Transitioning Newborn from Car Seat to Crib/ Ferber Method

One of the things that is often recommended when you've been using the car seat is to first put the car seat in the crib for her to sleep in to get used to the sights/sounds/scents, etc. The other thing you may want to to try is a reflux wedge for the crib. She is used to sleeping with her head elevated and switching to flat on her back may not be comfortable for her, you can get those at most baby stores. It will also continue to address any reflux she may be having. I never had to use the Ferber method for my kids, I was lucky they were both great sleepers right out of the box so no advice to offer there. Good luck.

6 weeks old is WAY too young to begin sleep training. Even Dr. WEissbluth doesn't suggest it until 4 months at least. Don't worry about "poor sleep habits" now--she's 6 weeks old. You need to do what works at this stage. On another message board I belong to, babies sleep in swings, car seats, etc until 4 months or more.

She's still building trust in you to help her at this age. Letting her cry is something I never could do with a baby that young.

Personally, I think it's a little early to start the
Ferber Method on a 6 week old. If you have time, I recommend a GREAT book that helped me out with me now 3.5 month old. It's Healthy Sleeping Habits, Happy Child. It was a lifesaver for us as she wasn't taking naps and wouldn't sleep anywhere except my arms. Within a couple of weeks, she was a different baby! I don't think they recommend using the Ferber Method on baby's less than 6 months but don't quote me on this. At this tender age, babies need to be tended to when crying. Good luck with everything. Don't worry...everything will get better. Good luck!

I don't understand the love of the Ferber method but I don't want to start a controversy, I just want to register myself as not convinced. I nursed three children who slept in bed with me for most of their infant time up to about six months. I never followed a strict routine and never had a problem with night-time waking issues. But then I wasn't a big proponent of cribs either, but that's my own issue (I had a step mother who actually locked her son in his crib for nap times -- no I'm not kidding -- had a cage built over it so I guess I'm a but traumatized about routine and cribs).

At six weeks the infant is still technically in gestation stages and all reactions are strictly due to sensation. Very little cognition or consequential thought, if any is occurring.

Therefore, I'd dispute the idea that you can "teach" a six week old anything at all at that time, they are still forming basic brain/neurologic structures. If the carseat works for now, I'd go with it or possibly attempt to mimic the sensation that the carseat provides with a generous amount of pillows and such, of course allowing that baby can't roll over and possibly suffocate.

Be creative and I'd say even though it seems kinda weird to be sleeping in a car seat, baby doesn't care and what she needs most now is safety, warmth and security.

Hi.My son would sleep in in car seat also when he was newborn.I assume he liked that cuddled feeling.I actually starting putting the car seat in the crib so he would be familiar with the crib and room. After that we would take him out of the car seat and lay him down even just to check it out.It worked well.I'm not familiar with the Ferber method.

Your baby is only 6 weeks old. Relax, if its still a problem at 5 or 6 months than I would be concerned and want to start sleep training but a 6 week old is still very dependent on you for everything. Your baby may not be comfortable sleeping in a big crib. Both of my boys slept in a cradle until they were almost 4 months old. The smaller size snuggles them allowing them to feel more secure which may be part of the reason she likes sleeping in her car seat.

Hi Rececca,

I also have a 6 week old little girl and a 2.5 year old little guy. At this very early point (I know it seems like forever), whatever gets you through the night/day is fine - keep her in the car seat if it helps her sleep. You can't spoil a baby this young, if she needs to be cradled to sleep, don't worry about it for now. Try putting the carseat in the crib for now to get her accustomed to the room and the view when she wakes up, then when the reflux is resolved and you can try putting her down, she will at least feel comfortable about where she is. Reflux wasn't our problem, so I can't speak to how to make that better.

I was fortunate enough to hear Dr. Ferber speak at a mother's forum here in Boston last year and he said 6 months, sometimes older. You shouldn't even be thinking "Ferberizing" until then. Their little tummies aren't ready to get through the night.

Hope this helps with your sanity, if not your problem.

