How long does your 6 week old go between naps?

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

I know 6 weeks still very little for real naps but I think am getting it all wrong with DS2. I can't read his sleepy cues so he's always overtired resulting in serious screaming meltdowns whenever I try to get h to sleep - feeding, rocking, in inh, buggy, car. He basically screams himself to sleep and I can often spend hours, literally, getting him to sleep. How long are 6week olds normally awake for before they need another sleep?

[Babybaby1982]

I think mine would wake for feed and nappy change and then need to sleep again. I ended up carrying him in a sling all day as it was the only way he slept in the day!

[Redling]

Mine was still virtually asleep all day but defo no more than an hour to feed, burp, have a change and a bit of interaction with us, then out again. But it was 6-8 weeks when it suddenly got harder to get him to sleep and like you I found it hard to get him to sleep before he'd get overtired. i had a few days at home getting to grips with it as I found if I was out and about with him I was making it worse. I then went by a loose wake, feed, change then play until he fell asleep, so the important needs were dealt with so I didn't have the horrific too tired to feed/too hungry to sleep moments where you're at a loss! From 9 weeks he could go about 90 mins to 2 hours, then again at 4 months he's much more awake in the day.

[fatterface]

About an hour, sometimes less.

[Gennz]

Hi OP

My DS is 4 weeks so I don't know if it changes a lot between 4 - 6 weeks. I pretty much operate by a rule of awake time of no more than 1 hour, or shorter if I catch a tired sign (e.g. a yawn - I'm not that great at recognising the others). Sometimes I'm putting him back down after 45 minutes, so really no more than a feed, change, cuddle & he's back down for a nap again. That said, sometimes he'll yawn, I'll put him down and he'll lie in his buggy or moses basket for a good half hour before he eventually goes to sleep. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty and wonder whether I should be hanging out with him or whether I've put him down too early but he seems happy enough just chilling in his bed and I think if I kept him up he's get overstimulated/over tired. It's so tricky isn't it!

[Gennz]

Oh I must say I've also been a virtual hermit since he was born! Apart from strolling to the shops/park/cafe with the buggy I've only left the house with him (that is, further afield in the car) on a couple of occasions, so my days have really revolved round feeding him & his nap cycles! I do have bouts of cabin fever but anything more just felt a bit too hard! He's my first so obviously it's a bit of a luxury that you wouldn;t have with subsequent kids.

[Annarose2014]

During the day, I tend to start watching for yawns about half an hour/45 mins after the end of a feed. Then I try to rock him in my arms and do a rhythmic shushing. It can take a while and get a bit boring, but if he's quiet in my arms with a relaxed body I know its working so I just persevere.

You have to basically make naps as much a priority as feeds.

He sleeps far more than he's awake, the challenging part is that at this age they typically want to sleep on you.

[Bellyrub1980]

My 6 week old doesn't sleep for more than 10 mins in the day, and that will only be a few times if we're home all day.

Pram or car will induce sleeping in the day for about an hour max

(The upside is that she sleeps 6-8 hours a night but I'm poised for this to change)

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

Bellyrub is she happy with this schedule? Or is she tired and grumpy? My problem is that DS2 basically gets more and more overtired as he resists naps because he's too busy looking around and getting distracted, so he ends up screaming and screaming until he just crashes out. I know that if I knew when he was ready for a nap I'd be able to get him to sleep more easily and without him gettin so upset. Feel like I'm not able to help him
DP pointed out that DS1 has woken from every nap and every morning crying. It's just how he wakes up. Maybe DS2 will cry BEFORE every nap and bedtime!!!

[Bellyrub1980]

Flip flop, Over the last few days I've been working harder to get my baby to sleep more in the day. I've been using the sling and the pram.

She really does seem to be a happier baby for sleeping more. She still sleeps for 6-8 hours a night (although it's very very active sleep) and I can't get her to sleep in the day without the sling or pram.... But hoping I get better at this with practice.