Should I mess with this..........won't can't sleep alone during the day

[EmMcK]

I have a happy DS who is four months old. We haven't imposed any real routine on him, but have let him lead us folling on from on demand BFing. He is a good sleeper and after a roll around naked/bath/feed, will go to sleep at about 7.00 and then wakes once or twice to feed during the night. During the day he fancies a couple of two-three hour naps and wakes from these very happy, but the problem is that these have to be ON me or DS. I have tried popping him in his cot when half or full asleep at nap time, but he will only stay asleep for about ten mins then wakes up and is grumpy for the rest of the day and doesn't sleep as well at night. I don't want to mess with his sleeping too much as I know that we are lucky that he sleeps well at night, but I can't spend five house lying down each day!! Can anyone please suggest what I can do to encourage him to sleep alone?

I don't know. I have an 11 month old who has NEVER slept during the day unless in the car. Some babies don't sleep during the day.
All my others(5 of them) slept regularly regularly.
Maybe someone will come and offer advice, but I can only offer sympathy!

I don't know. I have an 11 month old who has NEVER slept during the day unless in the car. Some babies don't sleep during the day.
All my others(5 of them) slept regularly regularly.
Maybe someone will come and offer advice, but I can only offer sympathy!

opps

Have you tried putting him down in his pram instead of his cot? You can wait until he's really sleepy then put him down and rock it until he falls asleep - that's how I eventually got my ds to sleep not on me. I think it was because he was already used to falling asleep in his pram and it's a bit cosier than a cot...I used to put him down on top of his pramsuit, not sure if that helped but it became a superstition!

I was just going to post this same thing! My son is 5 months old and is the same way during the day! His night sleep is terrific! During the day he seems to need 3 naps, but sleeps way better on my than in his crib. It's too bad I can't utilize his naps to get stuff done around the house? Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi EmMcK

We had the exact same problem with our 8-week old DS. It is very limiting having to do everything with one hand as you've always got the baby in the other. I wouldn't have minded his lack of sleep except for the fact that he became extremely over tired as a result. He would only sleep if I walked the streets with the pram or drove around in the car. Problem was, I couldn't get out of the house because I couldn't get ready!

Anyway, we invested in an Amby hammock and it is an absolute Godsend. At the first signs of tiredness, he goes in there swaddled with a dummy and after rocking for about 5 minutes, his eyes close and he falls asleep. He sleeps well in there and if he stirs, the hammock gently rocks him back to sleep. I really didn't think it would work but he seems to love it. As a result, he is a more contented little baby. We got ours 2nd hand from ebay - 93 quid - pricey but well worth a try.

My baby seems to fall asleep at the breast...which works at night. I am at a loss during the day. Babyisaac you have a great idea. EmMcK, have you tried anything like that? Sounds like it might be worth a try. We put away our swing, as our son doesn't really like it, but it may work for you? I'm hoping that this is just a phase!

i fear it might take a little bit of putting him in the cot awake and him learning to go of by himself. will involve some crying so depends on your view of that ...... some just wont though and others will when they are a litte bit older so depends what baby you have got there!

Hi. I had the same problem with DS 15 weeks. He is a good night sleeper but wouldnt go asleep during the day unless I carried him or BF him to sleep. As soon as I put him down/detached he woke. As a result he was tired all day long or I had to spend 5 hours a day in motion or attached. I reached my personal limit about 6 days ago and decided I had to change something. I noticed I got all tense and didnt enjoy my time with him because I was worried when he would need to sleep again and if I would have the strenth to carry him again. Although I thought I would never do so (I favour attachment parenting) I started the shh-pat method. I put him down and patted him to sleep. He does cry and it breaks my heart and I have had my doubts, but he goes to sleep in about 2-15 min (started with 15, now 2 or no crying at all). The first two times he wailed (but I comforted him at all times), now it's more a complaining gurgle or nothing at all. He is obviously very tired, so I tell myself I am addressing his need for sleep and am not breaking his will IYSWIM. He sleeps much more now and falls asleep much more easily. He also settles himself when he wakes up after 45min and as a result gets much longer naps now. He seems to be a happier baby and I am much more relaxed since I am not any longer completely slaved to address his first wimper because I am afraid it will become a wail. Well, as you can tell from my post, this was a big decision for me - he's so tiny!- and I have my issues with it but I believe it was the right decision for us.