Feel like I’m going wrong with young baby

[Daywithababy]

My ds is 3 months and since he was just a couple of weeks old we’ve struggled with daytime sleep.

It used to be I could get him to sleep on the sling. But now that’s stopped working.

He will nap for a maximum of maybe 30 minutes, occasionally a bit longer in the morning if he is very tired / has got up early but rare it’s longer than 30 minutes. 20 minutes is more normal I’d say. And his naps generally don’t total more than a couple of hours in the day.

I struggle with things to do with him and when I asked advice I was told just to watch Netflix.

There is no way I could ever do this! He doesn’t want to be put down for any length of time but in my arms he squirms and writhes and struggles

Have I just got a particularly active baby? Or is something wrong?

Can he hold toys? Lie under a baby gym?

Well yes but not for long.

He doesn't have to sleep on the sling: the great thing about them is you can.mostly do whatever you would normally be doing.

Do you like gardening/walking/have hobbies you could do with baby in tow? Is there something you'd like to try that you could do with baby? You might be surprised at the things you can do

Well yeah but he doesn’t really like being in it now - tries to escape! So even just going for walks with it are difficult.

They change so much - mines nearly 5mo and the difference in the last 4-6 weeks in terms of what she can do, her interest and her attention is huge.

We do normal day to day stuff (as best you can in a pandemic) so we go to the supermarket, I do housework while she sits in her bouncy chair or on the floor/bed and chat to her. We'll usually go for a walk or two. Any friends or family for a support bubble? I usually visit my mum once a week for a few hours so she entertains the kids while I drink tea! In terms of activities, we'll look at toys, look at books, play with shakers, I'll sing some action songs for her, lots of floor and tummy time (which she actually likes!). We've been doing baby yoga online once a week so that's been nice and I've got classes booked for later this month.

I've got an older one too so tbh the days I'm juggling both of them she gets largely ignored and just has to come along for the ride!

The great thing is that you don’t actually have to be ~doing ~ that much with him. If he’ll go in a bouncer, on a play mat, in a sling - you can crack on with what you want to be doing around him. Have you tried projectors that will light up the ceiling and keep his interest that way?

You might want to try a different sling to see if that helps. I changed sling at 2 months and then again at 6 months (hired from sling library) because she started to be uncomfortable in the one I had. I started with a semi-structured one and ended up with a connecta, which is easier for them to see out of.
I did have to keep moving though - my baby was fractious when she was small and preferred constant motion.
Other than that, the supermarket was a big hit at that age!

I don’t think a 3 month old baby will just sit on your lap and watch tv. My baby is 10 months and still
wouldn’t want to do that. At that age I just did walks, baby gym, buzzy chair. Even now he is not that interested in tv which I’m quite pleased about!
Mainly walks though which I know you are saying you are struggling with because of sling. What about the buggy/pram?

The other he loved at that age was singing.

OP I was on your other thread- what do you want to hear? Put your baby in a bouncy chair- not for hours obviously, take him out and put on the play mat, some tummy time. He may not be a great napper today, but babies naps change constantly. Do you think he’s in pain when he writhers etc?

Mine would never sit and watch tv in peace. He’s almost a year now and I’m still waiting for all this free time to just sit and watch Netflix!

Usually at 3 months, and the same now at 11months I do at least two walks a day. One with pram and one with sling. He usually sleeps at least one of these. Otherwise in pram and walk around and around the house or garden. Eventually falls asleep 90% of the time and I can get some chores done.

At 3 months mine sometimes napped 3 times, sometimes 4, sometimes 5 times per day. Bouncer worked too at 3 months.

Mine was like this, I think it's just how some babies are. Definitely try a few slings. Game changer for us was having her facing outwards from 3/4 months - earlier than meant to be but she was comfortable and could breathe and it meant I could do stuff around the house with her in the sling. A jungle gym helped, oh and a jumperoo was the best thing ever at the end of the day when I was just exhausted and waiting for husband to take over!

Mainly what we did - and still do - is get out the house though. Baby will be entertained by looking at stuff and if you can go for a walk with someone so you are entertained too then I think that's about as good as it gets at the moment.

Can you not see the title only? Sorry if that sounds rude but it’s fairly clear!

Some of you have reassured me, thank you! When everyone says you just have to sit and watch Netflix and you know that will literally never happen it’s easy to worry!

@Daywithababy

Can you not see the title only? Sorry if that sounds rude but it’s fairly clear!

Some of you have reassured me, thank you! When everyone says you just have to sit and watch Netflix and you know that will literally never happen it’s easy to worry!

Of course, my point is not to offend you, my point is pls don’t worry. You aren’t doing anything wrong, all babies are diff and patterns and naps change constantly. Both my babies hated the baby chair the first dozen times they were put in them; sadly they have little choice but to get used to it (especially my second whos 5 months old), because I have house stuff and an older child. We tend to put so much focus on naps and what we should be doing with our first it can consume us. At this stage your baby will be clingy but doesn’t require any more stimulation than you’ve provided.

I did watch tv when he was feeding a lot - is that what you mean?
But no I do not get to sit and watch tv generally other than it being on in background sometimes.

Will your baby sleep in the pram?

Oh sweetie I could’ve written this post! DS used to sleep for up to 3 hours in the sling,
And now he hates it 😂 ditto the pram! He will only sleep in my arms for once cycle only (45 mins). And even though he wants to be comforted, he seems to hate lying in my arms when he’s awake and cries to be put down! We’ve obviously got some independent babies! 3-4 months is a shit time for sleep, it will get better! I’ve just had to accept that his naps are gonna be crap for a bit and just look forward to the day they get better again😅

Hi, my son is 12 weeks old and he’s very moany and is always bringing his legs to his tummy/arches his back, clenches his fists a lot too. I know these are colic symptoms but he doesn’t cry 3 hours a day, he just moans all day. Sometimes at night too. He really struggles to fall asleep and during the day he don’t nap for very long. He is formula fed and does green poos. He has some good and some bad days I just feel helpless just want him to be happy and pain free.

I’ve tried colic relief and infant gaviscon but not sure if it’s really done much.

I just don’t know what to do anymore any suggestions? :(