Tips for getting my baby to nap in his cot

[Carolina24]

My baby sleeps brilliantly in his snuzpod at night, but during the day he will only nap in the sling or in the baby Bjorn. This was fine for a while, but he is now quite heavy and it’s taking a huge toll on my back to carry him for so many hours a day. I don’t know if it’s sustainable for much longer. I would love to get him to nap in the pram or in his cot, but he simply won’t - if you set him down asleep he wakes up instantly, and if you set him down awake he won’t fall asleep. He won’t sleep in the pram at all, even when it’s moving.

Very occasionally if he feeds to sleep lying on the pillow on my lap he will stay asleep for a while, but it’s usually a much shorter nap than he has in the sling.

He is 13 weeks so too young for any kind of sleep training.

Does anyone have any tips for helping a baby nap in a cot, or do I just need to accept that I’ll be carrying for a while (and maybe take up yoga for my back...)?

If your 13 week old is too heavy in the sling then it’s probably not the right sling for you or not on quite right. Join a sling Facebook group, post some pics of you wearing it and ask for their advice.

As for sleeping in a cot. I have two kids and I never worked that one out!

That’s a good idea, thanks. He’s fine to carry for a while, but the cumulative effect of hours and hours of carrying is causing me problems. Will definitely look into whether a different sling would help.

Do you put him in the cot when he's awake? I remember that was some advice that worked for me. I used to put mine in on a morning after breakfast, I'd be in the room with them, chatting to them, putting away laundry or whatever. They would lie in the cot and play with the cuddly toys, watch the mobile etc and then gradually quieten down and fall asleep. It got them used to the cot, rather than waking up in it and wondering where they were.

I think the pram is the better step to try as halfway point from sling to cot.
Make it super comfy with a liner and blanket. And take him out to walk or push him around room.

We had similar. Added sheepskin to pram and hood up, and he would then nap in pram out. And now in pram indoors. Still doesn’t nap in cot, but frees me up to actually get a few things done whilst he naps. Also bought comforter toy, the cordy toy range from jellycat ( we have x4 now!). He won’t take a dummy, but likes to suck an arm of teddy to nap now

Have you got a bouncy chair? Mine used to like sleeping in that at that age.

With the Baby Bjorn you can remove the back of it and place them laying on a cat on top of the back of the carrier, is that what you're doing? As we had more success with that than just taking them out to out to put them down.

Otherwise I think the focus is better placed on trying to get them to fall asleep in the place that you want them to sleep rather than transferring - much easier said than done at 13 weeks I understand, but the waking upon transfer occurred for us say 50 per cent of the time and always did, in fact it got worse as she got older. I used to do most of her naps just on me and sit under her or roll her into the sofa so at least my hands were free, or in the pram. It's bloody tough though at this age do they have a dummy? As that really helped our DD.

Mine wouldn’t until she moved to her own room and started napping in her cot about 7 months and I had to sleep train her for it 😩 slept at night fine though which was odd!

I just let her nap on me on the sofa until then. Looking back I’m glad I had the cuddles and rest but at the time I thought I’d tear my hair out! I just wanted a cup of tea and a wee!

We used to put a hot water bottle in her cot to make sure the sheets were warm and removing it before putting her down. Make sure it isn't too hot though.

We’ve been gentle encouraging our 16 week old into his cot for naps. Basically picked one nap a day (the first nap as it’s easiest, rarely the last nap as it’s hardest) and tried to consistently get him into his cot. Other naps can be lap, sling etc so he doesn’t get overtired.

We found pick up and put down most effective if he cried. If he gets upset, I cuddle him but if I hold him too long, he gets really upset when I put him down again. I’ve found he’s better if I put him back quickly after he’s calm, even if I have to pick him up again shortly after. Depends on personality but it works for him. Try and put him down sleep and all he’ll breaks loose. He needs to know where he’s falling asleep. He would wake after 30 mins but he’s starting to link his cycles in the cot now too.

Also, and this is a personal thing, I judge his cries and give him a chance to settle himself. If he’s grizzling and winding down, I don’t interrupt him. Occasionally he angry protest cries but as long as there’s breaks and he’s not escalating, again I monitor him. If he starts crying and it gets intense and high pitched, I go straight to him. It’s very obvious when he needs comfort and when he needs a bit of space. It’s not a completely no cry solution but I definitely don’t leave him if he’s getting upset. I do think babies need a little room to work out how to settle. Thirteen weeks is a bit young, but from 4 months onwards I think it’s ok to give them a bit of space instead of jumping at every squeak. And to reiterate, before I get jumped on, this is a personal choice and I do NOT leave him to cry if upset and escalating, only if I think he’s settling.