You bring your baby home after delivery and find that not only will the baby not fall asleep in the bassinet, but your baby hates the bassinet altogether. If this sounds like your newborn baby, this article is for you.
If the baby falls asleep fine in the car seat for car rides or will fall asleep with no issue when being held, you may be wondering: Why won’t my newborn sleep in the bassinet?
It can be stressful trying to figure out what’s going on, and after losing a good night’s sleep, you may be too tired to do anything but consider tossing the bassinet in favor of another type of sleep device.
Don’t throw in the towel or throw out the bassinet, though.
Newborn babies tend to be a bit finicky until they get used to something.
The reason for the baby’s sleep disturbance in the bassinet may be something you can quickly resolve. Sometimes just one or two minor adjustments can solve your family’s sleep problems.
Baby hates bassinet
Most parents know that safe sleep guidelines should be meticulously followed due to the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It can be tempting to give up the bassinet and start putting baby in bed with you but resist this urge.
SIDS doesn’t have an exact cause, although experts believe they are getting close to discovering it. For now, safe sleep is essential to your child’s safety.
Until we can pinpoint what causes this terrible fatal condition that claimed nearly 1,400 infant lives last year in the US alone, it’s best to dig in and resolve yourself to keep the baby in the bassinet.
Young babies have different sleep patterns than older kids and adults, and figuring out what is disturbing your little one’s ability to stay asleep in their crib is much safer than cuddling up in your bed.
Why won’t my baby sleep in the bassinet?
Many parents have the same issue with their children.
Falling asleep may even happen peacefully in the bassinet, but not long after bedtime, the problems begin. After several sleepless nights, you’re ready to do anything to get some peace and quiet.
Understanding why your little one dislikes the bassinet is half the battle. Once you have solved that mystery, fixing it is typically an easy thing to do.
The following are some reasons your little one may not be making it through the night or even an hour into bedtime in the bassinet without a meltdown.
1. Baby’s startle reflex
The startle reflex, or Moro reflex, shows itself when the baby jerks awake suddenly, either when you first place the baby in the bassinet or shortly after that. This is because your child’s brain is waking them up.
This reflex is at its strongest in the first few weeks of life and often affects their ability to fall asleep.
Babies are used to being tightly secured in their mother’s uterus. Not being secured in such a manner means that your child may not feel as though the bassinet is a safe space.
Often, if you start to swaddle your baby, they will begin to sleep in the bassinet much more peacefully. You can swaddle your little one with a blanket or swaddle blankets, a garment worn on the body that secures your little one’s body snugly.
2. Baby is cold
Your uterus is very warm.
What feels average and comfortable room temperature to you is most likely a bit chilly for your new baby. Your baby will sleep better if the bassinet is warm when you put them in.
Simply placing a hot water bottle or heating pad on the mattress or under the mattress for a few minutes before you put the baby in the bassinet can help your child to fall asleep, get more sleep and also sleep better.
Sleeping somewhere warm is a much better for a baby, and you may notice the baby sleeping better from this minor tweak to their routine.
Always feel the mattress before you lay baby down for sleep. Although you want it warm, you don’t want it to be too warm for your little one.
Also, never allow a hot water bottle to be in the sleep space at the same time as your little one, even if you are in the same room. There should be nothing aside from your baby and the firm mattress in the sleeping area.
Dress baby for sleep
Dress your baby warm for sleeping, but not so warm that they will be uncomfortable. The rule of thumb is adding one layer to how many layers parents feel comfortable wearing.
So if you are wearing one layer, dress baby in two.
3. Dirty diaper
Babies pee a lot. Especially at night, when the muscles relax.
During awake times, your little one goes through plenty of wet diapers, but at night, they tend to urinate more in one go.
Checking for a wet or soiled diaper when your baby starts to fuss may help solve the issue of why the baby refuses to sleep.
4. Hungry baby
Your little one will wake, cry and become a fussy baby when it’s time for a feeding.
The average newborn baby needs to feed every two to three hours, meaning that for the first several weeks of life, naps may seem much more serene and peaceful than bedtime.
Your little one will wake up and want to feed rather than stay asleep all night.
It doesn’t mean that they hate the bassinet. It simply means they are feeling hungry and will not stay calm until they are fed.
Adjusting your feeding schedule so that baby eats right before bedtime is good advice that many pediatricians and lactation consultants swear by.
It will usually give you a little longer stretch time in which both you and the baby can rest before they start to cry for food again.
This is an exhausting practice, but within a matter of weeks, it should end on its own.
5. Overstimulated baby
If your baby naps just fine but hates the bassinet, another great piece of advice will be to add some white noise in the room and lessen any noise.
During the day, events are typically more peaceful and routine. If you have other kids, getting them to bed and then preparing yourself for bed may be too much stimulation.
Giving them their own room that stays quiet and dark may be a sufficient solution.
If, on the other hand, the space is too quiet, you may want to consider getting a white noise machine.
Newborns just came from an environment that was never silent, and silence in the early days of life can keep newborns awake.
6. A confused internal clock
Your baby doesn’t understand that people sleep during the night and are awake during the day. Instead, they have an internal clock that puts them on a schedule.
Putting your baby to sleep at night and noticing that they scream the house down or that baby won’t sleep at night but has no trouble with being asleep for long stretches during the day can mean that they are having issues with that internal alarm.
If your baby won’t sleep at night but snoozes the day away, you simply need to interfere and reset that clock in their brains.
Keeping them busy during the day and encouraging them to sleep at night will take some time to see results, but it’s a battle worth fighting.
Other questions about bassinets and your newborn
New parents learn all sorts of things as they progress through parenthood. It’s totally normal to have a lot of questions. You should never feel silly for asking them.
The following are some questions that are fairly common in regards to bassinets.
How long can baby sleep in a bassinet?
You can let babies sleep in a bassinet until they reach the weight limit on the bassinet. This is usually until about six months of age.
Once your child is mobile enough to sit up and roll around, you should prepare to transition to a crib.
Newborn rolling on its side in a bassinet
Rolling onto the side and even side sleeping is okay for babies in a bassinet as long as they are not big enough to pull themselves up or roll over the side of the unit.
Many babies prefer to sleep on their side. As long as your child can hold up their own head, it is safe to allow your child to roll into whatever position they prefer to sleep in.
Learning to love the bed
Getting babies to sleep where you want them to can be frustrating, but it’s necessary if you wish your little one to get good sleep.
Develop and stick to a bedtime routine, and don’t allow your baby to sleep with you to help develop good sleeping habits and for safety’s sake.
Often, simple adjustments can be made, such as changing a diaper, feeding your little one before bedtime, and swaddling can help to ensure your baby sleeps.
It is rarely the sleeping apparatus itself that the baby hates. Stay diligent and don’t give up; you’ll all get better sleep in no time.