Chicken in a Basket

Oliver, who we are sometimes guilty of calling "Little Chicken" (because of his chicken legs when he was born), is getting too big for his Moses Basket. He can be heard banging his arms against the side in the night and he can't extend his arms out to the side without his elbows hitting the sides of the basket. The health visitor mentioned that some babies like to be in a small space as it is comforting, but given that he often lies on the floor/changing mat/sofa/cot with his arms out to the side, I think he may be starting to feel a bit cramped.

More importantly, I'm wondering whether it is disrupting his sleep, as he sleeps less well after his first feed and seems to bang the sides more. Maybe I am panicing, but I wouldn't like him to be sleep-deprived and have it effect his growth in any way. Not to mention that it might make him grumpy! Actually, the last few mornings he has woken up a bit grouchy and needed more cuddles from Hayley before she can lay him on the changing mat. I wonder if this is anthing to do with it....?

Last night he slept for over 6 hours (9.15pm - 3.30am). Fantastic stuff! He made a few noises before that but we have learned to leave him now until he is definitely waking. A couple of times recently we have got up, made his bottle, then come back to find him fast asleep.

One of the causes of his restlessness in the night, particularly in the hour or so before he wakes and greets the day, appears to be wind. Not trapped wind in his chest, but breaking wind out of his bottom! Given that the health visitor re-assured us that it's nothing to worry about, it's quite funny some mornings to lie there as the room starts to get light listening to him making quiet grunting noises before a loud rasp of wind is emitted! He is so loud that I have sometimes wrongly blamed it on Hayley!

This weekend we have decided to try putting him into his cot at night. We'll probably put him in his basket inside the cot at first, but given his size I'd like to try putting him into his bed pretty soon. I dare say we may have to sleep in his room the first time we do this. He is SO good at going to sleep at night and I think it is partly because he knows we are there with him. Last night he was wide awake when we came to put him to bed, having spent most of the evening asleep after his massage. Despite this he still soothed himself to sleep (sucking his hands) in very little time. If we can manage to move him to his "big bed" without disrupting this it will be marvellous.