Reluctant co-sleeper

[HeyitsBB]

I can't get my DD 17 weeks to settle for bed before 9.30 at the absolute earliest but more like 11pm most nights, she won't lie in her next2me for more than a few hours at most but is more like 20 minutes the majority of the time. She only naps for a few minutes unless being cuddled or soothed in the pram or car. She seems to comfort suckle a lot and will not take a dummy.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I can get her down at a reasonable hour and get her to stay in her crib

You realise that SIDS recimmendayion is that baby sleeps in the same room you are until 6 months. This includes evenings and naps. This, and notorious cluster feeding during the evening, is the reason most parents don't establish an early evening bedtime until baby is older and a little less tiny.

Why are you trying (often unsuccessfully) to "get her down at a reasonable hour"?

Is it just because that's what you thought was the born?

Maybe you just have your expectations set a bit wrong. Unsettled evening are normal, little naps and little feeds on and off.

Usually I just settle myself on the sofa with baby on my lap and let her feed and nod while I watch tv. Proper bedtimes come when baby naturally starts stretching nap lengths and so evenings settle. Thats generally around 5/6/7 months old (ish)

Born = norm

11pm is my bed time so I'm over the moon when DS falls asleep around then.

It is too early to try to establish a set bed time, imo.

In regards to the crib, our DS also didn't like sleeping in it at first. In the end, swaddling and leaving an item of clothing in the crib with him seemed to help with the transition.