7 week old awake for 12 hours during the day - help!!

[kiwicath]

So far I've have managed to solve or deal with any problems our wee man has thrown at us but I'm stumped on this one. My wee bf baby boy is a dream in the evenings. Boob at 5.30pm, bath and massage at 6.00pm, another boob at 6.30pm, burp, cuddle, kiss then into cot awake and off to sleep he goes. I wake him at 10.30pm to feed, he wakes at 4.30am to feed, I wake him at 7am, feed at 8am and is happy as larry until he starts to get sleepy at around 9am. This is were the problems begin... I go through the motions again of putting him to bed drowzy but awake, he's happy for 5 minutes but then starts to complain. I let him do this for a while to see if he will "settle" himself but he only winds himself up and ends up screaming. I go to him, pick him up, he stops immediately then falls to sleep on my shoulder within seconds. Put him back in his cot, ok for 5 minutes and the whole thing starts again. This goes on from 9am to 7pm. The only time he takes a nap at all is for 10-15 minutes in his buggy but that's only after a half hour of fighting and screaming. He's thriving and really putting on the pounds so hunger isn't the issue nor is colic etc as he's happy and even gives me big smiles when I pick him up. He's only a wee baby and too little to let him cry himself to sleep - or is he?? He's such a happy little boy in the morning after his big sleeps in the evening but as the day goes on he gets more and more wound up. I don't know what I've done wrong and don't know how to break the cycle. He's desperately tired but refuses to give into sleep. I look forward to the evenings and dread waking up in the morning. Please please help - no naps in the day for such a little baby can't be healthy or "normal".

kiwicath, I can't remember how we got round this but dd1 never slept during the day - except 10 min micronaps - until she was about 8 mths old. she now sleeps like a dream. going to nursery helped to get her into a routine, the carers there were much better at getting her off to sleep than me. much sympathy, sorry can't be more help!

Do you have a bigger pram at all rather than a buggy? With the pram you can roll it over a slipper on the floor and it makes it feel as though it is going over cracks in the pavement. Works every time
If not, I would push him around in the buggy when crying rather than pick him up straight away. Babies often drop off to sleep mid scream. Hard to believe at 7 weeks he doesn't need the sleep. Persevere to break the cycle I think. Do you manage to get out for walks? Fresh air usually works.

Yes, walk lots during the day as weather is fab but he'll only drop off for 5 minutes each walk if I'm lucky - and that's only after a load of kicking and screaming. Haven't got a pram but the buggy is a big one, has a cover and lays down flat. He's active and likes to kick for ages on his mat so should be completely warn out. I'm in despair when I look at "contented baby" on my book shelf and know that it says he should nap for 4.5 hours a day. If only he knew he'd be a much happier wee man if he would only sleep for at least a few hours - aggrrrr!!!

Have you tried swaddling him? This worked for ds who was a really active baby who refused to sleep during the day..

Ah, he does sound lovely though Have you tried a dummy? Maybe not the answer if he is gong to sleep at night on his own. Otherwise may put him down before he seems sleepy. I find that even at the age of two, if I wait for him to look and behave as if he's tired he doesn't go to sleep as easily as he does if I just put him into bed at the right time, but before he looks tired. ie put him down just before 9am after another mini going to nap routine. My ds often had a yell before going to sleep - he just seemed to need it - but only for a few minutes. I'm sure it will improve and the nightime routine sounds brilliant.

Whow!! Thanks guys. Put him in for his nap 1.5 hours after he woke up this morning, wrapped him loosely in nice soft cotton blanket and I haven't heard a peep for 20 mintutes now. Doesn't sound earth shattering stuff for most but for me it's a miracle .... THANK YOU!!!