Hi,

Six weeks is too early for the Ferber method. Right now you always pick up your baby when she cries.: ) Try putting her asleep in her car seat in the crib. The loss of body heat and human contact is what wakes the little one up when you put her down and the crib seems like a football field to these guys! Also a back to sleep positioner sometimes makes them feel more secure and cozier. If she's really fussy talk to your pediatrician about GERD. We put my older son on Enfamil AR (acid reflux) with a mild dose of baby Zantac and it made a HUGE difference. Hope this helps!
Barb

I have a 4 month old son who also slept in her car seat for quite some time. He was a baby who loved to be swaddled, and when the warm weather came, it was too much to wrap him up tight. When I would try to put him in his cry, at any time ay or night, he would instantly wake up and cry to be picked up again. It came to the point where I was so exhausted trying to get him down all night, that we called the pediatrician. He advised that until 6 months old, it is not necessary to make them sleep in any one place, but rather that they sleep period, and so do you. He said wherever he will safely and restfully sleep its fine, because until 6 months old babies can go through a learning process to know they are supposed to sleep in the crib. After a few weeks of car seat sleep, at 3 months, Dad started rocking him to sleep and once he was absolutely knocked out putting him down in the crib. It still doesnt work for me yet, but Dad gets it everytime.

I am not a big fan of the ferber method. Especially at such a young age. My 7 month old is a wonderful sleeper. we put her in her crib awake at 830pm and she puts herself to sleep without any crying or fuss. It took sometime but it's a process that we are glad we went through.

Here is my suggestion: Try to get her used to the crib as much as possible. We did this to help her transition from the bassinet.

Put her in the crib (awake) and put the mobile on and let her check it out with the lights on. If she fusses. Rub her head, tummy and try to sooth her. When she has had enough, take her out immediatly. Her crib should comfort her and not be a place of misery. Do this daily and as much as you can and want.

When she falls asleep in your arms, wait until she's hit that deep sleep and place her in the crib. Again, if she awakens and cries, try soothing her in the crib before taking her out. Put the mobile on. If it doesn't work, take her out.

Be patient with her and keep at it. It took sometime to get our little one to where she is. When she's sleeping in the crib and is older (maybe 3-4 months), you can work on getting her to go to sleep on her own (if you want).

Good luck!

I would try swaddling her in her blanket before you put her down. I have four boys ages 16,7,4,3 and my 7 year old was a car seat baby. He just needed the extra secure of being snug in the car seat so we swaddled him in his blanket and laid him in his crib. He felt secure and finally fell asleep in his crib. I don't like the Ferber method because it just frustrates them age her age and would make her much more insecure.

Hi R.!
You haven't created any bad habits yet...she's way too young to respond like that. All infants cry when put down to sleep. When my little girl (5.5 months now) was 2 weeks old I realized that she would only nap on me or someone else's arms/chest. A friend told me to embrace that time b/c soon it would end and I'm so glad I did!!!! Enjoy holding her for her naps and for bedtime? I can't recommend the swaddle enough!! Now that it's summer, make sure the baby's room has AC, but then swaddle her up!!! Go tighter than you think is necessary and I promise it will work. She's way too young to be Ferberized, seriously. Right now, when she cries, she really needs you so you have to respond. SHe's not playing you...yet!! :-)

We have been happy with attachment parenting our two kids (2.5 y, 5 m). Here is a link to the Sears & Sears' sleep advice: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp

As i learned from the New York Times a year ago or so Ferber has modernized his "traditional" method. Some even say he "denounced" his old "cry it out technique". Since we were happy with the Sears' advice, we never got into Ferbers much. My friends have 2 sons (now 6 and 8) and they used Ferber on the older. The father now attributes confidence issues and fear of aloneness in his older son with the Ferber way.

good luck!
D.

Hi R.. The Ferber method is meant for older babies. Sleep training should start later - more like 4 months when a baby can actually learn and understand to go to sleep. Right now a 6 week old can't.
I HIGHLY recommend the book - The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems. It is GREAT and has some fantastic tips on how to young babies as well as older babies to sleep.
Also, my LO had reflux and was colicky and we put a pillow under the mattress to elevate it and that helped a lot.
You can also put the car seat IN her crib to get her used to sleeping in that area.
Good luck!

