Help - breaking negative nap sleep associations

[Littlef00t]

My 7 wk DD has got into the habit of taking naps on me. She also sleeps in the car and in the pram when out and about but cries as soon as put in the carry cot for naps.

I would really like to get her to break this habit, she sleeps well in her Moses basket at night and does self settle at night so def a nap crutch.

As lovely as it is to have her snooze on me, i can only see it being increasingly difficult to break the association and isn't helpful long term.

I check closely for tired cues, have a short pre nap routine etc.

Please can I have some advice, all sleep training methods seem to be for 4mths+, is there anything I can try at this age?

Any advice on where to have her nap, wary of trying to do naps where she sleeps at night in case we make night sleeps worse.

Thanks!

I wouldn't worry too much about this just yet 7wks is very tiny, newbrns still crave tht closeness. my DS slept on me all the time at that age. He is 7mo now and happily sleeps in cot for naps & night

Do you have a swing? They're great for babies who sleep well with motion.

edgarallan at what age did your LO stop sleeping on you and did it happen naturally?

Swing sounds hopeful, I'll see if I can borrow one.

I'd really like to try something. She is fine at night so I think she is ready, but has just developed a strong sleep association, like a pillow would be for me.

At 7 weeks old your baby does not know she is separate from you yet.
To expect her to nap like a much older baby is unrealistic.
It is your baby, not a horse to be 'broken'.

I really wouldn't think in terms of negative associations or crutches right now - she's a tiny baby. You can really do whatever you need to to help her sleep for at least the first 3 months. Don't start thinking about it like a battle - little babies need to be cuddled.

I think really there are no rules in those first 3 months, whatever works (I clung to the motto "you can't spoil a newborn",)... Will she wake if you move her? You could try letting her settle on you then transferring to her basket, or somewhere warm & cosy she likes? DD liked napping swaddled, lying on a folded fleecy throw on the sofa for a good while, bit like a cat who'd found a warm patch in the sun!

It's definitely tempting to worry about sleep crutches, I did, but so much changes of its own accord it's not worth worrying about too much - the fact she settles at night in her basket is great! I stressed for months about DD needing her dummy to sleep, researched all the withdrawal techniques in preparation for removing it, and now she's pretty much given it up all by herself...

Don't worry. DS did the same-ALL naps on me or in buggy. I decided just to let him and whilst I've got fatter with all the sitting around eating biscuits and drinking tea watching my baby sleep, he's grown out of it!!! He's 17 weeks and for the last couple of weeks has gone down for naps in his basket.

Biffbaff is right no rules they just need you and believe me even at 7mo I can't believe I didn't treasure that total dependence more! DS even going off his dummy now too!
DS would sleep in Moses basket when I transferred him during the day. At night we had a side sleeping cot I would often have him sleeping on my chest after a feed and transfer across. When he grew too big for side sleeper he was in cot in our room and didn't have any problem transitioning to cot.now in his own room and He struggles to get out of my arms when I fancy a sleepy hug! It will happen don't worry