Baby will ONLY sleep in cot

[angeltreats]

I swear to god this isn't a stealth boast.

My little girl is 5 months and has had all sorts of sleep problems. We've now got her into a decent routine and she sleeps 12 hours at night with one dreamfeed and a few grizzles, plus a couple of decent naps in the daytime. However she will only sleep in her cot, and occasionally in the pram. Generally she needs pitch black room, arms swaddled (as they still flap and upset her) and Ewan the sheep, as well as her dummy and favourite cuddly toy that she likes to bury her face into. Not the car seat (she screams in the car seat), not in a bouncy chair or swing, and certainly not on my/my husband/anyone else). It might not sound like a problem but it's extremely limiting because we can rarely leave the house for more than about 90 minutes. We saw a friend today and she was exhausted and got herself way overtired and now we're home (having had to leave because of her getting so tired) I'm trying to get her down for a catnap but she's fussing/on the verge of a meltdown because I've missed her window and she can't settle. We bring the dummy and cuddly toy and I've tried rocking, shushing, cuddling etc etc but nothing works and she just can't/won't drop off.

Anyone had similar and managed to train their child to sleep away from home?

[Pinkandwhite]

I had exactly the same issue. It is limiting. It gets easier because it won't be long before your lo can stay awake longer between naps meaning that you can be out for longer. My baby still prefers sleeping in her cot in the dark at eight months old but she can manage 3.5 hours between naps without getting upset and through trial & error, I also discovered she will nap in the sling (as long as I keep moving). I know you know this already but I did also keep on reminding myself of the benefits as well. I have plenty of friends who would love it if their babies would nap in their cots in the day. This stage will be over before you know it.

[neversleepagain]

My twins were exactly the same. I just had to go with it. They don't nap forever, so enjoy it!

[FATEdestiny]

've always worked to ensure my children prefer to sleep in their cot to elsewhere. That means wherever possible ensuring all naps are in the cot.

So therefore, given that my DD currently naps from 9.30-11.30 and then 1.00-3.00 - I am tired to the house for all of the school day aside from maybe an hour at lunchtime.

As PP said, naps don't last forever and soon enough you will have just one afternoon nap. You will learn to structure your day around it, saving housework or just watching TV to do at home in the afternoon during nap time.

[Littlef00t]

Have you tried a travel cot when you're visiting others? You could start by setting the cot up in another room of your house, limiting the light with a blanket over the curtain rail, and increase the light if possible.

Then at least you can bung it in the car if you need it and stay somewhere for the afternoon.

[nottheOP]

Can you put white noise on your phone, then put a snooze shade on the pram

www.snoozeshade.com/

dummy and all her other comforters.

We used to do one pram nap a day as it is really useful to have. DS did all other naps in his cot, never on me. He will still sleep in his pram now at 2.11!

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

Not quite same but my DS2 doesn't sleep in car or buggy. Screams in both. Only sling or on mummy will do. Good to know at least that he's not the only child who doesn't nap in the car or buggy...

[Happilymarried155]

My little boy is 12 weeks old and he is abit like this too, I know it's good that he sleeps well at home but I really don't want ti be stuck in the house all day!!! I'm persisting in putting him in the pushchair for short periods every day when he is tired and I'm hoping he will get used to it!

[Twinklestar2]

Same here but I think it's better that they sleep in the cot than not if that makes sense?

[Sansarya]

You don't know how lucky you are OP as my DS will sleep anywhere but his cot! Cue having to either stay on the bed with him after he goes to sleep or building a pillow fort around him so that he can't roll off. He's 14 months and has hated cots and cribs from day 1, so I'm actually a bit envious of you! As a PP said, have you tried using some sort of shade on the pram?

[angeltreats]

Haven't tried a travel cot but that's not a bad idea. The snoozeshade/huge black muslin on the pram is mostly useless, she won't sleep unless it's absolutely pitch black, and white noise on the phone is only any good when she's in her own cot.

It really has got to the stage where I'm thinking it's easier to stay in than deal with a screaming baby and have to always explain to everyone why she's kicking off and not strangle them when they say "if she was tired she'd sleep" but am feeling very lonely and isolated. It's horrible. And no I don't know how lucky I am PP because I don't feel very bloody lucky at all and am not sure which part of being stuck at home all the time I am supposed to enjoy. I have no family nearby and I can't go and visit any of them for this reason. Any journeys are a total nightmare.

[Pinkandwhite]

I've been where you are. My baby also hated the car seat and screamed when she was in it. I wanted to slap people who said 'I thought all babies liked the car' etc etc. what worked for me on that front was buying an upright car seat and then putting an iPad with a film on in front of her. Not ideal. I didn't want her to watch any TV at all but I was stuck at home for 12 weeks and it was very lonely. That didn't last either. By six months, she didn't need that anymore and she was happy in the car. None of these things last but they're so hard at the time.

[Heatherbell1978]

I'm in a similar position.....my NCT friends with babies that will only sleep in their arms think I haven't got an issue but it is quite limiting. DS1 (8 mths) will nap in his pram and car seat but grudgingly and certainly not for more than 30 mins. Then he doesn't like being in either when he's awake...... If I want a decent nap from him, it has to be at home in his cot. He loves his cot, he has Ewan there which he's obsessed about and he's learned to put his own dummy in too so he's happy as Larry. We're actually going on holiday next month and since he won't sleep in my arms, the flights are going to be interesting.....he's off to nursery in 2 months when I'm back to work so I'll just deal with it until then!

[violator]

I worked really hard to make sure mine slept in the cot!

In theory it's great to be able to go anywhere, anytime, and they'll nap in the pram etc.
But then you can have the problem where the baby will not sleep unless on the move. And that, trust me, is NO fun.

In reality, between October and March particularly, I wasn't going out much and needed a nap in a cot.

Your baby will start to drop naps and not need as many. Then it's a joy to pop them in the cot and cosy up with a cuppa and the telly, have a nap yourself get stuff done at home

[EssexGirlLottie]

I feel your pain OP. My DS is nearly 9 months and is the same. To begin with, I endured his screaming and having to rock him to sleep wherever I was, whilst my NCT friends just seem to sit there and have their babies fall asleep on them. After a while, it did seem easier to just be at home. I don't have any family locally and whilst this does feel isolating, it is getting better. He now naps 12.30-2pm and then is awake until bedtime so I find I can get a few hours out in the afternoon.
I thought I was the only one contemplating staying in...glad to hear I'm not.

Not wishing to hijack your post, but I'd be interested to know how the others found their little ones got on at nursery? My DS too has a Ewan the sheep but I presume he can't have it at nursery. I'm worried the different surroundings and potentially increased noise are going to be really hard for him.

Wishing you well angel