Another daytime napping thread ( I know ! )

[TokyoNights]

Hi there! I thought that I would finally bite the bullet and join the conversation after long history of just reading.
I know there’s been so many conversations about this but I need some advice too.
First time mum here and my DS just turned 3 months. The problem as you can see - daytime naps. At nighttime he is just great ( so far ) , goes to the bed easily, and sleeps from 2,5 - 5h in one stretch, depends. Then quick food and he falls back asleep straight away. And if he wakes up, he will manage to fall back asleep again on his own.
Oh and I always rock him to the sleep.
But on the daytime he’s refusing to sleep anywhere else except my arms. Not his cot, not our bed, not bouncer, not in the pushchair. Well, whenever I put him his back up within minutes. I tried to not pick him up and see what happens but he never sleeps again. So usually I pick him up and rock him again otherwise he will never sleep.
So basically my day is to feed him, let him play for 15-20 minutes and then make him sleep and stay glued to the sofa.
I tried to make different arrangements for his naps - same as night ( quiet,dark) or same as our day naps ( light, with background noise ). The same.
Most he can manage is 10 minutes in his cot but in my arms he can sleep 1h+.
I know he is still tiny and needs me and I shouldn’t put my expectations too high but every time I look at him I think - the heck man, what’s the difference between night in your bed and day?! If you can easy sleep 4-5h at night where’s the problem to crash down for 1-1,5h in the same bed?!
Thanks in advance for any answer x

It's very normal. Mine youngest is the same, he's 10 months now and he will go down for a nap if my husband gets him top sleep but, despite trying on an almost daily basis, he still won't let me put him down.

Have you got a sling? That's a game changer as he can sleep while you do whatever you like. Also will he go to sleep in the pram, I use that a lot, walk him round then either get stuff done or take the pram home and he'll sometimes stay asleep for a bit.

I'm sure there are sleep training methods but I'd say 3 months is far too young for that, he just wants to be with his mummy and isn't really able to understand why he can't have his with you.

That’s sounds totally normal for such a young baby.

This was me! My DS would only be cuddled and held to sleep for naps. I was sat for hours glued to the sofa desperately needing a wee! One day (when he was about 3 and a half months old) he just wouldn't settle in my arms even though I knew he was tired. So I put him down in his moses basket and rocked the basket and he fell asleep. From then on he never slept in my arms again! No he is 6 months old and goes sleep on his own. I know it is hard as you probably have a million house jobs to do but honestly enjoy it whilst it lasts. I miss cuddling my little boy to sleep now.

@TokyoNights similar story here. My LO is 3.5months. She will have long naps on me (or sometimes DP) but when I tried moses basket wakes after 20min. Does sleep in pram or car seat but has sixth sense and always wakes up just as we get home. Used to love sleeping in sling but too nosey now.

I'm enjoying cuddles for now, although would ideally like her to nap in moses. Tbh I don't try to put her down in moses very often, should probably try harder but most importantly I want her to sleep! Four month regression might be around the corner so figure I'll just see what that brings and take it from there.

I was the same until my dd started going down for naps in the last 2 weeks (at 8 months old). Before that, naps were either contact or pram walks. Looking back, I do think I could have tried putting her down around 6 months but I sort of got into the routine of either holding her or going for walks. Keep trying and you might find one day he just changes. I've gone from sometimes going on 3 walks a day and wishing for the day when she no longer needs naps, to loving naps! You'll get there but I know it's a slog at the moment... Try and enjoy the cuddles. Xx

My eldest wouldn't nap in a cot by himself until about 10mo - was fine in buggy or car but he would only sleep on a person when at home. 5mo DD will nap in her basket but it's not always guaranteed. She usually has her first nap of the day fairly reliably by herself but then the others are a mixed bag. I eat lunch most days with her asleep on my lap.

It's normal if frustrating.

None of mine would nap in a Moses basket or cot until they were a fair bit older. It was all sling/baby carrier until then. So what you’re describing is very normal. I kept trying them in the Moses basket every so often and gradually they had proper/longer naps there.

I had to hold my baby for every nap until a week after his first birthday 😳😳😳😳 I look back at those days and don’t quite know how I did it or how it happened. One day he just didn’t settle in my arms and I put him in his cot and he slept. When he’s ill he sometimes wants to be held but very rarely.

Thank you for sharing your experience. And yeah, as annoying and frustrating it is, I guess that’s what the babies do!
Specially last night - he went to the bed 21:10 and woke up for feed only once at 3 o clock.
And I’m like - what’s wrong with this bed on the daytime you little funny guy!