I am sure there are people out there way more versed in the Ferber method than myself, but that is not why I am writing today. I wanted to remind you your daughter is only 6 weeks old. If she prefers to sleep somewhere other than her crib, let her. Why not? My 10 week old still sleeps swaddled in her papasan chair (also do to reflux). My thought is if she sleeps, than you get to sleep too. I did the same thing with my eldest daughter for what seemed like forever (probably until she was close to 12 months old), who is now three, and she has no troubles sleeping through the entire night, by herself, in her "big girl" bed. Just food for thought!

I used the Ferber method when my son was about 4 months old. 6 weeks is too young to start it now. My pediatrician has told me that at that age, when they cry you should go to them and comfort them. At around 4 months is when they start to cry to get your attention etc. The Ferber method worked great for us. It wasn't too painful and my baby sleeps through the night and takes two 2 hour naps a day. Good luck!

Hi R.,

Congratulations on your daughter. I have a six months old little girl. From my experience and reading Ferber, "Healthy Sleep Happy Families" and the "No Cry Sleep Solution" (No Cry being my favorite - but all worth a read). Six weeks is young. My daughter hated to sleep alone at the beginning. She would scream if she was sleeping alone. I started out thinking that I would get her to sleep in a bassinet in our room and then transfer her to the crib. She would have nothing to do with either. I totally scraped the bassinet idea and ended up with her in our bed, which eventually became the bed that just she and I occupied. But this worked at the beginning, she needed to be close. I know some babies don't need it as much as others. I don't know if you are breastfeeding, but I found co-sleeping at the beginning so much easier b/c I was breastfeeding.
Now at six months she sleeps all her naps in the crib and she spends most of the night there. She still sometimes comes into bed with me around 4am for that early morning feeding.
I think at 6 weeks poor sleep habits are to be expected. If you haven't had a chance to read the books I mentioned, you may find them really helpful, I did!

Good luck! Don't worry too much she will sleep eventually, but she will completely exhaust you first :-) and you will likely feel at your wits end several times.

F.

My youngest 2 children slept in their carseats, in the bassinet until they were 3mo old. I started transitioning at naptime time when I was not tired myself! I swaddled them in cotton receiving blanket and used a wedge to position them on their side. They all hated being flat on their back! (Once the infant can roll themselves you no longer need to worry about back sleeping!) Once I knew they could nap in the bassinet/crib, then I started a bedtime routine. Bath, PJ's, book, prayers and lullaby. routine is very important. I believe the earlier you start good sleep habits the better for all and shorter the transition, that said 6weeks is still young! I like Ferber's method's when you are ready. Good luck!

If you are not sure about the Feber Method try The No Cry Sleep Solution by Eliz. Pantley. It does include s some Feber-like techniques, i.e. there is some crying but you gradually remove yourself. Very helpful with my first. My second we finally found out just cried befre she fell asleep, she would take around 15 minutes almost like clock work. As she got older the time it took her to settle became less and less. I found she cried more and was more fussy if I tried any thing else besides just letting her lie down a cry and bit. We went from an hour or more of crying to the 15 minutes or so. She also had a bit of reflux ( also my milk came out really fast and she would get too filled up and need a little time being straight up to let it settle, then she was much happier to lie down ). Good Luck. Do not worry about spoiling her too much now though. She is too little to spoil. Maybe even try putting her down just half-awake or almost asleep for now and work your way up to putting her down more awake. Again the Pantley books is really good.

We put our daughter's carseat right inside her crib when we moved her to the nursery at 5 weeks old. Maybe you could try that for a few days while she gets used to looking around her new room, and then place her in the actual crib without the carseat.

Good luck!

Yes Ferber method is the only thing that worked for my son! I tried everything the "No cry sleep solution" that was a joke.
My sister-in-law got me the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth, MD very similar to Ferber and it worked! The first time I tried it I started with the first nap until bedtime (worked better for naps than bedtime for some reason) but it took about 7-10 days & now he sleeps awesome and he is almost 20 months old! Good luck!

FYI I would NOT use a sleep positioner. I was also going to use one this time around with my 2nd due early October until I read something brief about how an 8 week old baby died.
The mom used one that is supposed to be "safe" but some how the baby still died from it. I don't know the details because it was just a brief clipping about it.

