Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

6 week old only sleeps on me during day

16 replies

Tigger2013 · 14/09/2024 18:03

Hello
Since 4 weeks old my boy will only sleep on me or someone during the day. We used to be able to put him down in moses basket but now he instantly wakes doesn't matter how long he has been asleep for. At night it's totally different he Bf to sleep then goes into next to me crib which is at the end of my bed. I do have a carrier but it's a pain to put on. I have figured out a routine for my day. Average day sleep is 1 hour long. First nap on me. Second nap we are normally out with pram for a walk. Then at lunchtime he does 2 bigger naps back to back on me 1. 5 .hours wake for food back to sleep for 2. 5 hours. Then we into early evening and he struggles to nap but again will be on a person. Then we go up to bed at 830 lullaby chill out time pyjamas feed at 9 to which he falls asleep. I leave him sleeping on me for 15-20 mins then lie him down where he stays asleep or grunts away.
I just don't want to be doing the wiring thing and I get really worried if he doesn't sleep enough at moment it's between 14 and 16 hours sleep in 24 hours. But if I put him down and he wakes it's a nightmare getting him back to sleep then he end up cranky. He generally a, quiet happy little soul. I don't think he has reflux or anything liek that. But I could be wrong.
I suppose I am just worried he will only ever sleep on me during day.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Snowdrops17 · 14/09/2024 19:51

Mine will only sleep on me since 5 weeks now 13 weeks everyone says it's completely normal and just go with it which I understand but for me it's not sustainable. She has also started to not like sleeping on me or being rocked I think it's uncomfortable but won't / can't fall asleep by herself so for naps this week I've switched to rocking her in her buggy I've made it extra cozy and out the mattress off her noses basket in an a fluffy blanket to lay her on and she has taken to it very well and seems very content in it. Still have to rock her to sleep for bed though.

Original poster
Tigger2013 · 14/09/2024 21:29

Thank you. We had 2 naps today that he just couldn't settle resorted to putting him down in moses basket to chill out a bit then try again. Evenings are a struggle as he fights any sleep after 430 so am gonna find another way this weekto get him to nap as 430 - 830 is just too long and he gets super fussy. He did manage 20 min nap today at 6. I have found white noise helps occationally but he still stays on me. As I have a sort of routine now I just do what I can around house in those moments. I had a nap. On sofa with him today know I shouldn't butntriednto make it as safe as possible ( used cushions to rest my arms on so baby has a buffer if he moves tbh he moves I wake up instantly) my eldest said he would watch us lol. Can always sort out sleeping when he is older just wanted to check as I don't remember my eldest doing this however it was 11. 5 years ago and I seem to have forgotten everything lol.

OP posts:
BurbageBrook · 14/09/2024 21:40

How is he with the pram? Mine would only go off with the pram (going pretty fast!)

BurbageBrook · 14/09/2024 21:41

Re the sofa cosleeping that really doesn't sound safe. Could you try cosleeping safely with him in bed instead during naps?

SnowSnow · 14/09/2024 21:46

This is normal but hard I know!
Theres some instagram accounts you may find helpful

littlenestsleep
heysleepybaby
foxandthemoon_sleep
secondstartotheright_sleep
sleepymoonbabe

Congratulations on your baby 😊

Chickoletta · 14/09/2024 21:49

After a few weeks of fighting it and trying to get them down in the cot so that I could ‘do things’, I decided to go to bed with mine for these naps. Sometimes I slept, sometimes I read, sometimes I listened to things with headphones in, sometimes I just watched them. Now that they are 11 and 14, I’d give so much to have just one of those cuddly nap times back.
It won’t feel like it now, but they are tiny for such a short time so do whatever it takes. Fuck the dishes and the hoovering!

Mintearo7 · 14/09/2024 21:54

Totally normal. I would try and make effort with putting on the carrier though - it’s makes things so much easier.

BurbageBrook · 14/09/2024 21:56

Chickoletta · 14/09/2024 21:49

After a few weeks of fighting it and trying to get them down in the cot so that I could ‘do things’, I decided to go to bed with mine for these naps. Sometimes I slept, sometimes I read, sometimes I listened to things with headphones in, sometimes I just watched them. Now that they are 11 and 14, I’d give so much to have just one of those cuddly nap times back.
It won’t feel like it now, but they are tiny for such a short time so do whatever it takes. Fuck the dishes and the hoovering!

Love this.

Edenmum2 · 14/09/2024 22:09

Tigger2013 · 14/09/2024 18:03

Hello
Since 4 weeks old my boy will only sleep on me or someone during the day. We used to be able to put him down in moses basket but now he instantly wakes doesn't matter how long he has been asleep for. At night it's totally different he Bf to sleep then goes into next to me crib which is at the end of my bed. I do have a carrier but it's a pain to put on. I have figured out a routine for my day. Average day sleep is 1 hour long. First nap on me. Second nap we are normally out with pram for a walk. Then at lunchtime he does 2 bigger naps back to back on me 1. 5 .hours wake for food back to sleep for 2. 5 hours. Then we into early evening and he struggles to nap but again will be on a person. Then we go up to bed at 830 lullaby chill out time pyjamas feed at 9 to which he falls asleep. I leave him sleeping on me for 15-20 mins then lie him down where he stays asleep or grunts away.
I just don't want to be doing the wiring thing and I get really worried if he doesn't sleep enough at moment it's between 14 and 16 hours sleep in 24 hours. But if I put him down and he wakes it's a nightmare getting him back to sleep then he end up cranky. He generally a, quiet happy little soul. I don't think he has reflux or anything liek that. But I could be wrong.
I suppose I am just worried he will only ever sleep on me during day.

