Feeling trapped!

[SalsaP]

My LO is 12 weeks old, 8 weeks corrected, and is impossible to take out anywhere. He needs his daytime naps otherwise he gets very easily overtired which leads to terrible meltdowns. The problem is I cant get him to nap when we are out which means I cant go out. If I do take him out we both suffer for it later in the day when he has his meltdown which completely outweighs any enjoyment from being out. I really don't know what to do about this. I feel like a prisoner in my own home! Any suggestions or advice please?

Have you tried him in a sling?

Yes, unfortunately he's not a fan! Ironically he doesn't really like anything that makes him feel trapped such as a sling, swaddle etc. He tends to try and fight his way out. His most favoured position is lying down on the ground to have a wriggle and a kick. I've not tried the sling recently so will try again tomorrow but am not holding my breath!

Wow, do I ever know how you feel? It does get better. Honest. The sling idea is great as at least you can have your hands free. Go out for little trips out: the corner shop, the end of the road, baby massage classes. Take the bus, I found that a bit less stressful than the car. Is there anyone close to you who can come over and look after him for an hour just so you can see something other than the same 4 walls?
It does get better, hang in there.

What about snoozing in the pram?

Little trips out sounds like a good idea. I wouldnt dare take him to any sort of class though as he needs to be asleep no later than 1 to 1 & 1/2 hours after a feed. This is one of the reasons I feel so down about things. I met a lovely bunch of girls at my antenatal classes who all get together at various groups/classes. Anytime I have joined them I have then had to deal with a meltdown so I no longer go along. :( I don't have anyone nearby to help although my husband is very supportive so I go out alone when he is around. Makes me feel sad that I have to go alone rather than enjoy life with my little boy.

Nevercan - he entertains being in his pram for a short while but, like in a sling, he feels restricted so starts crying and trying to fight his way out. He really knows his own mind!

Argh u have my baby! He is also 12 weeks and fighs the sling and pushchair. Only really seems happy for short stints laying flat kicking about or for a few minutes in the bouncer chair sometimes. He gets very tired easily and has meltdowns as soon as he is remotely tired which is still usually every hour though he can only seem to nap for 40 minutes at a time so gets progressively more tired and grizzley as the day goes on. If it's any consolation DS1 was similarly miserable and hard to take anywhere yet he is a delightful happy sociable 4 year old now. I keep hanging on to that fact now as the first year was soooo soo hard with him and DS2 seems a similar character. It will get better.

Thats interesting rowanrowow. I hope thats the case although I hope it takes less than a year! My LO will have long naps in the day 2 hours each time usually but if any are missed or cut short then I'm in big trouble! This is why I cant take him anywhere. Out of interest, do you yake your out and about or do you tend to stay in where possible?

my dd would never sleep anywhere apart from her moses basket or cot, if we went out she stayed awake, so found getting up early getting myself ready, prior to dd waking, feeding bathing change then out for the morning which was less harrowing than afternoon trips, yes she protested but after a few week she got used to it and settled down when we were out, and yes i paid for it a few times but it does get better

When you feel he is ready fr a sleep and you are out and about can you excuse yourself and take home for a walk in the pushchair or sling? If you are using the pushchair, put the hood down, give him a blanket and cuddly, and walk until he drops off p. I used to have to jiggle the buggy a bit as I walked. Then rejoin your friends and enjoy the peace! Alternatively a well timed bus ride back would send mine off at the right time....

He will soon go longer and stretches awake though. Don't worry - its not a life sentence. I think by about 5 or 6 months mine could be awake all morning, go down for a lunchtime nap, and be ready to play agan in the afternoon! Maybe try and make the most of this time by catching up on rest yourself.

Apologies for typos ... Bedtime here.

I mean take him, not take home, obv

i had a similar problem. every outing had to be timed down to the minute, and there only might be one moment each day when there was the possibility to go outside with him without triggering a pukey meltdown. everyone else in my antenatal class was going out jogging with their babies for hours, they could just plop them under a gym to coo happily away, they'd visit each other, etc., whereas for me it was a gigantic victory to go out for five minutes and come back.

BUT now he's just over 4 months (3 corrected), and he's perfectly content going outside, visiting restaurants, ambling around in the park, and he'll even fall asleep in the pushchair if he's tired (although he still doesn't like slings). i don't know what it was, but something changed a couple of weeks ago. maybe just maturity? more sleep? bigger stomach? now i get comments about what a good baby he is when we're out..

so, it's really annoying to be stuck at home, but i think you're almost there! i believe there is some sort of rule that when you're so fed up with something that you feel like you can't bear it anymore and you finally make a post on MN, that's when the problem decides to disappear.

Littletomato you don't know how happy you have just made me! I do hope my situation turns out the same as yours! :)