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Parenting

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Original poster

5 week old won’t nap in the day

24 replies

Firstbaby1234 · 15/01/2022 11:42

Any tips on how to get my 5 week old to nap in the day?

He refuses to nap and then as you can imagine gets over tired and all worked up.

I struggle to get him to sleep and then keep him asleep.

At night he sleeps no problem!

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Sausagesausagesausage · 15/01/2022 12:04

Walk in the buggy or sling, or get comfy on the sofa and let them sleep on you.

It's pretty normal for them to fight it more as they get more awake. I used to watch mine for sleep cues and get them ready for a nap as soon as they yawned a few times.

AliceW89 · 15/01/2022 12:22

Walking outside with the sling was my go to. DC hated being in the sling awake but would fall asleep in it outside.
Would occasionally fall asleep after a breastfeed if I was sat in a dark room with white noise.
DC would fall asleep in the car seat but would wake up as soon as it stopped, so I didn’t really use this. I know some of my NCT friends could drive to Costa and just sit there while their DC napped, so might be worth a shot.

BlueSky8 · 15/01/2022 12:31

Contact naps or out in the pram always worked for me

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Original poster

Firstbaby1234 · 15/01/2022 12:45

He will sleep in the pram when out and about but as soon as I stop he wakes up.. the same with the car.

It takes me a good 2 hours of rocking to even get him close to falling asleep and as soon as I move he wakes up straight away!

OP posts:

AliceW89 · 15/01/2022 13:08

I had one of those @Firstbaby1234. I’m afraid I just rolled with it and walked, lots and lots, for the first 3 or so months.

Original poster

Firstbaby1234 · 15/01/2022 15:20

@AliceW89 I think that’s what I will have to do, walk lots and lots with the pram

OP posts:

BeeDavis · 15/01/2022 21:41

My little boy was the same, no naps but then cranky all day! We realised that be napped pretty well in his pram so during the day he goes in there for a nap in the morning and in the afternoon, he’s so much happier now. Has always slept well in his crib on a night but very rarely does during the day which is annoying!

HolidayNanny · 15/01/2022 21:44

Do you swaddle him? That's usually very effective.

Original poster

Firstbaby1234 · 15/01/2022 22:33

@BeeDavis he will nap in the pram if I’m out walking but as soon as I stop he seems to wake up! At night he will sleep in his crib but will fall asleep on me first and then I have to transfer him to his crib.. if he wakes up whilst in his crib he won’t go back to sleep.

@HolidayNanny no I don’t swaddle him, I have tried but he doesn’t like it. He likes to sleep with his arms up above his head

OP posts:

MsChatterbox · 15/01/2022 22:40

You can get a device that rocks the pushchair for you... Think its called a rocket. Good luck op. Keep persisting with naps hopefully he will get used to it 🤞🏻

Babyontheway21 · 15/01/2022 23:02

@Firstbaby1234 I had one of those too, I know it seems a lifetime away the now but I just felt at 3 months there was a massive change, hang in there he’s just getting used to his new world :)

Newmum29 · 15/01/2022 23:12

They need to be swaddles really. Love to dream worked for us as she also likes her hands up. They resist initially but their startle reflex is so strong they can’t sleep without having some level of restriction. Not all but most newborns. Think how little room they had in the womb.

ElusiveNinja · 16/01/2022 21:55

Sounds like you have my baby! Now 10 weeks old and not a good day sleeper from day one...I have found that walks in the pram or car work and also the sling especially with white noise - loves the hairdryer and vacuum cleaner!
Also a fan of the Love to Dream swaddle - don't use it daytime but it helped so much with sleeping at night as she loved her arms up and was wriggling out of regular swaddles. I have embraced that she is not a good day sleeper and I am grateful she sleeps well at night!

R1cciteddy · 16/01/2022 23:43

I use a sling and I have a 'Rockit'...it's great! I use white noise a lot too

Original poster

Firstbaby1234 · 17/01/2022 08:51

@ElusiveNinja yes walks in the pram do work and so does the car, I haven’t got a sling but maybe should purchase one! He sleeps really well at night, he goes down at around 10pm, wakes between half 1 and 2 and then again between half 5 and 6, we use a sleep bag at night and he seems to be fine in that! Just day time naps are a really big struggle for him and if he doesn’t nap then he gets over tired and cries :(

OP posts:

Frazzled37 · 17/01/2022 11:55

Mine is nearly 12 weeks now and still doesn't sleep well...day or night! However, in the day mine will sleep in a sling so all his naps are in that which stopped his over tiredness. Sadly pushchair stopped working for him weeks ago. I'd recommend a sling though, he still fights sleep in it at first but if I cover his eyes (he's very nosy and will look around) and walk around he drops off very quickly! It's not ideal but I prefer it to an overtired baby 😂

Original poster

Firstbaby1234 · 17/01/2022 12:41

@Frazzled37 seems like the sling works well! Is there any sling recommendations ?

OP posts:

mumpower3 · 17/01/2022 12:45

Hey , I had a baby swing for mine. Was a godsend! Played soft tunes and had different swing settings. Lasted a while too as my then 2 year old used to just sit in it and swing! Money well spent IMO.

R1cciteddy · 17/01/2022 14:08

I didn't get on with an actual 'sling' but really well with a soft carrier called integra. Or used to be called connecta.

You can try a 'sling library' where you can try different types or hire them. They were closed at the time because of Covid so I just hired an integra to try out before I bought one

I like the integra because it's really easy to put on by yourself

shivawn · 17/01/2022 14:14

My 13 week old is a decent sleeper at night and usually just wakes up once. During the day it's almost impossible to put him down for a nap and he stopped sleeping in his pram around 3 weeks
ago. Now I just hold him and let him nap on me after a feed. He's asleep on top of me as I type this...its not ideal but means I get a happier baby. His naps are rarely longer than 30-40 mins anyway.

Frazzled37 · 17/01/2022 15:16

@Firstbaby1234 I have a koala cuddle band (something like that) which has been great..however now he's getting bigger I'm finding it more uncomfortable. If you have a local sling library I'd contact them to test some out.

ElusiveNinja · 17/01/2022 22:21

I have a sling from Babylonia (I think) that is just a long piece of fabric...bit fiddly to use the first few times but quick once you get the hang of it.

SuperSocks · 21/01/2022 04:18

These are good for babies who like their arms up:

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/love-to-dream-swaddle-b1687.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4oHDqyCVVSQZzE076JzKwmuXyfrKUde1XSJ05YiZCX9IyJ-gnZEwFsaAgmnEALw_wcB

EmmaInParis · 21/01/2022 10:37

Another vote here for a Rockit! Worked well for us in early days. You clip it to the pram then when you stop walking, switch it on and it vibrates it as though you’re still moving - life saver! We also got a Graco Glider baby swing which our baby loved for naps til she was about 6 months x

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