How to get my baby to sleep in cot during the day

[lilbooboo1]

Hi :) just needing a little advice on how to get my 3month old to nap in her cot during the day. I've probably made a bad habit of always holding her whilst she sleeps as she would wake up when I put her down. (Longer nap for her seemed more important then me being able to move around 😂) Sometimes I can put her down but she will often wake within 20 mins if that! I've tried swaddling and it helps slightly but not much. Thanks in advance 😀

I have the exact same with dd who is also 3 months. Someone told me it was because they only have short 30 minute cycles at this age and then go into a light sleep which they wake from. They advised me to start patting and swishing towards the end of the cycle to push them into the next one. As yet I havent had much luck but will keep trying. Good luck.

I 100% recommend the pram nap. I gave into this at about 12 weeks with my first. Into pram with white noise, Snoozeshade over and push back and forth until asleep. Park in kitchen and get on with your day. Never affected nighttime settling in crib for us, and meant that I wasn’t tied to the house for naps like some of my friends. In fact, they all started doing the same once they’d had enough of having to rush home from meet ups at 12 for afternoon nap.

DD2 (one week old) has already begun pram naps.

Totally agree with pp and pram naps. I couldn't get my baby to nap for longer than 20-30 mins. By using the pram, I did eventually get her into the cot for two hour lunch time naps (which honestly seemed like an impossible dream when she was small) and she was happy to nap in pram when out which is helpful!

Try a bouncer - fatedestiny advice. Keep bouncing before baby due to sleep. Pot of tea. Watch TV. Dummy, and keep popping in if chucks out. When LO stirs bounce away.

I found she wouldn't give up to sleep in bouncer. So I use a pram no movement for me (took ages for her to get used to that) white noise and dummy. Hold her chest.

Or go for a long walk in pram see if she will drop off without you?

Tbh I couldn't get my LO not to sleep on me until 4/4.5 month old and even then took ALOT of encouragment and patience

I still don't bother with cot yet. I like the routine atm, I will try at some point but I think I wait until she's in her proper cot 🤷🏼‍♀️

So lovely to not be alone experiencing this ❤️

Thanks everyone! ive managed to get her to nap in the pram before so might need to start doing it regularly I know I'll need to get something sorted because I can't sit around all day for much longer 😂 luckily she sleeps well in her cot at night. Got to admit it is nice to have a cuddle with her, I'm sure the time will come where she's off and I hardly get that time haha x

Yes to pram naps! You’ll be so pleased you’ve done it that way when you can head out wherever for the day and not worry about whether they’ll nap. From 6 months mine would have their morning nap in their cot at home but the longer after lunch nap is always in the pram. Both of mine are great night time sleepers too so the pram naps didn’t cause any problems.

DS2 at 5 months currently has all his naps in the pram - I bung him in the pram in the kitchen with the extractor fan on & he either settles himself there or I rock him backwards & forwards if he won’t settle.

DD1 would only nap in the pram until she was about 10 months old & went down to 1 nap a day & then she was fine having her nap in the cot.

I don’t think non-cot naps are uncommon in the first year.

Mine always slept in their pram/stroller as it was handy to be able to rock them if needed. I also think they liked the hood and snugness.

Bouncer chair was also a good nap spot in the early weeks.

Nice to hear other mums are in the same boat so I’m following just for advice & to offer some solidarity!

My LO is just over 4 months & mostly contact naps. Some days it’s nice to put my feet up, watch a box set etc & others I feel guilty for not trying to change things. But when I’ve had the energy to try I find 90% of the time it doesn’t work & she wakes when I put her down. Then the day becomes stressful cause her naps don’t work out & she’s cranky etc. It’s hard to make plans, though I try to get out when I can. Just like to make sure the first nap of the day is a decent one then doesn’t feel as stressful if the next one isn’t great if out & about.

Recently tried a few long walks & successfully managed an hours pram nap. Me & husband also started going for a long drive, grabbing a drive thru coffee & she naps in the car seat. It’s hit & miss so sometimes we end up with tears & we go home but when it works out it also gives us chance to catch up as well. I’ve done it on my own before too, got her to sleep, parked up somewhere nice & read a book! The things we do Appreciate not everyone has a car though.

For first couple of months she would also only sleep on us at night so like you I’m just thankful & relieved that she’s happy in her crib at night now.

Sounds like a pram nap at home has worked well for people so I think I’m going to give it a try!

Best of luck with everything!

We've just tried a pram nap and I think this could me a game changer for me and dd. 👍😄

I'm always worried about setting bad habits, for his naps I put him on our big bed and not in his cot as I want him to nap independent from me... Is that going to cause problems in the future? he sleeps in his cot at night time so might try putting him in his cot in a few weeks (he's 9 weeks old)

@MaisieGreenYellow have you tried laying your baby on your PJs? I feel like it's made a difference since I've done this!

My DS is 14 months and I still nap him in the pram - which was a vast improvement from feeding him to sleep and then putting him in cot. And more steps in for me!

@Nesski nope but will try it thank you!

It’s hard to know what to do for best as with everything isn’t it. I follow secondstartotheright_sleep on Instagram & really like her advice. Would definitely recommend!

@lilbooboo1 how did it go in the end for you? And @Nix99 and @MaisieGreenYellow ? I’m the same situation you both were, 3 months, good at sleeping in cot in day but just won’t for longer than 20 mins in the day so I have to give up and have her on me (or face a screaming baby). Currently living in a very cramped flat with parents and sisters so also just feel like I don’t have the headspace to enforce a cot nap and deal with the grouchiness from lack of sleep after

for those say pram naps what do you mean exactly? I can go out for lunch and 50% of the time she will sleep in pram with a bit of rocking. Last few days though I’ve gone on long walks and she’s woken up after 20 and not gone back to sleep 😵💫. Is the idea with a pram nap that you push the pram at home until she’s asleep and then just monitor and jiggle when needed? I’m not sure it will work for me :( plus just so loud everywhere in the flat. Back in our house (renovations) in the new year and it could not come sooner I feel like I’m losing it here

I'll be honest she's 2.5 yrs old now and I never managed to get her to sleep in the cot during the day and she's never been a pram baby. As soon as she could walk she hated the pram so no naps were had there 🙄. I continued to hold her whilst she slept, made sure I had drinks, snacks and tv remote near me. I just said to my self it's a quiet hour for me to watch a programme or catch up on social media. I understand it must be hard with having a busy house hold though. I would do what ever you find easiest with the living position you're in. Don't worry about "making bad habits" because at the end of the day your baby is only little once and it will be no time that they end up dropping all their naps. So no more sleepy cuddles 😞 my little one still naps but once she got bigger I started letting her nap in my bed during the day and I would lay next to her till she was fast asleep then sneak away. Obviously she was capable of getting off the bed and moving around safely at this point. I still choose to lay with her and watch tv and leave the house work till later! May as well whilst I can haha 😂 the idea or a pram nap would be to get your little one to sleep just moving the pram and then rock it when needed like you said. It's just going to be hard unless you have a quiet space to do it 😞 I definitely feel for you! X