How to get baby to day nap

[Newmama20232023]

Hi all up until about a week ago my 11-week-old was a good napper. Sometimes it’s so tough trying to wrangle him down for his naps (despite sticking to wake windows, darkness, swaddle, white noise). If he really doesn’t want to settle despite yawning should I just leave him be? He is not hungry because he refuses boob & not windy as is thoroughly winded.

Some babies seem to be bad nappers. No advice here but my first baby always had to be moving to nap - mainly carried in the sling. She never fell asleep static in a cot. Then again I never sleep trained so don’t know if that makes a difference

Is this your first by any chance? I was pretty relaxed with the first one but by the time I had the second they just napped on the move usually when I was doing things with DC1.

If you're really struggling I'd recommend the No Cry Nap Solution

My first was a bad napper, he’d only sleep for 30 minutes maximum a couple of times a day. I found taking him out in pushchair helped him relax and eventually sleep for longer, when we returned. I did go through a stage of walking him in pram 3 times a day, he loved being out of the house so much.

Can you just put him into a bouncy chair and transfer him into the cot when he's asleep? It worked for my little one.

I also used a different cot for daytime naps and for nighttime, which also helped my daughter to settle.

Unfortunately my DS wouldn’t nap without being held until he was about 6 months.

Are you expecting him to fall asleep in the cot? Some young babies can, but some definitely can’t.

If yours can’t then don’t stress yourself out with trying, just accept that he can’t for a couple of months and try naps holding him or in the pram.

Mine would easily sleep in the moses basket for the first month or so but once she woke up a bit she would only sleep either on me or in the pram. Even if I got her to sleep in the bouncer or on me and then put her in the cot she would wake up shortly afterwards but would sleep longer on me and in the pram (as long as it was moving). This went on until 8 months or so. Eventually she would nap in the cot but even at 13 months still needs help falling asleep, even if tired.

He can sleep in the crib - he did 2x 1.5 hour naps in there today randomly but the third was 30 mins. Just wondering if I should really try to enforce naps or if longer night sleep is ok

I mean… that’s sounds incredible for a baby so young! Personally I would want longer sleeps. You can always pick up and cuddle when baby wakes and have a contact nap. Enjoy the sleepy cuddles while you can x

@NewBabyGirl2020 yes if he wakes up from a nap at 30/45 mins I settle him & contact nap to “save” the nap :) unless he really doesn’t want to settle in which case I get him up!

Sounds like your are doing really well! Keep it up? X

It sounds like he’s a pretty good napper compared to most babies I know. Not many people are getting naps anywhere other than the pram / contact at that age.