8 week old not napping well

[Secretlifeofme]

My 8 week old DD co-sleeps with me and sleeps exceptionally well at night, usually in one stretch of 5-6 hours and then another of 2-3 hours. Which is obviously great! But during the day, unless she is sleeping in my arms, she will only nap for about 20-40 mins at a time :( I have tried putting her down in the cot asleep and awake, swaddled and not swaddled, with and without white noise, in darkness and not. It seems the only time she will take a proper long nap of 1hour or more is in my arms. Any advice? I love her so much but I really want to be able to put her down sometimes - and more importantly, I'm worried she isn't getting enough sleep :(

My baby is like this (5months). Only time she naps for long periods is when out walking in the pram and in a sling.

The sling is a game changer. I can get all my jobs done and she naps really well. 👍

Thanks @LittleFoote. You're right, she also sleeps in the baby carrier and in the pram if it's moving. But she has to sleep in the cot sometimes, surely?!

@welshsoph thank you and sorry to be thick, but how do you mean 'he grew out of it'? Did you just keep trying and at 12 weeks he suddenly got it?

Also (sorry) she doesn't really have a routine yet. Well, the mornings are relatively consistent but as the day goes on she is more unpredictable. Should I worry?

I just go with what she wants. She likes being close or movement. If I've jobs to do she comes in the sling, she likes it as she can see what's I'm doing and has a viewpoint she wouldn't normally have.

Sometimes I bring the pram in from the car and rock her off to sleep.
If it's not raining we walk miles with her in the pram.
It will come, in time. I just think I will never have these days again and savour them. Housework and jobs will always be there, she won't ever want me like this tomorrow or the next day......

If shes happy and content during her awake time, shes fine and getting enough sleep. Unfortunately some babies dont nap for hours on end in the daytime but usually those that do, dont sleep so well at night (I know which I would prefer!)
Shes still very tiny and things will change 100 times in the next year. In the mean time, what wrong with having a sit and a cup of tea while the baby sleeps in your arms - those are my favourite memories of maternity leave.

@RhymingRabbit3 she is usually happy and content but gets very cranky in the evenings and I think it's because she is over tired :(

The 'not napping well' thing doesn't apply to your baby imo - read a bit into the 4th trimester. Baby wanting to nap only on you is natural. If this baby is your first, I say embrace it. PFB napped on me fairly regularly up to ten months.