Six weeks old might be too young to sleep by herself yet, if she's been with you in the carseat the whole time. Also, PLEASE Don't even consider the Ferber method. Dr. Ferber, who now works for a Well known Children's Sleep Center, says now that if he'd known how people would use his recommendations, he never would've made them. You can look him up, and he says that he never meant for babies, especially young ones, to be left to cry till they vomit, etc. I've heard good things about the No-Cry sleep solution, and personally, I'd recommend "Good Nights". Good luck!

You had so many responses that I didn't have time to read them all so just throwing in my experience.
My daughter had really bad reflux so we would put the "bouncy seat"-I think that is what everyone calls it, directly into the crib, lowering the mattress all the way. I would strap her in at night to be safe as well.
This way she was at an angle which did well for her reflux. It also did well for when she cried as you can gently rock her in the seat. But I had to get myself out of the habit of rocking her in it when she reached 12 weeks or so.
I used the bouncy seat till around 4-5 months when her reflux issue was a little better with the medicine.
Then she slept directly on the mattress but I put a large phone book under one side so it was a little more elevated.
I tried the sleep positioner which was elevated on one side but she slid/wiggled right down and her face was against the positioner sides. If you do buy one make sure to test it by breathing through the sides. I bought a few that said they were safe and breathable but when I tried one, I did not get a good flow of air and really felt it was dangerous. the other brand was fine though. So make sure to check it out yourself before putting baby in one.
I wish you all the best.

We started out with our son sleeping in the car seat too, some people said that wasn't good, it seemed the most comfortable and snug for him. When we moved him into the crib, we put him in one of those "moses baskets" and placed that in his crib. It was cozier for him, yet he was still in his own room. It worked well as a good transition into the big crib. Good luck!

Congratulations to you for your efforts to teach your daughter healthy sleep habits! Please don't be so h*** o* yourself - she's way too young for you to think you've gotten her into poor sleep habits already. If you want her to learn to sleep in her room, but feel she's still too small for her crib, could you try a bassinet in her room? If that is not an option for you, you could try this: place her in the corner of the crib, and roll up some receiving blankets and place them on the other two sides of her. Don't have them touching her, just have them close to her, creating the illusion for her that she is in a smaller area, so she feels cozy and surrounded, and she doesn't feel like she is all by herself in a vast crib. As to falling asleep by herself, prepare yourself for a lot of crying. I never read the Ferber book, but I believe the method our pediatrician advised was the Ferber method - let her cry for 5 minutes, go in, talk to her, leave, wait another 10, go in, talk, reassure, leave for another 15, then 20, then 20, etc. It worked for us, but not overnight. It usually took an hour or hour 20 minutes before she fell asleep, and I would say it took a good couple of weeks (maybe longer - she's almost five, it's hard to remember) using this method before bedtime was painless. Our daughter was about 4 months old (but, she was 2 months premature, so the doctors all considered her still to be only 2 months old) when we began this and as I said, it did work, but you have to be very consistent. Just reassure yourself that she is crying because she is smart and already knows that is the way to get what she wants, and she is FINE. You are a great mom to put yourself through this in order to teach her healthy sleep habits, because it is certainly not easy but all of you will reap the rewards when you have a well-rested baby who can get herself to sleep on her own.

Hi R.,
I would suggest putting the carseat in the crib for a few nights until she is used to crib. Or you could prop the crib mattress so that is has an incline similar to the infant seat. My youngest son slept in his carseat in our room until he was 10 weeks.
I used the Ferber method with my two older children and it does work. I try to look at it as they are learning how to go to sleep on their own-not that they're crying themselves to sleep. Of course they're going to cry, they're tired and they can't sleep. The Ferber Method involves letting your baby "cry it out" for a certain period of time each night, with the idea in mind that they will eventually learn how to soothe themselves and go back to sleep. The first night you let them cry for 5 min then go in and rub their back for 2, let them cry for 10, etc. The second night is 10, then 2, let them cry for 15, soothe for 2, etc. It is hard, but for me it only took a couple of nights. The pediatrician recommended the Ferber Method for me when my son was 9 months old and waking several times a night. I used it for my daughter when she was 5 months old and I knew she could go thru the night without a feeding.

