First time dad here. My son is 4 weeks old and literally will not sleep unless I'm holding him. The second I try to put him down in the bassinet he's screaming. I'm exhausted but also my wife keeps telling me I'm creating bad habits. Is this normal? Should I be doing something different? Please tell me it gets better.
My son was the same way. Pro tip: try wearing him in a good carrier so at least your hands are free. Changed my life when I figured that out.
This is completely normal at 4 weeks. My oldest was the same way. The good news is it passes, usually around 8-12 weeks. Bad news is you're gonna be tired as hell. Try contact naps during the day so you can at least rest your body even if you can't sleep.
Have you tried swaddling him before you hold him? Might help him feel contained enough to sleep without being held. Also white noise machine changed everything for us.
Dude I feel this in my soul. My oldest was like this and I basically became a human mattress for three months. The good news is it does pass. Try shifts with your wife where one person takes him while the other sleeps - saved our sanity.
The 4 week newborn stage is brutal man. Mine did the exact same thing. Turns out he just needed to feel secure and hear my heartbeat. I basically wore him in a carrier or held him for like 2 months straight. Your arms are about to get ripped though, fair warning.
This is totally normal at 4 weeks. My boys did the exact same thing. It's called the fourth trimester for a reason - he basically wants to be back in the womb. You're not creating a bad habit, I promise. Try contact naps during the day and work on independent sleep at night if you can, but honestly some babies just need to be held and that's okay.
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Hang in there. This phase doesn't last forever even though it feels endless. Newborns are basically little cave creatures who want to be back in the womb. You're doing great just by showing up.