Yep mine did too. I miss it now.

OhForGoodnessSake1 · 14/09/2024 22:15

@Tigger2013 - it's so hard when they sleep on you, you don't end up getting any quality sleep and that makes everything so much harder. Sounds like your eldest is great, trying to help.

Just to give you hope ... DS2 was similar, except it was at night too. What finally helped in our case was my wonderful mother getting me a special baby sheepskin (so safe for him to sleep on, though I was worried so still put a sheet on it), which we would warm a bit with a wheatbag, so that it felt more like a person. I think we also put something that smelled of me in the basket. It felt like such a miracle putting him down in the moses basket the first time he didn't wake up immediately. Took a bit longer to get him to fall asleep in it, but getting past being able to put him down made such a difference.

Hope you find something that works for you soon!

Original poster
Tigger2013 · 15/09/2024 00:28

Pram is OK goes off OK but again as sson as stops moving he awake either instantly or within 15 minutes. I can't have whole pram inside but can take. Carry cot off and bring that in.
Co sleeping with him on bed next to me doesn't work either although haven't tried in last week may try again.
Other thibsg I didn't mention he hates swaddling tired arms down and arms uo. Neither of these calm him and he will scream which isn't like him to do, he won't take dummy at all just spits it back out straightaway. Tried 2 types. Also wrapped moses basket mattress in one of my worn shirts nope, warming mattress nope, I like idea of sheepskin thing may try that.

OP posts:
Dfjackson · 15/09/2024 03:30

My baby only contact naps in the day too (16 weeks old now)
I resorted to a ‘Rock it’ - it keeps the pram rocking and I actually put it on the snuzpod at night.. the day time naps are getting a little better with this and it does help in the night once or twice. Worth a try!

Snowdrops17 · 17/09/2024 15:48

I paid the subscription fee for huckleberry and this is what they are suggesting , going to try it has to be worth a shot my back is broke rocking this child for 5 naps a day and bed time and it can take 4/5 attempts to get her to sleep before I can't sit down with her on top of me !

6 week old only sleeps on me during day
MysticCatLady · 17/09/2024 15:55

My daughter was exactly like this. Fine at night in her Moses basket but in the day she'd only sleep on me. She also hated to be swaddled. In the end I just accepted it and watched lots of box sets during her naps, luckily she was my first child. She grew out of it naturally at around 5 months. She's 16 years old now and I barely get a cuddle from her.

SatinHeart · 17/09/2024 16:01

Try a different style of carrier if you can. I couldn't get the hang of the stretchy wrap ones at all but got one that buckled instead which was much better.

Dfjackson · 18/09/2024 02:03

Tigger2013 · 14/09/2024 18:03

Hello
Since 4 weeks old my boy will only sleep on me or someone during the day. We used to be able to put him down in moses basket but now he instantly wakes doesn't matter how long he has been asleep for. At night it's totally different he Bf to sleep then goes into next to me crib which is at the end of my bed. I do have a carrier but it's a pain to put on. I have figured out a routine for my day. Average day sleep is 1 hour long. First nap on me. Second nap we are normally out with pram for a walk. Then at lunchtime he does 2 bigger naps back to back on me 1. 5 .hours wake for food back to sleep for 2. 5 hours. Then we into early evening and he struggles to nap but again will be on a person. Then we go up to bed at 830 lullaby chill out time pyjamas feed at 9 to which he falls asleep. I leave him sleeping on me for 15-20 mins then lie him down where he stays asleep or grunts away.
I just don't want to be doing the wiring thing and I get really worried if he doesn't sleep enough at moment it's between 14 and 16 hours sleep in 24 hours. But if I put him down and he wakes it's a nightmare getting him back to sleep then he end up cranky. He generally a, quiet happy little soul. I don't think he has reflux or anything liek that. But I could be wrong.
I suppose I am just worried he will only ever sleep on me during day.

Morning from one sleep deprived mum to another!
My baby is now 16 weeks and she is currently lay on my chest going through the 4 month sleep regression.
We went through the exact same as you in the early days and it was much easier to accept that it was normal for baby to want to feel safe and be on mine or my partners chest for a while. Baby will sleep elsewhere just not yet, I think baby was 4-6 weeks before they did which feels so long for you but it goes so quick!
Get a shift pattern going we did 4 hour stints each even though I was breastfeeding and had to wake for some of that once she fed I returned her to hubby. She will go through some crazy sleep patterns in the next few weeks just roll with what she wants comfort cuddle and be there as much as possibly it’s natural for baby to want to feel you x
I don’t regret keeping her close and cherish little memories of her tiny self on our chests. She is now huge at 4 months and we’re going through it all over again.
The sleep deprivation is terrible you just somehow carry on through it… get as much support as you can from relatives so you can catch up on sleep.
I found wearing a sling in the day helped just so I could make a cuppa and walk in the garden for fresh air whilst she slept.
good luck feel free to message me it’s my first baby too so I know the feeling of ‘is this normal!’ Xxx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page