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Original poster

Sling napping 4 month old , help!

18 replies

KaPoul · 26/11/2017 19:35

Hi just wondering if anyone has a baby that only day naps well in sling? My lo is now 16 weeks and has always slept well in the sling during the day ( has a long nap of 2-3 hrs) as well as a couple of shorter naps. I have gone with it until now as I have a toddler and it’s just been the easy option. I am really wanting her to nap somewhere else but she only does 30 mins max in Oran or basket and wakes up cranky. Just after a bit of reassurance that other people have managed to break the sling habit!? Or am
I on my own? Advice much appreciated.

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FATEdestiny · 26/11/2017 19:54

Sling habits are hard to break.

Have you tried bouncy chair naps?

Original poster
KaPoul · 26/11/2017 20:46

Yes and I got a swinging chair thinking that would help break the habit but she’s having none of it 🙄

OP posts:
FortheloveofJames · 26/11/2017 20:55

Will she nap if you hold her as well?

Original poster
KaPoul · 26/11/2017 21:42

No she doesn’t sleep just being held, there is something about the sling (I think it must be being compressed!) that keeps her asleep. She wears a love to dream swaddle at night but I have tried this during the day and it makes no difference. I guess I was hoping people might say she will just grow out of it and no work or tears are required! 🙄

OP posts:
PossumBottom · 26/11/2017 21:45

Is it really such an issue? It's completely normal behaviour and will have many benefits for your baby. Sounder, more comfortable sleep in a safe space allows lots of good brain development and means you get peace and quite for longer. My little one had naps on my back from 4 months. In a buckle carrier you can back carry from around the time they sit unaided. Then you have your arms free to look after the toddler.

PossumBottom · 26/11/2017 21:46

*quiet

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 26/11/2017 21:47

I wish I had better news bit it's a tough one to break. Mine wasn't a sling baby but he was a must be held and rocked gently to sleep baby and whilst in the early days this was lovely and largely led by me and dp it soon got old. He still won't nap (17m now) unless he's in the car or is rocked in someone arms. He has never napped in his cot although strangely has no problem being put down at night no rocking required.

user1493413286 · 26/11/2017 21:54

I don’t know if this was helpful but at about that age my baby would only go to sleep when held which was lovely but then started to get impractical so I used to rock her to sleep in my arms then move her to the bouncy chair, at first waiting until she was properly asleep then doing it slightly sooner every time until I was only holding her to relax her and now I can put her to nap straight away in the chair. At first she’d wake up quite quick but I just kept consistent with it; could you try that as Some kind of gradual retreat technique?

sleepycat13 · 26/11/2017 21:54

no advice I'm afraid but I'm watching closely. have an 8 week old who is happy to be placed in cot at night but during th day will refuse to sleeo unless in sling or on go in car seat or pram. he will take half hour or so naps in bouncy chair but never longer. today we had a 4 hour nap in the sling as I was out an about but other wise the second I lay him day during the day he screams evening he is asleep as i put him down.

Rodent01 · 26/11/2017 22:00

Half hour then wakes up?? That's possibly the sleep cycle.... both DD1 and now DD2 were always getting stuck at half an hour, but soon learnt to get themselves back to sleep after a little grizzle. Used to pick DD1 up straight away, but leant that either shushing or just leaving her, would result in 1 1/2 hours. My thoughts were that if they wake up crying, they need more sleep...... 16 week DD2 is now getting the hang of putting herself back to sleep....

53rdWay · 26/11/2017 22:07

I guess I was hoping people might say she will just grow out of it and no work or tears are required!

Well she will eventually, you're not going to be still slinging her to sleep as a teenager Grin

Mine was like that and grew out of it herself in the end after I tried everything. If yours is sleeping in the pram/cot for a while but then waking up again, though, have you tried white noise to get her through the part where she'd usually wake? Worth a shot if not.

Original poster
KaPoul · 27/11/2017 02:19

Thanks for all the responses, nice to know I’m not alone with this. PossomBottom back carrying is a great idea, I guess I’m also thinking ahead to when she will be in nursery two days a week though and will need to nap somewhere other than on me. Rodent01 - she is definitely waking up after a sleep cycle and can’t get herself through to the next but she wakes up so completely that it’s impossible to get her back down. I use white noise and often will be walking with the pram but still no luck. I’ll keep trying and she may surprise me one day.

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WhoAteAllthePercyPigs · 27/11/2017 02:39

Of course she'll grow out of it! She's only 4 months. My DD would never nap in her cot. I had so many predictions of doom, till the day she started nursery at 10 months and from then on, she'd only do naps in her cot. Nursery is a game changer.

I used to get so stressed about her naps and trying to get her into the cot meant she'd only do 30 mins and then be over tired, or she'd refuse to nap at all which was fun for both of us!

Some good advice here and all worth a try of course, but I wanted to reassure you that you're not doing anything wrong and share my experience if that helps.

PossumBottom · 27/11/2017 07:31

Honestly, don't worry about nursery. Kids have their own routine there and will do things sleep (and food wise) that you will not see at home. No matter what though, they come home from nursery shattered and overtired. I wouldn't worry about anything until it's actually a problem

PossumBottom · 27/11/2017 07:34

I'm a babywearing peer supporter by the way (with a lot of experience). This sling napping behaviour is something we actively encourage. It's the best place for your baby, and they know it. Hence the long sleeps in the sling.

Original poster
KaPoul · 27/11/2017 08:45

Thank you everyone, all very reassuring. One day when she is a little independent Madame I will probably long for these sling naps again!

OP posts:
sophie150 · 27/11/2017 08:53

Agree that baby will be absolutely fine at nursery. My baby sling napped for months and months and transitioned fine out of my care.
The advantage of sling napping is you can do anything- be in the house or out of it. You're not tied to either a pram or a cot - massive bonus- particularly when you have a toddler too! And my baby was like yours and had a daily 3 hour nap which was awesome!

crazycatlady5 · 27/11/2017 08:56

Bad habits and babies = nonsense. ‘Bad’ habits are harmful things like smoking etc. Just go with it and baby will adjust at nursery.

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