why does my baby find it so hard to go to sleep?

[ismaeelsmummy]

Hi..

I was just wondering if there is a way I can get my baby to sleep easier. He always fights his naps not just when hes overtired but at all times. Even when hes tired he won't want to go to sleep so I just presume that hes not tired and then he gets over tired. Then it takes ages to get him to sleep and even then he only sleeps 40mins.
I am wanting my lo to eventually fall asleep on his own.

My baby is 17 weeks old and I would really like tips and guidance on how to help him sleep.


Thanx

[*Ali*]

Sometimes it may be that you are missing the ideal sleep window and putting him down too early or too late. What is your EASY?
Do you have a consistent wind down routine? There are some great ideas here What does a good wind down consist of (Includes 4S ritual)

[ismaeelsmummy]

Thanks for the reply. .

Well the main problem is that I am finding it really hard to read his cues. He is a touchy baby and goes from happy to sad very quickly. His a time is always really short as for his age he should be having an a time of at least 1.45-2.10 but he manages an hour and starts to feel grumpy and whinging.  Our easy is all over the place at the moment and it is more like sase as he is only sleeping for 40mins.

I am still trying to work out his a times as that is pretty much key to the rest of the routine..

I usually dont do a wind down as I never know what time to begin as like I said I cant read his cues. I am having a really hard time dealing with him as im beginning to feel like such a failure!

[*Ali*]

You are not a failure! I'm sure we have all felt we don't know what our LOs want at one time or another.
A wind down helps to set the scene and transition baby from activity to sleep time. If he is playing one minute and then put in bed the next he may just be a little take aback. A wind down may also help you get a longer A time out of him if much of the last part of the A time is spent winding down and is low key. I would try it.
If he is only doing short naps then he will struggle to manage the full A time after it.

What is his night sleep like?

Have you tried wake to sleep for the short naps?