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Original poster

2 month old only napping when held

36 replies

Agut · 01/07/2025 17:34

Hi All,

Wonder if anyone has similar experiences or any advise. My 2 month old only naps either when held or on a walk in her buggy. Loving the contact naps but would love for her to have at least one good nap in her cot during the day. We live on the first floor and her buggy stays downstairs so can't really use it to rock her to sleep. She's generally really hard to put to sleep during the day (lots of rocking and swaying in the dark room with white noise) and sometimes skips naps and is dead tired afterwards which makes it even harder for her to fall asleep. I tried to put her away when drowsy but I think it's too early for that - she starts flailing and jerking and does not settle. She sleeps better at night. still wakes up three times but at least goes down easily and mainly stays in her side sleeper. I want to gently make her used to sleeping in it during the day but all my attempts are failing. Any tips are welcome!

OP posts:
Icanttakethisanymore · 01/07/2025 22:29

Neither of my children ever had a single nap in their cots. Zero 😂

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/07/2025 23:26

Agut · 01/07/2025 21:50

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne if I put her awake but drowsy she will just start flailing her arms and bringing them to her face trying to self soothe but it's very frantic. And kicking her legs, sort of like an exaggerated moro reflex. I try to settle her put my hand on her chest but even if she goes down it lasts only but few minutes and then she starts again. Same if I put her down asleep - she almost always will wake up very shortly. With exception for the nights when she gets it that she sleeps in the cot

Can you swaddle her with her arms in, nice and tight?

Original poster
Agut · 02/07/2025 04:55

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne Really want to swddle and planned to before she arrived but she hated it. She is very 'handsy'. From earliest on she'd be putting her hands to face, pressing gently on my breast when feeding or resting on them when in my arms. She does not like to be constricted in any way

OP posts:
Bogfrog · 02/07/2025 05:08

i found routine and a dummy equaled excellent cot naps for my two. Good luck.

Paaseitjes · 02/07/2025 07:51

Mine has just started to nap in his basket at about 3 months. Bouncing on the yoga ball helped to get past the crocodile eyes only mostly asleep stage so he can be put down. He didn't like the sling until we change to kangaroo tie. He hated koala because he couldn't get his arms out and his head wasn't supported enough without getting too warm. His pram is too warm for napping at the moment. Hopefully it will come with time!

CoffeeBreak8 · 02/07/2025 09:06

Agut · 01/07/2025 21:43

@CoffeeBreak8 @Groundhogday2025 @dragonfliesanddandelions Can you recommend any good slings/ carrier. I tried a traditional wrap but I think she felt a bit constricted in it and a chicco carrier - same problem (she doesn't know how to adjust to get herself comfortable plus it's a bit thick). Thought of buying Ergobaby embrace but it's so pricey..

We used Baby Bjorn as the first sling. Then moved onto Tula as they got heavier. Definitely get yourself to a sling library if you have one close by, health visitor should point you in the right direction.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 02/07/2025 10:47

Agut · 02/07/2025 04:55

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne Really want to swddle and planned to before she arrived but she hated it. She is very 'handsy'. From earliest on she'd be putting her hands to face, pressing gently on my breast when feeding or resting on them when in my arms. She does not like to be constricted in any way

You must be firm and just do it.

DiscoPig · 02/07/2025 10:53

Agut · 02/07/2025 04:55

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne Really want to swddle and planned to before she arrived but she hated it. She is very 'handsy'. From earliest on she'd be putting her hands to face, pressing gently on my breast when feeding or resting on them when in my arms. She does not like to be constricted in any way

It just doesn't suit some babies. DS broke free like Houdini from every swaddle.

I'd just go with the contact naps for now.

CommissarySushi · 02/07/2025 10:56

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 02/07/2025 10:47

You must be firm and just do it.

Show quote history

Why? Some babies just don't like to be swaddled. Mine didn't either.

Denimrules · 02/07/2025 10:57

At that age they don't really have a nap schedule so I recall a lot of naps were contact naps. I was taking DS out for walks a lot between feeds and he often slept in the pram. It was approaching Christmas and I don't think he was awake for any of the shopping trips I went on by foot.

FTMbg · 02/07/2025 11:50

i did similar to blanket idea above but on a pillow to enable handover to any other willing holders once asleep. Another option ( if you don’t have pets) is to cuddle them to sleep on a travel cot mattress on the floor then roll away once they’re sleeping.

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