Hi R.,
I am a huge fan of the Ferber method, especially since we are from Boston...as Dr Ferber practices at Childrens, I actually know a few patients of his, both grown and children. (all of which have turned out to be completely happy, "normal" people...who are great sleepers.)I say "normal" because some people think teaching a baby healthy sleep habits can leave a lasting traumatic effect on the person...this is not the case for the group of people I know who have been Ferberized.
I used it, as well as 5 of my friends and it worked seemlessly for all of us...but you do have to wait at the earliest 4.5 months. I waited until 6.5 mos.
I agree with the moms who say put the car seat in the crib, my girlfriends daughter had reflux as well and she did the same, then transitioned her into a bouncy seat in the crib, and finally the crib alone. Take your time with it, shes still really young.
I also recommend Dr Marc Weissbluth's book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child", kind of similar to Dr Ferbers method, with a few more tips on self soothing, naps, establishing a schedule, etc.
Most importantly, don't blame yourself for "poor sleep habits" right now...she's so young, at this point, you just have to do what you can to get through this tough time of no sleep, lots of feedings. Your doing a great job!

You've gotten so many responses that span the entire baby sleep landscape so I'll just try to add what I haven't seen posted already. First, I agree with all those that said 6 weeks is a)too young for any sort of sleep "training" and b) too young for you to have given her any bad habits. Whatever she is doing now is fine, and will have no lasting impact on her ability to learn to sleep as she gets old enough to do so.

I'd recommend the Baby WHisperer - Tracy Haag. Her books include "the Baby Whisperer solves all your problems". She believes in a routine starting around your baby's age - though I think it's not feasible to expect a slid three hr routine in a breastfed baby at that age, mine was modified but loosely followed what she suggested. ANyway, she has lots of advice about helping babies sleep at naps and at night and includes considerations of reflux etc. She does NOT believe in crying it out (the ferber method) and I personally can't do that either.

A baby that young needs to be responded to when she cries to establish her trust in you that you are there for her when she needs you,. She is not manipulating you, she is just trying to get comfortable in this crazy world of ours. I also liked the Happiest Baby on the Block book - very helpful. He believes that sleeping in a swing or bassinet or carseat is perfect for the first three months (swaddled). I saved swaddling for night time to distinguish and that worked for us.

You sound like you are doing a great job - keep it up and best to you & your baby.

Hi R.,
My daughter to this day still has the reflux problem. She would spit up alot and sometimes choke on her own spit . she was put on zantac for a few months. The first six weeks she slept on her back with a rolled up dish towel to be put on her side . This seemed to help . After six weeks, she started getting restless and not sleeping well so I flipped her on her stomach to see what would happen. Well, she slept thru the night by eight weeks. I tried this during the day so that I could watch her and see what happens in her bassinett. And also called her pedictrician to see what she had to say. She said that if she was able to move her neck from side to side on her stomach then it would be ok and that she was over six weeks old. I just had to keep an eye on her. She was just not comfortable on her back . She wanted to sleep on her stomach. I know there is a lot of hype about this . But it really is okay. IF you are gonna have her sleep in her own crib, i would suggest a vidieo monitor. It is the best thing you will ever purchase and gives you great peace without getting out of your bed and you can hear her breathe. I hope this helps. Before attempting this please check with your doctor.. Every doctor is different and every parent needs to be comfortable with that. I was and it worked for her. Good Luck !!

Red

The first few months are all about survival. It's tough, but it will end soon enough. Your baby is much too young for the Ferber method. She is still learning about her environment. Work on sleep first, where ever that may be, let her lie. My daughter took her naps in her bouncy seat for the first 6 months of her life. She'd sleep for hours there, after she learned to sleep, we started transitioning her to her crib, and now she takes long naps, and is a great sleeper. You can try swaddling her, or even letting her sleep on her belly. Letting your baby cry it out is not the answer, teaching her that you are there to comfort her, is most important.

Hang in there, she is very young - she'll come around. There aren't any rules that says your baby must sleep in a crib. Whatever works...and go from there!

Good luck.

I don't know what the Ferber method is, but you could try transitioning the baby to a Moses basket first. My son originally wouldn't sleep even in the bassinet, and this was just the thing to give him a sense of closeness and security, but it might help you too to get the baby used to being on her back. The basket I had actually fit within the bassinett. I've sure one would be easy to place in the crib. That may also help her get used to being in the crib environment. Perhaps what she likes in the car seat is the closeness. Just a thought.

