6 week old won’t sleep for me

[MummyJuly2023]

My 6 week old daughter is a sleep fighter - she will fall asleep on the boob but then wake up as soon as she comes off. She’s overtired pretty much constantly but fights it all the time. I’m looking into wake windows etc and have downloaded the Napper app to try and get a better understanding of her routine, but other than a few odd days she normally only naps for half an hour or so, and almost never on me. She will often fall asleep for my husband and my mum, but she fights it constantly with me.

I’m a neonatal nurse so it’s not that I’m stressed/nervous holding her etc, and sometimes she also refuses to sleep for anyone (right now my mum is rocking her and she’s wide awake but clearly tired).

She’s fully breastfed and isn’t a fan of a dummy. She won’t go to sleep alone, only when being held.

Anyone else experienced this? Also anyone had success with a sleep fighter baby by using wake windows and sleep cues? I’m starting to feel like the world’s worst mum as all she seems to want me for is milk - she’ll only relax and fall asleep on me maybe once a day.

Both my babies either lay on me- or I ended up putting on their tummy’s and turning them round when in a deeper sleep.

You'll smell of milk. My eldest was much like this at that age. I remember phonung my mum to come over and hold DD as I hadn't managed to get dressed and was desperate as I needed to get to the shops for food. DD fell asleep on my mum as soon as she arrived.

This phase doesn't last long, you'll be fine in a couple of weeks. I Know It Seems A Long Time But You Will Survive. Neither of my son's was like this, btw. Some babies are just a bit tricky in the early days!

Routines are tricky in the early days. Their needs change fast and aren't the same from day to day. 6-12 weeks is toughest in that regard as you kind of have to roll with it some days. Mine have all been much more predictable by 3/4 months, although none followed textbook sleep patterns exactly.

I think she's too young for routine and following wake windows etc. Try baby wearing- sling/carrier and just going about your day as normal. Don't make a point of trying to get her to sleep or worrying about it. She may just nod off by herself. And you may be an experienced nurse but being a mum is different! Don't expect too much of yourself or her. Good luck xxx