Will not take naps during the day in his bed

[twinsisters]

Hello, I have a 7 week old who does not still take very many naps during the day. The only way I can get him to take at least one nap is to rock him to sleep ( I know that's a prop). But when I try to put him in his bed during the day he will not stay asleep. He sleeps just fine in there during the night but during the day he will not sleep in there. Could he have some kind of phobia or what is going on? If I'm lucky sometimes I will get him to sleep in his swing, but even that isn't very long. I have tried the shush/pat method and sometimes it works and sometimes it don't. He will stay asleep as long as I am holding him which I can't continue to do. The minute I lay him down in the crib he may sleep for 10 min. and then start to cry so I go in and then it's harder for me to get him calmed down and almost asleep again. This process goes on all day long, so therefore he is exhausted and very fussy at the end of the day and it is very frustrating for me and exhausting as well. I really want him to be able to start learning how to go to sleep on his own. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate them very much!!

[KateD]

Hi There,  I have the same trouble with my 22 week old daughter.  Her twin brother is a dream and sleeps and naps very well.  I know there is a bit of an age difference with your LO, but  I sympathise greatly.  My husband thought Sophie was "afraid " of her cot, as you say a phobia, but i didn't agree as why would she sleep at night, most times?  I took some advice from the FAQ's board and made sure she was "wound down" before naps.  ie  Walk round garden/house, singing lullabies (now wonder we've had so much rain LOL), milk then bed/nap.  Then shush and pat as she drifts off.  Maximum 30 mins to settle.  I admit I have only done it for 3 days, but so far so good.  Today, her nap was almost 3 hours and she still went down tonight at 7.15 very well.  The FAQ boards are very helpful.

Good luck...

Kate 

P.S they both only usually have one longish nap and sometimes a little catnap (e.g. in car), they seem to survive on this, although it goes against what they "should" be having. 

[vbeck]

I have similar trouble, i can spend half the day in and out of his room trying to get him to sleep but then if i give in and bring him downstairs, he will fall alseep in my arms, ill lay him on the sofa and he sleeps fine, hoover on, telly on, nothing wakes him..... i think maybe he gets overtired so will only settle with a cuddle? Or if i put him in his pram, which he loves, and take him for a walk, he'll sleep for ages too! Ive tried taking him up once his asleep but he still dont sleep as long as if he was downstairs?

I know it takes time to for them to get used to it but i dont even get time to have a shower some mornings?? ill give the "wound down" time beofre naps a try!

xx

[anelame]

same thing  for my 4 months old. he will sleep 1.5 hours on me but only 30 minutes in the crib.
I know it is not the best solution but I would rather he sleeps well for now. I am trying to transition him to his crib for his naps but so far he will only stay asleep for 30 minutes.
any suggestions?

[Maureen Grady]

same thing here for my 9 week old. As soon as 8am hit's I never know what's going to happen. I can't get her to sleep in her crib/bassinet/pram at any point during the day.  As soon as I put her down for a nap eye's wide open the whole time no matter what I try.

[vbeck]

Ive just tried again and no joy.... i dont get it, last night i put him down, awake and with his soother, went back 10 mins later and he had fallen asleep, he had even spat soother out but this afternoon, as soon as soother falls out his crying! I know his tired cause he was fussy with bottle and well he can hardly keep his eyes open! I pick him up and he fell asleep, layed him down and for about 20mins he slept but then something wakes him up and he wont settle! Ive put him in his pram downstairs and he is fast asleep now!


 

[taygensmom]

ARe you swaddling him very well and tightly to give him those boundaries without being held? This often makes a difference...

[vbeck]

At night he doesnt need swaddling and even if i try he usually fights his way out of it and when he is really crying im worried that he gets too hot and bothered..... maybe ill try again with his naps tom, i suppose it make sense because he sleeps so well in his car seat, which clips onto his pram and its probably because his feels secure in there!!

Many Thanks

[taygensmom]

Many babies who appear to "fight" their swaddle aren't actually opposed to the swaddling. It's just when they get upset in general their little arms and legs start flailing. If you are concerned about him getting overheated you could just use a light blanket to swaddle and even just put him down in his onesie.

Other than that the only thing I would recommend is to really focus on puttling your LO down right before he falls asleep. I know right now he only sleep when you are holding/rocking him, but if you start to consistently put him down every time he looks like he is going to fall asleep, it typically will eventually work, even if you have to help him through it via shh/pat, etc... Shh/pat didn't work personally too well for me, but if my LO got very upset and I would pick him up till he was calm and then put him back down again before he fell asleep (usually recommended for an older baby but this is what worked for me). I just kept doing this until he fell asleep in his crib. The first few days are the toughest, but then it will get easier as he learnes to sleep in the crib for naps. I do think the swaddling will make a difference though, as most babies at 7 weeks need those boundaries to feel secure and sleep well, expecially for naps. HTH

[vbeck]

I will try tom and keep trying till he settles, i know it takes time!

Many Thanks for your help