My 14 week old has never been much of a sleeper. In the last few weeks he's got much worse at napping - the things that used to work work less often, and even when he does fall asleep he often won't stay asleep longer than 20-30 minutes. He sleeps for about 8 hours in 3 chunks between 7pm and 5am, when he wakes up and wants to play; then I can usually (not always) get him to have a morning nap (he'll sleep for about 3 hours if he isn't disturbed at all) and after that it's a free for all.
I'll list the things I've tried and how well they work...
- Sling. Goes to sleep after some screaming 75% of the time. Wakes up after anything from 1 to 3 hours. Wakes up if taken out of sling.
- Car seat. Goes to sleep after some screaming 75% of the time. Works best if car is moving AND someone's sitting in the back putting his dummy back in and holding his hand. (Therefore needs 2 people!) Stays asleep for 10 min - 1 hour when car stopped but wakes up if he's taken out of his seat.
- Pram. Goes to sleep, sometimes without any screaming, 50% of the time. Wakes up if pram stops/ goes inside or if taken out of pram.
- Feed to sleep. He goes to sleep during about 50% of feeds but only stays asleep for 20 minutes or so and wakes up if he's moved.
- Vibrating bouncy chair doesn't work - he has a play for 10-30 minutes and then starts yelling.
- Putting him down in his cot/ pram/ sleepyhead doesn't work - he wakes up if he's asleep or sleepy, and either starts playing or yelling depending on his mood!
I've tried white noise alongside most of these and it hasn't seemed to make much difference. He will sleep better for people other than me - DH has a 100% success rate with the sling and when my mum or someone else has held him when he's fallen asleep, they've been able to put him in the sleepyhead without him waking up. But while I'm on ML getting someone else to put him down for every nap really isn't workable!
Have I missed anything obvious? Is it possible that he's getting enough sleep and that's why he doesn't want to nap? I've asked my HV and she said he would be getting enough sleep - but my friend's HV told her that her similarly aged baby needed 3 90 minute naps daily, lying on his back in a cot, and 12 hours night sleep - which has made me worry!
Any wisdom that anybody wants to share would be much appreciated!