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Sleep

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Original poster

At my wits end!!

17 replies

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 07:00

My 6 week old ds won't sleep during the day unless he is held, in the car or out in the pram, which is impossible withan almost 5 year old to entertain. My dp is also going back to work this weekend and I'm really emotional about this as I have no idea how I'm going to cope.
I don't really want to let him sleep on me during the day as he is usually good at going to sleep at night he just gets put in the moses basket and will drift off himself but if we do this during the day he will lie for a few minutes then start screaming and no amount of singing, our hand on his chest etc will send him to sleep.

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OverTheRainbow88 · 26/03/2021 07:08

It’s painful but unfortunately quite normal.
4th trimester and all jazz! I would just go with what gets him to sleep whilst he’s so young.

Aria2015 · 26/03/2021 07:13

@Cherrytree1621 have you tried swaddling? It really was the only thing that got either of mine to nap independently during the day when they were tiny. They always did their longest naps when held at that age though. Swaddled I could get 20 - 40 minutes, being held they would do 2 hours!

Original poster

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 07:14

@OverTheRainbow88

It’s painful but unfortunately quite normal. 4th trimester and all jazz! I would just go with what gets him to sleep whilst he’s so young.

He never used to be so difficult during the day, I guess I'm just really frustrated too

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CloudFormations · 26/03/2021 07:17

Mine is the same OP. At 4 months he still won’t sleep anywhere but the moving pram.

Have you tried a sling? That worked on my baby until he got too heavy for me to carry him for 6 hours a day.

The other thing you could try is to build up a night time sleep association, so play white noise or something for 20 mins while he drifts off in his Moses basket, then try recreating the same environment for naps. It didn’t work for me, but I know it does work for some mums!

Original poster

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 07:50

[quote Aria2015]@Cherrytree1621 have you tried swaddling? It really was the only thing that got either of mine to nap independently during the day when they were tiny. They always did their longest naps when held at that age though. Swaddled I could get 20 - 40 minutes, being held they would do 2 hours! [/quote]
I have tried everything, it's driving me crazy, he never used to be like this it's only been the last 2 weeks or so, I don't know if it's because during the day we try to get him to sleep downstairs though at night he's in the room with us.

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Original poster

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 07:52

@CloudFormations

Mine is the same OP. At 4 months he still won’t sleep anywhere but the moving pram.

Have you tried a sling? That worked on my baby until he got too heavy for me to carry him for 6 hours a day.

We have tried music works on occasions but I think by that point he's just so tired so will fall asleep, we try to get him to sleep downstairs with us during the day but at night he's in our room with us

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RisingSunn · 26/03/2021 08:03

When my little ones are like this. I have no option but to wear them in a carrier to get anything done. ( I have a 6 week old so I’m right with you.)

Original poster

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 08:24

@RisingSunn does your 6 week old sleep well at night? I just don't want him to get used to being on me all day then at night he's put in the moses basket on his own, the last thing I want is co-sleeping. My oldest wasn't like this he was happy and chilled out anywhere.

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OverTheRainbow88 · 26/03/2021 09:26

I wouldn’t compare to your eldest, it really is normal for a 6 week old to want to be held all the time- not fun but there are so tiny and have been inside you next to your heart beat for 9 months- it’s natural.

Poppy709 · 26/03/2021 09:38

It's really normal I'm afraid (my 6 month old still will only sleep on me or in the car seat/pram in the day) but slept well in his cot at night until the 4 month regression. Apparently the sleep hormones are different at night so they will tolerate a different environment. Mine also was fine with sleeping anywhere in the day until about 4 weeks old, I think he was still quite sleepy until then. The only thing I can suggest is a sling/wrap, I embraced it and just put my feet up and watched a lot of netflix but I understand this is really hard with another child at home.

The other thing you can get are rockers for the pram, you could maybe see if you could push him to sleep in the pram and then attach one of those he might stay asleep with the motion?

RisingSunn · 26/03/2021 10:02

I totally understand. Yes they do. I’m getting 3-4 hour stretches.

MotherOfDragon20 · 26/03/2021 11:42

Me 5 month old has never had a nap out of my arms since she was about 4 weeks old. Personally I find the stress of trying to get her down and then inevitably dealing with a rubbish nap worse than just putting my feet up and accepting it and now actually enjoying it! She has always slept well at night in her cot doing an 8 hour stretch at the start of the night. Thankfully her inability to be put down during the day has not translated to the night time. It might be worth trying to relax about it, doing what it takes to get her to sleep, put her in a sling and get in with your day with your other child and see how it goes, you might find she will sleep better at night since she is well rested during the day.

Original poster

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 13:40

@MotherOfDragon20 thanks for your response, I think I'm definitely stressing myself over this, he sleeps well at night will usually goes down around 10 wake somewhere between 2.30 - 3.30 then back down till around half 7/8, I just think my biggest fear is if I let him sleep on me during the day then he will at night, will be trying all suggestions and hopefully one will work

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MotherOfDragon20 · 26/03/2021 14:18

@Cherrytree1621this was my worry as well but it never seemed to be a problem. I spent the first 3 months of my daughters life stressing out trying to get her to go down for naps and she just wouldn’t do it, life got a lot easier when I just embraced it. With a 6 week old baby and a 5 year old you don’t need the stress, do whatever is easiest, let him nap on you while your 5 year old has some quiet screen time, walk to the park and let him sleep in the pram while you have a coffee and your 5 year old runs about and if you do find it is impacting the nights he’s young enough to try and change things.

PineappleCat · 26/03/2021 14:28

I used to rock mine in their previous with my foot in the house, worked every time give it a go OP. However they don't sleep now he's ten I'm lucky if he sleeps longer than 3 hours a night.

PineappleCat · 26/03/2021 14:29

*pram not previous 🙇🏻‍♀️

Original poster

Cherrytree1621 · 26/03/2021 15:24

Thanks everyone for your responses, will definitely be trying all suggestions, though today he has been better so far. Also is it normal for him to drop in feeds he was on 6oz but has dropped back down to 3/4? he is ff

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