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18 week old nap battles

7 replies

Sula225 · 23/03/2022 10:06

I'm at my wits end with my 18 week old DS as he just constantly fights daytime naps. He goes to bed after a bath & bottle around 6pm & generally has 2-3 feeds during the night waking at 6am.

We get him changed, fed & have some playtime. Within an hour he's showing tired signs like yawning, rubbing his eyes so I try to get him to nap. He used to nap in his buggy but has refused to do this recently, if I get him calm & put him in his cot he's instantly awake, thrashing about & crying. It can take an hour to get him to sleep & he wakes after 10-20 minutes still yawning.

This continues throughout the whole day, constant fighting & crying, sometimes screaming because he's so tired. I plan activities like baby groups & swimming but he's usually tired before we go so it always ends in tears (me & him!). Walks in his pram used to get him some sleep but now he's so aware of everything around him he's wide awake.

By 4-5pm he's so shattered he's ready to sleep finally. I just feel like my whole day is miserable as he's just so upset all the time. I really don't know what to do & it's getting me down so much. I've had to cancel plans recently with family & friends as he's just so worked up.

Any advice welcome!

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ohthejoysoftoddler · 23/03/2022 10:13

My first was like this, it was exhausting and I really feel your pain. I did a bit of gentle sleep training in the end to get him to nap, once he hit 6 months. I was on my knees and had to. I realised that I'd never put him down and just waited to see if he went to sleep.

With my second I was determined not to have the same again. So from about 3 months, for every nap, I would put her in the cot and Fife her five minutes to see if she'd go off- even if she had a grizzle (not a cry) I'd give her the full five mins, at least. If she didn't sleep I'd help her fall asleep, rock etc. at the start I had to do this for pretty much each one. And then she started to fall asleep alone for the first nap (the easiest) and then over time she did it for the others.

I also used the huckleberry app for help with sleep times - free version only - it did help me.

I expect a lot of people will say, just go with it etc. which is 100% fine and true for those who can. I'm a person who needs structure and predictability or it negatively impacts my mental health and so bad to take charge.

Sula225 · 23/03/2022 10:34

@ohthejoysoftoddler thank you so much for your reply. It's definitely affecting my mental health the way things are at the minute.

I will try the things you have mentioned & get the Huckleberry app. Hopefully things will improve soon, I'm going back to work in 3 months & want to enjoy this time with him.

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bombombo · 23/03/2022 15:15

No advice but solidarity - DS is almost 19 weeks and pretty similar as far as naps go 😵‍💫

Newmommy2021 · 23/03/2022 18:08

Hi. I have no advice but just wanted to leave you a comment to say you are not alone.
Everything you have said is what is going on with my baby who is now 22 weeks.
It’s so hard on your mental health but wanted to say you are doing a great job! X

Sula225 · 23/03/2022 18:32

Thank you @bombombo & @Newmommy2021 sorry you're going through this too but glad it's not just me!

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Thefaceofboe · 23/03/2022 22:28

Have you got a carrier? It’s the one thing my baby can’t resist. She was the same at 18 weeks so I can sympathise

Sula225 · 24/03/2022 17:04

@Thefaceofboe

Have you got a carrier? It’s the one thing my baby can’t resist. She was the same at 18 weeks so I can sympathise
We've tried a few different carriers & he's fine for a short while if I'm pottering around the house but won't go to sleep in it.
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