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Co-sleeping & Contact naps

8 replies

C202 · 07/07/2025 20:44

Anyone else’s baby not let them put them down to sleep? Since my baby was born she has only slept in her bed a handful of times, when she is asleep, I put her down and within 10minutes she is awake again, yet on me she sleeps for hours. She is now 7weeks.
Is it harder to get them to sleep in their own beds when they get older if you co-sleep?
Anyone managed to find a way past this? Or is it just with time?

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Mrsttcno1 · 07/07/2025 20:47

It’s just time, 7 weeks is still tiny, they still think you are the same person so they want to be close. Look up the fourth trimester for some info x

Overthemoun · 07/07/2025 20:50

She’s only 7 weeks old, it’s very normal.

I didn’t co sleep as it didn’t work for me.

I did a few things to try and get napping not on me as I didn’t like being nap trapped - wake windows, white noise, dummy, swaddling, settling in the pushchair or bouncey chair or baby wearing so still hands free.

both of mine got to the point where they napped in their cots twice a day for a couple of hours but it’s when they were in a routine from eating meals. You can try to get good patterns at 7 weeks old but the routine doesn’t really exist, beyond responding to cues, until they’re much older.

Brightasarainbow · 07/07/2025 20:54

I've found that it's just time. The first nap of the day is when they have the highest sleep drive. So every week or so try again, and then you'll know when they're ready. If not, just strap them back in to the baby carrier and carry on as normal!

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WhiteHorse92 · 07/07/2025 20:59

Both of mine were like this. They hated being put down for naps and sleep but would sleep on me for hours. To be honest my youngest is 18 months and running around now and I really miss the newborn snuggles with her asleep on me. I coslept with both aswell for the first few weeks and they are now both brilliant sleepers and happy in their own rooms.

WhiteHorse92 · 07/07/2025 21:05

Just to add aswell, 3 months seemed to be a bit of a turning point for both in terms of being happier in the crib overnight. As other posters have said, 7 weeks is tiny, they barely know they're a separate entity to you.

C202 · 07/07/2025 21:13

Thank you all, it’s nice to know this is normal and others have done it. I have found health visitors and midwives frown on it, or they have with me so it has seemed as though it’s out of the ordinary. I know there are really big risks but I remain very conscious and aware that baby is near me or on me. It’s the only way I get any sleep as well.
I was also concerned that baby then won’t sleep in her own bed as she grows, but seems as though this is just because she is brand new to the world and it will soon change.

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Brightasarainbow · 07/07/2025 21:37

It's completely normal! I do have sympathy for health visitors/ midwives - as if they suggest something other than strict best practice, they'll be blamed if something goes wrong. But lots of guidelines are based on an imaginary ideal scenario that doesn't match real babies.

Independent sleep in a cot is best, yes. But if baby doesn't sleep in a cot, then making them and you dangerously sleep deprived with plan A, is a worse option than putting together a plan B that's as low risk as you can make it. Which generally is safe 7 co-sleeping and contact napping.

To cut a long story short: you're doing great, keep doing what works for you and your baby!

Ros2023 · 08/07/2025 19:37

I’m in the same boat as you! I have an almost 10 week old and she just sleeps on me and we Co sleep too. She sleeps for a lot longer when on me and I am managing to get some sleep in the night at the moment too. If I put her down to sleep she wakes up after 10 minutes and then she’s SO crabby and difficult to get back off to sleep.

sometimes it’s frustrating because I have housework that needs doing etc and I can’t always do it when she’s sleeping on me. I do have a sling but she doesn’t always like it in there.
I just keep reminding myself that soon enough I won’t be doing this anymore so to try and embrace all of the cuddles as messy as my house is or however much washing I have to try and catch up on 😂
if contact naps and Co sleeping works for you right now and you’re getting some sleep, absolutely carry on. Sleep deprivation can be so difficult when you have a little one to look after.
try not to listen to any outside noise and do what is best for you!

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