7wk not napping and getting very overtired-help

[avasmom1]

I have a seven week old and she is not wanting to nap. The nights are great. She sleeps from about 9:30 until sometime between 3:30 and 5:00, feeds and goes back to sleep until around 7:00 feeds again and sleeps until about 9:00. Around 11:30 she will begin to show signs of becoming tired and when I try and put her down she only rests for about a 20 mins and then wakes herself up. We feed and play and when I see her begn to show signs of needing to rest I try and put her down but she just doesn't want to sleep and the day gets out of control because she gets so overtired. The only time she seems to relax and fall asleep is when she is nursing. For the 12 daytime hours she is probably only sleeping about 2-2 1/2 hours all day. New mom and I really don't know how to get her to sleep, and the crying when she is overtired is heart breaking and frustrating. Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Mom to M&M]

Hi there. The problem is that your DD is sleeping so well at night and in the early morning that she's packing in so much sleep there and fighting sleep in the afternoon.

Instead of putting her right back to sleep after that 7am feed, I'd suggest keeping her up for 45 minutes and seeing if she will then nap from 7:45/8 until 10 (next feed). Basically, at her age, you do want her on a 3 hour EASY - eating approx every three hours and probably have about 45 minutes A time, at most an hour, at her age.

[avasmom1]

Thank you for the suggestion, I will try it tomorrow! Do you think this will help get the afternoon's on track as well?

The other thing I am concerned about is if we get napping at home to become part of her routine how will I be able to get her to nap if we are out and about? Right now I travel long distances in the vehicle and she sleeps great in her car seat, but if we are out in the daytime, even in her stroller she is so interested in whats going on around her, she won't sleep.
I keep her covered to try and keep her from seeing everything once I see signs of her getting tired, but she will fuss until you uncover her and then she cries because she should be sleeping.

[Mom to M&M]

Yes I definitely think if you are consistent with this it should help the afternoons get back on track. It won't happen the first day, but I think it will happen.

There's not much you can do about that. Many babies, especially as they get older, are too interested in their surroundings to sleep well in their strollers. My own DD will only catnap in her stroller and only if she's really tired. Try to be home when possible for naps - as your DD gets older her A times will get longer, allowing you to get out and about more!

[Grace's Mom]

I would also suggest that if you lo wakes up after only 20 minutes to try and put her back to sleep.  Sometimes they wake because they can't put themselves back to sleep. She might just need a little help from Mommy. 

-Melissa