Baby won’t nap in crib

[Newmama29]

I had a previous thread about a month or so ago about my baby not napping in his crib during the day but fine overnight. I got some really supportive comments back then & suppose I’m back again for some support or advice if anyone has any.

My DS is now 14 weeks old & will nap in the car, the pram, his swing (sometimes) & on me. I am desperate for him to take naps in his crib when we are in the house during the day as him only napping on me is really wearing me down don’t get my wrong, I love a good cuddle with him & cherish them, but sometimes I just need an hour to myself! My house is a tip, I have washing’s up to my eyeballs & I know it’s not about getting the cleaning done but just having 30mins/1hour alone whilst he napped would be lovely! He’s such a good sleeper at night so I don’t understand why it’s such a problem during the day??

[Bettyboop82]

Mine won’t nap in the cot either but will in the pram... I take him for a little walk around the block then push the pram back into the house where he stays asleep for a good hour usually x

[Newmama29]

@Bettyboop82 thanks for replying! Unfortunately living in Scotland the rain has just been too horrendous to even go out! I normally go out in most weather but it’s been non stop pouring down ☹️

[BikeRunSki]

Have you tried putting a t shirt you have been wearing in the crib with him?it will smell of you and could help to settle him.

[Newmama29]

I haven’t @BikeRunSki, but that sounds like a great idea! I will try that one tomorrow to see if that works! I just don’t understand why he sleeps at night but just not during the day

[BikeRunSki]

Good luck @Newmama29. That tip was given to me by a vet who I met at a baby group (her son is a few weeks younger than mine, she wasn’t their in lieu of a health visitor!). It’s what farmers do for calves and other young animals if their mothers can’t look after them. (Straw, not t shirts).

I used to put the t shirt/top I’d been wearing during the day in bed with me, then put it in DS crib the next days.

[Newmama29]

@BikeRunSki it makes so much sense! We done it with our puppy so I don’t know why we wouldn’t try it with our baby! I’ll keep the T-shirt I wear to bed tonight to put in with him tomorrow! Thank you

[StrictlyAFemaleFemale]

Have you got a back garden? Pram in sight, gate locked, baby monitor. The scandanavian way.

[moonriver32]

Mine is exactly the same. 12 weeks old, will only nap on me (or in sling/pram if we're walking the dog). My house is also a complete tip, it's stressing me out... But he's so horrendous when he's overtired that I'm continuing the contact naps cos at least he gets sleep that way! He sleeps in his Snuzpod crib at night but like you say, won't in the day. He won't sleep in a swing chair or bouncer either. So I don't have any advice but feel your pain and am following the thread for any magical tips!

[Newmama29]

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale I couldn’t subject him to the cold, damp, wet Scottish weather unfortunately

@moonriver32 oh I feel your pain! At least we know it’s not something that’s wrong. Just trying to persevere but some days it’s so much harder than others!!

[NeurologicallySpeaking]

Mine still contact naps at 6 months ! She'll go in her crib for 25 mins and then wake up - hasn't learned to chain sleep cycles on her own.

I just pick her up after 25 mins and cuddle her for the remaining nap time. If I'm very lucky I can soothe her back to sleep without picking her up but that is less frequent.

[ASomers]

Same...4 month old that won't go down for naps. Sleeps well at night but will only sleep in the sling during the day if I keep moving. I can't even sit down! I just bounce around until she's asleep and then pace the living room whilst watching TV. It sounds normal from what I've read and most seem to say they eventually grow out of it so fingers crossed.

[Hollywhiskey]

Mine napped in sling and i learnt to do most house jobs with them in it. It's harder than without the sling on obviously but for me it was much easier than getting them to nap in the cot.

[DressingGown87]

My 8 week old is exactly she same, so your not alone. I could have wrote your OP. She will nap if we go out in the car, or sometimes pram on a long walk. But I want to be at home (sometimes at least) so I can cook, clean, have some me time. She’s a good night sleeper so I can’t complain.

[Newmama29]

Thanks everyone! Mines hates a sling or that would make things easier I’m hoping he’ll just slowly grow out of it, he takes short naps in the crib so that’s a start lol!

[Woohoowoowoo]

My eldest was the same. Never napped longer than half an hour without being held.

He had reflux and hated being laid flat. I put it down to that.

[Woohoowoowoo]

I kind of just accepted my house was a shit hole for a year. DH and I rotated holding baby/doing chores.

[Aria999]

DS1 was like this. He did eventually nap in the crib but for at least the first 7 or 8 months I mostly had to have him in the pram with a big muslin over it. It was better if out and about, but pushing it vigorously back and forth on the spot in the house could also work.

[sproutsnbacon]

Ahh

[sproutsnbacon]

I push mine out in the pram and leave in the garden regardless of what the weather is doing. She sleeps for a couple of hours which is great.

[NameChange30]

DD is also 14 weeks old and has been napping mainly in the pram and also on me or DH. We get the occasional catnap in the bouncer chair. I was taking her out for walks in the pram just to get her to have a decent nap. Now she is used to napping in the pram, we have recently started being able to put her in the pram and get her to fall asleep without leaving the house... if we time it right, and usually we have to push the pram back and forth a bit. Touch wood it continues as it's handy. No idea what I'm going to do when she outgrows the carrycot But she hasn't had a single daytime nap in her crib yet (a snuzpod).

[NameChange30]

Actually that's not quite true... I have managed to put her back in the Snuzpod for the first nap of the morning, so I can shower and get dressed in peace, but she doesn't sleep in there for long, it's only ever been a short nap.

[IamChipmunk]

My ds was a shit sleeper and never napped in his cot untl 12mo.
Have you tried his pram? We used to cover ds with a snooze shade and push pram up and down the hall to get him to sleep then park him in the dining room. He would hav a decent sleep doing this.