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Original poster

Will I always need to use the sling for naps??

14 replies

YellowSlipper · 13/03/2020 13:14

Just looking for experiences and reassurance. I have a four week old baby. We are getting on pretty well Smile

However...there are some days where she will just not be put down for a nap, no matter what I do. On these days I have to resort to one of those stretchy wrap slings. This always works to send her to sleep, without fail.

Thing is, I would really prefer her to sleep in her cot/pram so I can get on with other things and maybe even nap myself. I read a bit online and some people seem to say that after 12ish weeks it becomes much easier to get them to sleep on their own without needing to resort to a sling. But also some people say that their children ALWAYS napped in the sling until they were toddlers!!

Please reassure me that this is just something I need to do to get through the newborn stage and won't be forever??

Also, once she's asleep in the sling is there any way to transfer her out without her waking up...?

OP posts:
Original poster
YellowSlipper · 13/03/2020 13:55

Anyone? I know it's not linked to coronavirus but even so... Grin

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 13/03/2020 14:00

Well, I don't know how much reassurance I can be as my 7 month old DS still naps in his bouncy chair or pram and very occasionally on me. I'm not sure I've ever been able to put him down for a nap. That said, babies change all the time and you don't see 18 year olds still napping in a sling/bouncy chair so it can't last forever. Right?

Original poster
YellowSlipper · 13/03/2020 14:17

Pram or bouncy chair would be ok!

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SugarPieHoneyBunch1 · 13/03/2020 14:21

I'm the same as @mynameiscalypso. I can't put DS down for a nap and walk away. Well I can, but not for a prolonged period of time. He wakes often needing a cuddle or to resettle on me, even through the night.

What I'll say though, is that you adapt. The thing that really helped us was when DS was big enough for a jumperoo. I could put him in that and get laundry done, do some cleaning, cook some food etc.

In terms of napping when he naps, I took advice on how to safely co-sleep which helped me, because otherwise I'd still not be sleeping now!

severalboxes · 13/03/2020 14:26

Mmn, have you tried just getting on with things while she's in the sling? She probably won't wake up! I've done all sorts with DS in sling, I even made a whole pie once! He'd wake if I put my arms up high though, so no putting a wash out...

Do you breastfeed? Feeding to sleep on your side in bed (with safe sleeping duvet away, unable to fall out etc) can work, you can drop off next to the baby.

You won't do it forever. And she won't nap so much forever. She'll go down to three then two then one then NO NAPs, which is a serious thing when it comes!

You might be able to get her to sleep in a pram outdoors then bring her back asleep and she stays asleep. Re cots - who knows. I've got a 10mo who won't nap in his cot! Four weeks is still super tiny.

What I would say is that with the first baby you can overestimate how much entertainment they need when awake. If you put her near you while you get on with things, she might just enjoy watching you.

Bienentrinkwasser · 13/03/2020 14:33

My 18 month old has only started napping in his cot in the day in the last month or so. However, he’s been napping in his pushchair for about a year now. We used to have to rock him but you can now just strap him in and leave him and he’ll go to sleep! It is doable!

okiedokieme · 13/03/2020 14:40

I can assure you that it doesn't go on forever. My adult children nap fine on their own Grin. Seriously by the toddler years we snuggled on the sofa and then they grow out of naps. Enjoy it while they are young, before you know it they are leaving home (and begging to be fetched from university due to the damn virus)

MinnieMountain · 13/03/2020 14:44

We had a Babybjorn. Once DS was asleep, we would very very carefully lie him down on his flat pushchair, unclip his bit, then slowly inch away. It worked 90% of the time.

MinnieMountain · 13/03/2020 14:47

By around the 8 month mark he would reliably fall asleep being pushed round the block in his pram.

inwood · 13/03/2020 14:49

Dts only ever napped in the buggy until they were 14mo and it had to be moving. At all times.

I think some of them are just built like that.

Original poster
YellowSlipper · 13/03/2020 17:29

Hmmm ok...seems a bit mixed then! We did manage to achieve a pram nap earlier after a few walks around the block, but it seems a bit hit and miss.

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uhohmog · 13/03/2020 17:36

Dd only slept on me until 4 months, then I finally got her in her cot.
There was interim stage where I could get her to fall asleep in pram and I had a little gadget that strapped onto the pram and kept it wobbling.

SnuggyBuggy · 13/03/2020 17:39

There is always the option of learning to back carry when baby is sitting.

Original poster
YellowSlipper · 14/03/2020 09:49

@uhohmog ah I think I've seen those but they look quite expensive (£40 if I'm looking at the right thing). Did it work reliably? If so I'm quite tempted...

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