The Ferber method is a brilliant method. It is essentially the same method we used with our children, and it worked like a miracle. We now put our children to bed fully awake, and they will sometimes entertain themselves for a few minutes in bed, and then they go right to sleep, and sleep completely through the night. My daughter, who is two, will sleep approx 12-13 hours at night, and will also take a nap during the day.
Another book I read that I loved was "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child", by Marc Weissbluth. It teaches similar methods.
The things people tend to misunderstand about the Ferber method, is they're under the impression that it's telling you to toss your baby into the crib, and let them cry the night away as if you don't care. That's not the case at all. There are many aspects to the Ferber method that all come together to make a whole, healthy bed-time experience. I have found with my children that the most important thing is our night-time *routine*. This includes a warm bath, a change into cozy comfy pajamas. A cup of warm milk while I read them a story, brush the teeth, and then into bed. It's the same, exact routine in the same order every night. We even stick to the routine while we are away on vacation. It provides comfort to the child, and helps them mentally prepare for bedtime. Once the brain gets used to the routine, their bodies will actually start to behave likewise. Bedtime is a physical and psychological experience...so you just need to make sure their psyches and their bodies are on the same page.

Boy does your story relate. Go to www.askdrsears.com and click on sleep problems, there is alot of info on the process of sleep and lots of advice on how to help you and your little one. I have two boys and the second was so different in this area, much more needy. Six weeks is still so little and if you decide on Ferber do some research as Ferber even changed their method w/ what they originally came up with. Even my doctors had completely different ideas on how to handle this, w/ the younger saying he needed to cry it out and the older doctor saying .." dont put yourself under so much pressure, there are no studies saying he will be damaged if he is sleeping with you, take your time". I never wanted to co-sleep but my second one was very different and eventually I gave into it out of desperation for my own sleep. After doing alot of research was glad I let him go in his own direction more, his needs were different. My guy now sleeps in his own bed, he is over a year and a half now and it was a long process, his needs were different. I too had my little one in a car seat often for the same reasons. Check out the site no matter what you decide there is alot of info on understanding sleep patterns and tips on getting them to sleep. Good luck and keep in touch with other moms, there are som many opinions and options. I wish you much sleep!

Hi. I hate to say it but you just need to place her in her crib and let her cry. I used the idea of the Ferber method and have to say that it works. I have a two year old and a 7 month old. Our older daughter never slept - we never put her in bed awake. But our new one does and we did have to let her cry it out which paid off big time. Start by putting her in her crib for 10 minutes - look at the clock and don't go back in for a solid 10 minutes. This will be torture. Perhaps vacuume or do something around the house as it will be a looonnnnggg 10 minutes. Check on her/him then leave for another 15 minutes. Check on and leave for 20 minutes. Do not pick them up or remove them from the crib. But do talk to him/her, stroke their face, etc. Keep in mind that it takes 3 full days to change any behavior. You can do anything for three days.

On another note, gas drops are great for intergestion.

Perhaps she would be a little more comfortable if you propped one side of the crib mattress up with blankets or a wedge. I am not sure where to buy the wedges but it does often help with a child that is used to having their head elevated while they sleep.

Maybe you should try using a bassinet. It might be better, since she has the acid reflux to keep her near you more often than not during the night. It's also more comforting than the big crib. My pediatrician suggested transitioning from the bassinet to the crib between 2-4 months. So, if she is a small baby, she probably has a while still.

For some reason the car seat is very comforting to them. My son always fell asleep in the car seat and we didn't want to take him out. Eventually, he was able to get back to sleep after taking him out of it. It took some time though.

I used the Ferber method twice with my daughter who is now 2.6. Around her first and second birthdays she went through a transition period and her sleep schedule got out of whack. She normally sleeps 7-7, give or take a half hour. Anyway, I first tried Ferber when she was one it and it worked wonders, then again around her second birthday. My sister did it with both of her girls, now 4 and 6. She used it on the younger one at a much earlier age (always more knowledgeable and not as nervous with the second!) The only problem she had starting it so young was that she wouldn't sleep in the car out on errands, walks, etc. she'd just get cranky. Other than that she's still a great sleeper, 7-7 as well. Good luck. It should work within a few days!

