If he really really won't nap should I go to an activity or just do "quiet time"

[MrsGplus1]

At 6 weeks we're just starting with EASY mainly because he really has never liked to nap during the day apart from once at lunchtime for 2 hours , so I hope this provides some structure. We get up at 7am and no matter what he really doesn't want to sleep til noon. Feeds heavily when first up but then happy to play indpendently and with me. Doesn't want to nap or feed for about 2 hours and then wants to feed then more activty. I'm being really hard on myself looking at cues but I swear he is rooting and not sucking his tongue or overtired. I'm trying to stick to the timings by just laying him in the moses basket and having quiet time - doesn't last long but hopfully he'll start to get the idea .... or is he just a "wakeful" baby. Any thoughts? Thanks

[brightside]

At 6 weeks, I would be almost certain he needs before noon. When DS was 6 weeks he could stay awake for about 1.5 hours and would then nap for 1.5 hours. It is VERY hard at first to get used to their signals and tiredness can easily be mistaken for hunger. I would perhaps try and put him down after 1.5 hours regardless to see if he will sleep. Prior to that I would have really quiet activities to reduced the risk of overstimulation. By the way, at 6 weeks, I was only just starting to put him down awake. Before that DS would often fall asleep in my arms and then I would put him down when he was asleep. Perhaps, if you are putting him down awake, he is crying because he doesn't want to be away from you, not that he isn't actually tired. Are you swaddling? It really helped my DS to feel more secure.

[SallyDom]

If your little one has his 1 nap at lunch time is he happy all morning and then all afternoon, and how does he sleep at night? Does it take him long to settle at bedtime? How often does he eat?

I'm being really hard on myself looking at cues but I swear he is rooting and not sucking his tongue or overtired.

With you saying this I wondered if he was snacking (i.e. eating little and often) or if he was lasting a good couple of hours between feeds (I'm sorry but my little boy is nearly 7 months so I really can't remember how often a 6 week old 'should' feed!)

I am a big believer in EASY and teaching my son to nap made us both so much happier but I also think that there are exceptions to every rule so if your baby is happy with just 1 nap then that's great but if not, then maybe post your eating and sleeping routine for us to look at.

Sally
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