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Parenting

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Original poster

Baby won't sleep during the day!

19 replies

kittencuddles · 09/08/2013 16:27

My 9 week old DD is pretty good at night time and sleeps for long periods.

During the day I can only get her to sleep with constant shushing and walking. She'll fall asleep for two mins then wake up again screaming!

She ends up being really grizzly as she's not sleeping.

I'm slowly going insane! PLEASE HELP!

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/08/2013 16:32

Will she sleep in a sling or if you take her out for a walk? Its pretty normal for them to not want to be apart from you at this age and to find sleeping in a cot or Moses basket difficult.

How about holding her for about 20 minutes before you put her down so that she's really deeply asleep.

Other things to try are going to bed with her for a nap or to put a tshirt that DH has worn into the Moses basket. One of yours doesn't usually work.

HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm · 09/08/2013 16:35

Get a sling. Seriously, do it today, but get a good one. DD is 15 weeks and still naps in her sling, she'll stay asleep up to 3 hours in it. Wakes every 5-10 mins if I try to put her down, though it's getting better now.

Or try white noise - stick the Hoover on or the hair dryer and if it works get an app/cd/Ewan the sheep.

Sleep deprivation is a killer but dealing with a screaming baby all day is hard too.

purrpurr · 09/08/2013 16:40

Where does she sleep at nighttime and where do you hope she will sleep during the day? Once we got nighttime sorted at 2 weeks, daytime was fine - actually daytime was fine first because I think our DD felt more secure in the day. She slept in her Moses basket, either with a cuddle beforehand, or swaying and shhing and patting her back rhythmically, or on rare occasions using a dummy. Sometimes she would want almost like a snack of milk just to tip her over into sleep. How are you able to get any rest, time to yourself or prepare meals/do laundry etc if your baby won't sleep? Doesn't sound easy :(

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purrpurr · 09/08/2013 16:45

Oh also, it took me a while to figure out how long my DD could do being awake for before she started to go into overtired territory, at 9 weeks that was roughly 1.5 hours, so when she woke up I would look at the clock, then an hour later I would be keeping an eye out for sleepy cues - rubbing eyes, yawning, chewing hand, one big sign I read as a big clue for tiredness is when your baby won't keep eye contact with you, and their eyelids may be pinker than normal, eyes a bit shiny/wet looking. Then it was just a case of catching her before she was tired for very long and starting to settle her then. It seems to take twice as long to settle her if she is overtired because its gone too far, she's fractious as well as tired. What do you look for with yours?

Original poster

kittencuddles · 09/08/2013 16:45

At night she sleeps on her crib in our room., she's too big for her Moses basket.

Usually the 20 mins on me first works. She won't go to sleep if we're out for a walk in the pram.

I think I'm finding it harder than usual today asDH is on nights so I'm trying to stay quiet too.

What sling would you suggest?

Ewan works at night but not during the day!!

OP posts:

Original poster

kittencuddles · 09/08/2013 16:47

She starts pulling her hair and sucking her fingers when she gets tired so I know the signs. Just gets to bring overtired.

OP posts:

bigkidsdidit · 09/08/2013 16:48

Mine will only sleep in the sling during je day. I put him in it either when he looks tired or when he's een awake two hours (he is 7 weeks). I have a close baby carrier and love it. In emergencies I do sling plus dummy plus extractor fan on. He can't resist that!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/08/2013 16:52

I loved the close too. Dd dint like to be out down but the close meant I could get her to sleep and do all of the stuff like keeping up with DS, preschool run and cooking.

It must be hard if she won't sleep in the pram. How about the car?

Original poster

kittencuddles · 09/08/2013 17:02

The car usually works and she'll then sleep for a little while after.

She used to be a fab little sleeper and slept anywhere and everywhere. It seems that as she's becoming more aware of her surroundings she only wants to sleep on us.

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/08/2013 17:22

Sounds about normal

Original poster

kittencuddles · 09/08/2013 17:27

Good! She's my PFB and keep reading about getting them into good sleep habits. I think I have to just go with my instincts and cuddle!

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/08/2013 17:33

You'll get good sleep habits by responding to her needs. Just ignore anyone who tells you otherwise

Have a read of this

Original poster

kittencuddles · 09/08/2013 19:38

Thank you. Going to get a sling tomorrow and leap on her at the first signs of tiredness.

When she's not overtired she's a really happy little thing, smiley, giggling and gorgeous.

I think partly she was so good for the first 6 weeks that I was lulled into a false sense of security.

OP posts:

dizzy77 · 09/08/2013 20:12

We have similar with 9wo DS2. I've struggled with the sling and haring round after ds1 (will be easier when ds2 can support his head which I hope is quite soon!).

I re-read the newborn chapters of Pantley's no cry nap solution and am now working on sensory deprivation + white noise for daytime naps: this is a load of muslins pegged round the pushchair with the sunshade down. I downloaded a free white noise app which he likes and have just bought a £20 giraffe which does the same job but I have my phone back! It's day 3 and things are better but he still needs a lot of rocking in the pram.

galwaygirl · 09/08/2013 20:18

Just to agree with everyone else on the sling! DS is 8.5 weeks and going through a stage of not wanting to be put down. I honestly have no idea how much he sleeps during the day as I just pop him in a sling when he starts giving out and he will snooze on and off until next bottle while I'm busy with his sister or housework etc.
I've a BabyBjorn and a MobyWrap. Baby wearers are anti the Björn but I find it handy as it is so quick to put him in and feels really secure when out and about. I really like the Moby Wrap but find I'm very hot with it at the moment as is he.

galwaygirl · 09/08/2013 20:20

Meant to also say I feel my back starting to strain with the Björn so I'd buy a Moby wrap if I were you

HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm · 09/08/2013 20:26

As far as slings go please avoid a crotch dangler, baby bjorns are like this, and avoid outward facing front carry as this isn't good for their spine. I have a Beco, which has been great for both my dc and have just got a Manduca which also seems great. Had a Moby, but tying is a bit of a faff, it's v hot and I stopped using it after 3/4 months with dc1, did find it comfortable though.

Most of the slings worth having cant be found on the high street.

MJP1 · 09/08/2013 22:04

Hi I half expect to get shot down for this reply
But for us ( me, my partner and my baby) putting her upstairs in her cot for naps, with the monitor on and the radio playing worked brilliantly for her then at 9 weeks and still does now at 6 months.
She was so alert she would not relax and snooze, it took us a while to realise that she needed her own space to sleep. It does mean that She will never sleep snuggled on me or her daddy (which I do miss) but she has her own sleep routine of bunny rabbit to cuddle, the drone of the hair dryer on the monitor and radio 2 humming along all in the comfort of her nursery. It works and she sleeps wonderfully at nap time and at bedtime.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/08/2013 23:05

MJP why would you get flamed? If it works for you that is brilliant. All babies are different though so its good to have different ideas to try in the hope that one might just work and really low expectations

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