Jo Tantum - any experience?

[beginnings]

I have a gorgeous 6 week old DD. Night time sleeping isn't too bad (bangs on every available wooden surface including own head) but getting her to settle during the day is a nightmare. We've kind of got into a pattern where she has a relatively short morning nap on me, a longer lunchtime nap out and about either in pram or car seat and a shorter nap on me on in the late afternoon. I would love to be able to get her to settle in her pram/basket at home but no joy. I've read Gina who doesn't tell me how to settle her, just that I have to and I swear the child will have a dent in her back from all the shush patting I've got going on a la baby whisperer - which gets her to sleep, I just can't put her down!

Has anyone used Jo Tantum? Is she any good?

Or does anyone have the answer?

I should stress that I'm not looking for a rigid routine necessarily, it's just that dd fights sleep like you wouldn't believe and I'm really keen to ensure she gets enough.

And in case anyone hadn't guessed, yes she's a PFB and an IVF baby to boot so I do recognise that I'm probably an over anxious obsessive......

Thanks TheJoyfulPuddleJumper that's helpful. The issue is that I think she does need the sleep...she slept for 6.5 hours in total on Friday during the day, we had two fairly long car journeys, and then was a dream on Friday evening - really relaxed and happy - and then slept from 9 until 2.45am - at which point she woke for a mammoth feed!

I think I just need to get more used to my backside being pinned to the couch!

The sling is sadly, so far, an unpopular choice. She seems to really like her own space - she loves her bouncer chair.

Thank you for the congratulations :) I do adore her. My only aim is that she be happy and settled and know that she is safe and loved. I'm a bit of a researcher and used to answers - everyone warned me babies don't come with them!

have you tried swaddling? its useful at this age, mine loved it and settled well with it when he was this tiny. if your nighttimes are already not too bad at 6w old then you should count your lucky stars! I know babies who were nightowls and slept all day.... it could be worse :) also one of those 'rocker' chairs, just a basic one, works well, mine used to sit in it and watch what we were up to and fall asleep if you were rocking it gently with your foot, I'd transfer him to cot when he was deep asleep then. This was particularly good when he was a teeny bit older than yours. Congratulations! enjoy your LO :)

my DC1 - fought sleep and always had his naps in buggy/pram - it was a pain - but we worked round it - your DD is very little yet at this stage do what works - and I agree nighttime sleep sounds fantastic!

Thanks brightonbleach. I do swaddle although now it's more half swaddling as DD doesn't like having her arms constrained. She also loves her bouncer and will occasionally fall asleep in it but will do better if held. I seemed to catch her at the right time this morning and she slept for 35 minutes in her pram.....until her father decided to drop a metal cup unto the tiled floor in the bathroom....

I know I'm lucky with the nights. She's only waking once for a feed. Bad news is she spends around 90 minutes doing it and settling back to sleep. Not great for me!

I have had Jo stay with us when my babe was four months old. PM me if you have any sPecific questions.

I would say though that 6 weeks is very tiny still and what you describe sounds normal to me....

PS re reading your post only othe thing I could offer is that at 6 weeks they still get tired soooo quickly - eg after an hour! Maybe she is not getting enough sleep and is overtired in the day?