Your title says it all "newborn". Newborns are a whole separate group when it comes to babies. And much too young to use the Ferber Method on. They are also too young to develop bad sleep habits-so don't blame yourself. Newborns are still learning how to hanlde being outside the womb let alone sleeping alone in a crib!

Both my kids had severe reflux and would only sleep in the bouncy seat. My daughter slept in a stroller until she was abount nine months but then became a GREAT crib sleeper. Not saying that it will go that way with your baby! I will say that getting the reflux treated made a BIG difference with the fussiness.

Here is a good analogy that I read about newborns' sleeping...imagine if you were sound asleep in your bed and someone put you out on the cold kitchen floor with no blankets. That is similar to what newborns and infants experience when you put then down in a crib.

Key sleep tips: newborns sleep best when they feel secure and enclosed like in the womb: so swaddling with a blanket, being held by mommy or daddy or being in bouncy seat or something similar that is "close" feeling around them. Swings are good too and those papasan type bouncy seats.

Reflux: is very painful for babies and is made worse when lying flat. They really need to sleep in a reclined position. Babywearing and baby swings were very helpful for my babies. Have you spoken with your pediatrician about it...has reflux been diagnosed?

There are medicines available that can help as well. There is a big difference between a newborn that fusses around the end of the day (the infamous "fussy time") vs. a reflux baby that is fussy ALL the time and seems to need to be held all the time.

Babies are everychanging...whatever sleep patern they have now will change, and change again just as you are getting used to it.

There are a number of good books on newborns/infant development and behavior. Dr. Sears has a good one and there are others.

The first few months are tough...especially if you have a fussy baby! Congrats on your new little one and hang in there, it will get better:)

I am a believer in the ferber method, but your baby is too young. You should wait until 6 months, 4 or 5 at the earliest. I wouldn't worry at all about where you baby sleeps at this point. 6 weeks is too young to have any habits, good or bad. If she's happy in her carseat let her sleep there (although I agree that the carseat in the crib is a good idea, so at least she gets used to being in her room). You could also try easing her into a bouncy chair in her crib, so she gets used to the sensation of being put down, but hopefully is still comfortable. The best thing that she can learn at this point is that sleep is a good thing, that makes her feel warm and snuggly and comfortable. I really believe that all future sleep habits grow out of whether or not she learns to hate sleep now. Where it happens is an issue for another time.

I forgot! I once got a tip for getting the baby into the crib - the parents heated up a hot water bottle, and placed it in the crib when they were rocking the baby to sleep, then, when the baby was totally out, they took the hot water bottle out of the crib and put the baby down in the nice warm spot. That helped ease the transition. They said it worked like a charm. If she's uncomfortable because of the reflux, I would assume that you could do the same thing into a bouncy seat. Also, you could try just having her fall asleep in a swing and leave her there swinging. You'll go through a million batteries, but at least you'll get some rest! Good luck!

When I transitioned my baby from pappasan chair to crib, I used a positioner and I used a ramp that propped her up a bit so she wasn't laying down flat. These might help with your 6 wk. old since the incline might still help with the acid reflux or might, if the reflux is gone, help transition your baby a little easier as she has been used to the incline. Also, the positioner might make her feel more enclosed like the car seat. I think the crib's openness and vastness for a 6 wk. old might be too much and the positioner helps with that. Just some thoughts - hope they help!

When my daughter got her first cold at about 8 weeks old, she started to sleep in her Papasan (in the crib). She was happy in it because it kept her elevated. You can try elevating the mattress a little by putting folded blankets under the mattress to raise one side. When your baby gets a little older, she will likely not like to be constricted in her car seat and will look forward to the freedom of a crib. This was true for me and for a friend of mine who's son slept in his car seat for a long time.

Also, the book "the no cry sleep solution" is a great one with helpful sleeping tips. Hope this helps.

Maybe you could first try a transition period - like first, put a crib sheet on top of the car seat, so that she gets the feel of the crib sheet, but still has the same comfort of the car seat. After a few days, sit the car seat with the crib sheet on it in the crib itself. After she's sleeping well in the seat, inside the crib, for a few days then just put her in the crib alone.

hey there R., My daughter had reflux when she was a baby I had to feed her in the sitting up position. Not lying down and wait 1/2 hour and when I layed her down I had to put her on her side so I got a buffer thing that went around her on both sides that way she couldn't roll on to her back cause she would wake right up.

