Feeling like I do everything wrong

[willowsmyname]

I've got a 7 week old and am constantly feeling like I'm doing everything wrong with her. I've become obsessed with putting her in a routine but I can't seem to make it work. Every morning I vow that today will be different but then every day, I do something that screws it up. I can't get her to sleep in her moses basket in the day and spend hours trying to get her to drift off only for her to wake up 10 mins later screaming. She's overtired and won't sleep unless I carry her round. I was determined that she would sleep in the day in her basket and not have a dummy, both of which I've completely failed to enforce.

I feel like a complete failure and that I can't make anything work. I've been trawling internet sites, and it seems like everyone else can make a routine work - why can't I? I'm tired and overwrought and feel like I'm a crap parent. It's not meant to be this hard is it?

[HandMini]

Keep going. Suddenly one day you will have managed to wash your hair, eat something other than toast and the baby will nap for an appropriate time in an appropriate location. You will feel like the Queen of all Mothers. Things will get progressively easier from there.

[tomatoplantproject]

Throw the books away and chill. Seriously. Dd is brilliant but the only routine we have always has is waking up time and more recently bedtime. Dd is nearly 9mo. She has never slept in her crib/cot during the day but naps either cuddled into me or out and about in her buggy. If she is being a tired nightmare we go for a walk and that sorts her out.

Just do what feels right and try not to make the reality live up to what you thought it would be - babies don't really like reading text books!!

[iamfizzy]

best advice I can give is to relax. If you feel soothed, baby will too. I remember my lo being like you describe, only seeming to sleep for ten minutes at a time. It does get better, I promise. She is 15 weeks now and there is still no rhyme or reason to her patterns. But she is a happy little soul and I would credit that with me just being chilled around her, and letting her lead me. The only thing that is a constant is the big fat pooey nappy fill she does at the same time every day (weather she is asleep or awake!). Just go with the flow, and you will slowly see her routine emerge. Kick back and keep going.