14 week old will only nap on me!!!

[Kirky658]

My LG is 14 weeks old, born 5 weeks premature. She sleeps great at night fom 10pm to 6am. She just will not nap in the day unless she's being held so I can't do anything. Once she's asleep I try and put her in her moses basket and she wakes straight away.

Is this normal for her age, and any tips?

I have PND and PTSD from the birth so docs and mental health team keep telling me to rest when she sleeps...

Thanks, one tired mumma x

That's perfectly normal. Eight hours sleep at night is a bit unusual - be aware that it might change. Sleep while you can!

I don’t know if I’m being a bit obtuse but you surely do get to rest when she sleeps- for eight hours at night! That’s brilliant. That’s an absolute dream for a lot of new parents.

Other than that you can still ‘rest’ when she’s asleep on you? I’m curled up on the sofa right now with a sleeping baby, who doesn’t sleep for more than 3 hours in one go at night.

Have you tried baby wearing?

@deadofthemoon so I'm told!
@wheeliebinprincess I don't sleep at night due to my anxiety and ptsd and having flashbacks. So I am exhausted. And obvs can't sleep while she's sleeping on me. I've tried in her sling but she isn't keen.

The sleep when the baby sleeps in the day thing has always eluded me, sorry.

I never seem to be able to do it either because the baby is asleep on me and won’t be put down, or I need the time for something else, or because he sleeps for about twenty minutes that time and by the time I’ve dropped off he’s awake again.

I’m sorry you’re suffering, I’m afraid this is totally normal. My DS only slept on me in the day until he was 8 months old. Like others have said, during the day make her nap times your rest time, choose a series you really enjoy or a good book, make sure you have a good cup to keep your drink hot and snacks nearby.
I also have PTSD (in recovery now) are you having therapy? What techniques are you using for grounding at night to support you to sleep and manage the flashbacks? I used to find aromatherapy sprays really helped ground me and I would listen to gentle podcasts to distract my mind and then I could fall asleep. Ramblings by Clare balding was my go to! It’s so hard and you have my every sympathy. If you really need to sleep during the day you could set your bed up for safe co sleeping and see if DD would nap next to you during the day if that’s something you would feel comfortable with xx

Absolutely normal. I remember the feeling of being absolutely desperate to get her to nap anywhere but me but nothing worked. Eventually I gave in to it and ended up loving it. Put her in a sling when she’s awake and do what you need to do, cook, very light cleaning, laundry etc while you talk to her, bouncer in the bathroom while you shower (my daughter loved this for some reason) and think of her naps as your rest time. Get yourself on the couch with some snacks and a drink and the tv remote or a book and enjoy it. Of course it’s important not to fall asleep on the couch with her so if you feel like you might fall asleep maybe take her to bed with you and co sleep for naps. It doesn’t last forever and you will miss it!

The sleep when baby sleeps always makes me laugh! I have a brilliant contact napper. I get anything from a hour to two and a half for a contact nap. But if I put him down it's guaranteed to be 20mins max. He only stopped wakening up instantly when I put him down around 3 1/2 months even now at nearly 5 months it's still a risky move. I honestly just embrace it for what it is. It won't be for forever. If I'm wanting to get something done I either do it in the 20min nap window or wait till he's awake and he comes with me. He does sleep 12 hours overnight tho so I can't complain.

My 14 week old is currently asleep on me as we speak.. I have tried so many times to put her down in her crib/carrycot/pram/sofa, already asleep, awake but drowsy but nothing works. The best thing I did was make peace with it.. it was stressing us both out more by trying to force something that wasn’t going to work. Sorry I’m not more help but it won’t last forever and we’ll miss these sleepy cuddles one day!