9 weeks old and not napping!

[mamabrownbear]

Am I doing something wrong? Our DD is 9'weeks old and hardly ever takes naps during the day. She sleeps fine at night, waking for feeds etc. but during the day she is awake the whole time unless we go out and she'll sleep in her car seat or the carrier if I'm walking or moving but if I try to put her in the cot for a nap she stays awake until she eventually cries. I thought young babies liked to sleep??

Firstly you're not doing anything wrong! A lot of young babies like a lot of sleep, but not all like as much as HVs etc would lead you to believe, they really are all different. If your DD sleeps well at night then that is brilliant and if you're sure she will have a quick nap in the pushchair then plan to take her out for a short walk each day around the same time(s). This will then help to set a rough nap time and eventually it is likely you will be able to get her to do this in her cot. My DD was a terrible napper, slept well at night like yours, but i would spend hours trying to get her to nap in the day, really beat myself up over it and with hindsight i was being mental! Try not to worry, your DD is so tiny, they are all different and it takes time for them to get into any sort of routine so don't beat yourself up.

I'd say this is normal!! From our experience with both boys, 9/10 weeks was a peak for sleep being terrible, especially during the day. It got better until sleep regression around 4/5 months and then permanently improved after sleep training once they were fully on solids. That newborns sleep loads is a myth! Well, perhaps most sleep well just for the first few weeks.
Do persevere with the daytime naps though. My advice would be to feed and put them down in a dark, quiet room with soft toy/comforter/dummy/mobile after 90 mins of awake time, before they start showing signs of tiredness. They usually find it harder to sleep when overtired. At this age aim for at least 2 if not 3 daytime naps (between 7am and 7pm).
Hang in there it will get better eventually! x

My second child is 8 wks old & there is not any predictable routine so don't beat yourself up. Bear in mind though that after 1 hr & 15 mind of being awake (pretty much regardless of length of previous nap) baby will be tired again. Do all u can to wind them down & settle to sleep so that (hopefully) after hr & half of wake time they are asleep. I'm not saying this always works BUT they are definitely ready at that point & if it goes beyond, they are too tired to settle easily. I try first nap of the day to be a Moses basket one. I cuddle until sleepy, then put down before falling fast asleep. Usually he wakes so I try again. By second or third attempt it usually works if I'm within the hr & 15 timeframe. Try it but of course don't put pressure on yourself. For any remaining naps of the day we are out in pram or car or I cuddle but at least I'm trying to give the idea with that first nap and for my first child that paid off as you can build on that in the months to come. All children different too. Cliche but true.

I'd second your advice loulourw!