Here’s a batch of fresh dad advice, awesome newborn sleeping tips from real dads who’ve been there (and who’ve gotten some sleep! What’s your best newborn sleeping trick or tip?
Posted by Life of Dad on Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Otávio Cardoso: What I’m gonna say might sound harsh.
Have some Empathy: a few days ago, she was inside her mommy’s womb, feeling nice an cosy. Now, all of a sudden, she is in a noisy, cold world where nothing makes sense. It’s just natural that she wants to be close to her mom. Let her be close to her mom.
Eventually, she’ll stop sleeping with you and your wife. Naturally, it’ll demand a little bit of effort, but it’s all gonna be OK.
Whenever my daughters cried, I always held them, although older people used to say that I’d give them a bad habit. [That’s B.S.] They grew up without further problems and the fact that I held them all the time only made them feel loved and secure.
Hold your baby, my friend. Let her smell your skin and feel your presence as someone with whom she can feel safe. This is one of the things you’ll do that will tighten the bonds between you two.
Victoria Taghavi: Let her sleep on your wife’s chest. This early she is looking for soft mommy warmth. It won’t turn into a habit yet.
Bryan Becker: At 1 week old she’s still used to hearing mom’s heartbeat, I wouldn’t worry about “starting a habit”.
Chell Prince: Guys that “don’t want to start habits” live with exhaustion a lot longer than guys that just want to get some sleep so they let the baby sleep where it sleeps. The baby slept hearing her mama’s breathing and heart beat for a really long time. It will take some time “on the outside” to get used to not having that sound all the time. One thing you need to learn sooner rather than later, pick your battles. If you don’t you’ll be the Dad arguing with his 2 y/o daughter while she lays screaming in the middle of the grocery store aisle with her dress over her head and you won’t be sleeping until she’s a teenager.
Mark Bourn: Forget what the books say and what all your friends say. The bottom line is you both need sleep to be functional and good parents. If she can stay asleep sleeping on your wife’s chest right now then let her. Make small adjustments and see what works. It may take you a week but you will figure it out. Every kid is different. My kids are 8, 6, and 10 months….. and I turn 50 in December. If I can figure it out, so can you. Good luck.
James Capasso: I don’t really reply to a lot of these posts because most of what I have to say is usually said already. But even though this is been said I want to emphasize it because it is my biggest regret as a father. Let her sleep on your chest. Let her sleep on your wife’s chest. These moments are going to be gone in what feels like minutes. My biggest regret raising my daughter is I was so determined to get her to sleep in her bassinet. I was so heartbroken when I succeeded.
Donald Taylor: My wife and I tried that for about 2 weeks before giving up. Newborns like having you next to them. They can smell you, especially their Mother’s. And if your baby is breast fed like mine is then forget about it you have no choice but to let the little one sleep in the bed with you. Since we have started we get longer lengths of sleep and the access my wife has to our daughter make night time feedings and diaper changes easier.
Flickr photo by Karen Sheets de Garcia.