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My 9 week old hates sleeping

3 replies

PodgyThePigeon · 04/05/2025 18:42

Long time lurker, first time poster. I know I’ll probably get comments saying it’s normal for a little baby but I just need to vent! And someone to tell me it won’t be like this forever!

My 9 week old baby really struggles to nap in the day. Every time he’s tired he’s fights sleep until he’s screaming. Getting him to sleep involves him being in a sling, shushing and patting and either walking round the block or dancing round the house. He will not sleep otherwise. Sometimes he can fall asleep without the screaming if I catch him at the right moment. Every nap is like this and it’s draining. He slept independently in his pram a couple of times when he was tiny but never since he ‘woke up’ a bit at three weeks old.

During hjs wake windows, I can put him on his play mat or a blanket to play with him but only if I’m right next to him.

He hates the car seat. Cries and won’t fall asleep.

It’s just draining me because I feel so trapped and tied to his sleep needs. It’s hard meeting up with other mums from baby groups with babies who nap in their prams and just fall asleep when they’re tired.

I’ve signed him up for baby swimming when he’s 3 months and I’m not sure it’s going to be possible to drive there and settle him enough to enjoy the class. There’s so many groups and classes I want to do in the future and I just don’t know how!

Everyone in my family has had easy babies so they don’t have any advice.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
DrummingMousWife · 04/05/2025 18:43

Try baby massage . My friend did this and her baby started sleeping better .

Pomegranatemum · 04/05/2025 18:53

DC1 was like this. (DC2 is a poor sleeper too, but much easier when awake.) I don’t have any silver bullet suggestions I’m afraid. I had to lower my expectations and stop comparing us with other mums and babies. And eventually some of it got easier. She started to be able to sleep in her pram from 7 months. And very gradually over time she could tolerate the car seat (definitely got a bit easier once she was forward facing). Also very gradually she became less clingy. She’s 3 now and a wonderful child, but still a terrible sleeper 😵‍💫
If I were you I’d consider postponing the swimming lessons if that’s possible. I had to do this with a baby massage class that we tried when DC1 was 12/13 weeks. It was a total disaster. I postponed to the next ‘intake’, which was 5 or 6 weeks later and it was at least doable then, but still on balance probably more stressful than relaxing. Best thing for me was just meeting up with people for a walk, with DC1 in sling/carrier.

OtterMummy2024 · 04/05/2025 19:44

You basically have to teach them to sleep, stroking their noses so they shut their eyes, holding their hands so they don't startle-reflex themselves awake... It gets better as they get older, but it is super difficult.

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