't sure about this but she convinced me. It didn't take that much convincing to be honest with you. So we said our good nights and went too bed.

To my surprise it was 7:00am the next time I opened my eyes. I jumped out of bed in a panic. Where was my son? Why don't I hear him? I ran to the guest room and nobody was there. I freaked out. I ran downstairs and there was my mom cleaning my kitchen with my son sleeping peacefully in the bouncy seat my sister had given to me. I couldn't believe it. She told me he slept all night. WHAT? How did she do that? What was her secret?

Well, her secret I found was that she put him in the bouncy seat to sleep. She told me that the problem was that he was gassy and needed to sleep in a reclining position. When I was putting him in the bassinet I was laying him flat. She said that he needed to sit up and not lay flat. He was probably just uncomfortable. That made total sense! The reason he was sleeping well during the day was because I had him sitting in the bouncy seat. Why didn't I put two and two together and figure that out myself? I guess it was the lack of sleep.

From that night on for 5 months straight my son slept in the bouncy seat. It helped so much. What a difference that made. When my son turned 5 months we transitioned him into his crib with a positioner on an incline. That didn't really seem to work that well. So we took it out and he slept without it just fine. I guess he just needed to sleep that was for the first few months for whatever reason.

Other things that people have told me they have tried and worked were bouncy seats like I did, car seats, and swings. Of course make sure they are strapped in so they don't roll out and an adult should be next to them at all times. I hope you find whatever works for you. I know that my next baby I will try one of these right away.