A bassinet or a cot allows your baby to sleep in a contained environment. It ensures your newborn will not fall while sleeping. This is a common risk if you allow your baby to sleep on the bed.
However, you may notice that your baby is not sleeping in a bassinet. The good news is you don’t have to look far to understand the reasons behind this. Here is a complete guide on why your baby won’t sleep in a bassinet.
Key Notes
- Hunger prevents babies from sleeping soundly in a bassinet
- The infant may be used to sleeping with you
- The startle reflex is often associated with putting a baby in a bassinet
- The rough fabric of a bassinet can cause your newborn to remain awake
Why My Baby Won’t Sleep In Bassinet?
A baby may not sleep in a bassinet or wake up very soon because of many reasons. Some lesser-known reasons behind this are:
- Gas problems
- Baby is not tired enough
- Noise in the room
Besides that, there are also common reasons that may prevent your baby from sleeping in a bassinet. Here are their details:
- Your Baby Is Hungry
Many parents try to find a fault in the bassinet when their baby cannot sleep. This is why they overlook the fact that their kid may be hungry. It may have been hours since the last feeding session of your baby.
You may not have fed the baby properly due to some other chores. Remember rushing your infant during breastfeeding will make them feel hungry again very soon.
It is no secret that hungry babies do not sleep until their stomach is full. This is why you should always ensure your baby is well-fed before putting them in a bassinet.
- Habit
Parents want to create a loving bond with their children from an early age. This is why you may let your baby sleep on your chest to make them feel comfortable and loved.
Babies that sleep with their parents often face difficulty sleeping in a bassinet.
So you should avoid forming a habit of letting your baby sleep with you often if you want to shift them to a bassinet. The main reason why your child may not be able to sleep in a cot after the transfer is the temperature difference.
Your chest has a warm temperature that allows newborns to sleep soundly.
However, when you shift the baby to the cold sheets in the bassinet, they can wake up. Another reason is that the infant may be used to listening to your calm rhythmical heartbeat.
- Uncomfortable Bassinet
The bassinet may be uncomfortable because of multiple reasons, such as:
- Small size
- Unclean sheets
- Uneven mattress
- The rough fabric of the sheets
If the bassinet is too small, your baby cannot move properly. Their hands or feet may also hit the edges often.
You must remember that newborns may be mobile in their sleep, so they need adequate space for sleeping.
Dirty sheets can also make your kid uncomfortable and increase their stress level. It is best to clean the sheets frequently or change them before putting your infant to sleep.
An uneven mattress also causes babies to sleep difficulties.
The top thing you must ensure is that the sleeping platform is flat and firm. You should also ensure the fabric of the sheets is not rough because it can make your baby’s skin itchy.
The result of these things is that your baby will not sleep in the cot.
- Startle Reflex
The startle reflex is a common problem that parents face when putting their infant to sleep. The main feature of the reflex is that the baby will wake up when you change their position or sleeping platform.
If your baby is asleep on a sofa and you shift them to a bassinet, they may wake up startled. This reflex can also happen during the sleep cycle.
There is no fixed solution for a startle reflex, but you may be able to reduce its occurrence by ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment for your baby.
How To Make My Baby Sleep In A Bassinet?
You may use all the earlier tips, but your baby may still refuse to sleep in the bassinet. So here are some additional tricks that can help you with this:
- Warm The Bassinet
Warming the cot is easy because you can do it with a hot water bottle. Place the bottle on the sheet and let it heat the bassinet. This is an effective solution if you often let your baby sleep on your chest before transferring them to the cot.
Always remove the bottle a few minutes before you put the baby in the cot. You should also use your hand to check whether the mattress is not too hot.
- Place The Feet In Bassinet First
Many babies feel they are falling when you place their head on a pillow first in the cot. This causes them to wake up due to the startle reflex. The best way to avoid this is by placing the feet first.
It is also best to ensure the baby is in a deep sleep before you transfer them to the bassinet. So always wait at least 15 minutes after your kid has slept and then shift them.
- Massage Your Baby
Putting your baby in a cot does not ensure they will fall asleep immediately. You can massage their feet or stroke their head to help them doze off easily. Dimming the lights in the room will also be helpful.
Another way to make your baby comfortable is to use gentle oils such as chamomile oil or lavender oil for massaging.
To Sum It Up
This was your complete guide to why your baby won’t sleep in a bassinet. You should start using a cot early to ensure your newborn adjust to it easily.
Maintaining the room’s environment will also help the baby feel calm and sleep more soundly. Using things such as tissue to stroke your kid’s forehead can help them fall asleep.