Hope that helps.
Good luck
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i'd try one thing at at time... i'd prioritize what you want to do first - have her learn to get to sleep on her own, or learn to sleep laying down.

i'd work on getting her to be able to sleep on her own first. my daughter started out this way too.... so try a "bouncy seat" and get her to fall asleep by herself in the seat first. she'd fall asleep in the seat in the Living room - and then when we went to bed we'd just move the seat into her crib.

once she was able to fall asleep on her own, then i'd work on getting her to sleep laying down - and this may not be able to happen until she's like 12 weeks - where her digestive system is a bit more tolerable and the reflux calms down a bit. my bouncy seat had 2 levels - so getting her to be able to sleep on the "flatter" level was 1 step... then it was in her crib w/ one end of the mattress proped up (w/ a 2x4 under the matress) and then the last level was to a flat mattress.

for my daughter at 10 weeks - we started to give her just a tiny bit of rice cereal (1/2 tsp total) at her 11PM bottle - 1. this helped keep the formula down and 2. she started sleeping from 11PM - 6AM. we'd make the bottle and use a little of the formula to mix with the rice - we'd give her a little scoop (about 1/2 of a rubber tipped spoon) and then "chase" it w/ the bottle - she'd we started w/ 4 little scoops and worked our way up (adding 1 scoop a week) - your dr. will probably tell you not to do this and to wait until 4-6 mos for the cereal - but you have to do what works for you - and if it helps w/ the reflux and keeping the formula down, then do it.

i don't think sleep habits are really "formed" until they are like 4-6 mos old - so if you can get a routine down pat by then i think you are golden.

My daughters have struggled with reflux, especially my youngest. Try getting a special wedge that goes under the crib mattress ~ it slightly elevates the head of the crib and it might help her to be more upright. You can also use the baby positioners to help keep her in position (and it makes them feel more like they are held/snuggled in). Each item runs $10 to $20 depending on where you get them and are a great investment! Hopefully they will help ease the transition.

Another thought is that if she is extremely fussy you should talk to the pediatrician about it. Sometimes it is caused by not getting enough milk or the reflux causes immense pain. Both can be remedied and would help ease the fussiness.

I went back to work (temporarily) and my son got one cold after another from being in daycare. He was in a car seat for the night from 3 months until almost 5 months. He got too big to sleep comfy in it because he started moving and almost slipped out of it once. We switched him to the crib. It took a few nights but he was ready for it, it felt good to stretch out you could tell by the way he would sprawl out and he started to look forward to it. Don't worry about using the car seat at this age- I honestly don't think it matters. (That is what my Dr told me) Once your child is able to roll over it is more important to give the child room. Get your sleep, when your child is older and able to move around, switch to the crib. I also did the Ferber method and it is hard but worth it. They do not (I believe) recommend it for a newborn. My advice if you are interested in Ferber at this age is get yourself to wait 5 minutes before picking her up. Most children fall back to sleep within 5 minutes of fussing. It will give you a head start for when you want to do the Ferber method at 5-8 months old.
Good luck!

I did not really read any responses, but I had a similar case with my daughter. She slept in the her swing. Your baby is so young and will go through so many different sleep patterns in the course of the next year. It is not possible for your daughter to get into any poor sleep habits yet. babies at that age do things by instinct. I don't know if you have ever tried swaddling her to put her down. That was the ONLY way my daughter would sleep at that age. If she wasn't swaddled she would wake herself right up. It helps them feel safe and warm. If she still sleeps well in her seat, I would just let her. My daughter slept swaddled in that swing til she was about 4 months old. Then she was ready for a transition. She is now almost 8 months old and I can't tell you how many times she has changed. i would not worry about using any of those methods just yet. She is still young. I don't know if you work, but you could also try to go to a mom's supposrt group. i don't know where you live, but I know Backus Hospital in Norwich has one, there is a hospital in New London that has one. if you are not in those areas, you could check a local hospital to see if they have one. Hope this helps and good luck!! :)

There is a book called the aHappiest baby on the Block that really works well..If I understand right even the guywho started the Feber method now says it may not be the best. Your baby is 6 weeks..give this a try as a new baby is not so ingrained in their ways...