4-week-old won't stay asleep during daytime.... why???

[Maenad]

This is my second child and I was so sure I'd be less clueless this time round! Ho hum.

She is sleeping brilliantly at night (hooray) - we are swaddling her and I think it really helps. But during the daytime she doesn't seem able to stay asleep for more than about 20 mins unless she is being held or pushed in her pram. As soon as the pram stops or she is put down she wakes up. Also if I put her down awake to sleep and settle her in her moses basket (a lengthy operation) she will wake up about 5 mins later screaming blue murder. I can sometimes get her to go back to sleep in the moses basket again by shushing and patting or using the hairdryer for white noise, but she then wakes again 5 or 10 mins later.

I am baffled. I was convinced it was to do with the swaddling, but today I put her down and settled her, swaddled, in her moses basket, and the same thing happened. I know there is probably no answer to this but - why why why why?????

Also - can anyone remind me, as I have forgotten about tiny babies, whether it is to be expected that she will be either asleep or feeding or crying with maybe a total of 10 mins contented awake time in a day? Is starting to feel like a bit of a grind...

Sorry for long post. Am feeling a bit out of my depth and a bit cross with myself for feeling this way second time around.

Hello I think from what I can remember (although nearly 2.5 yrs ago for me now so tis bit hazy!) this is normal. I think they have a sleep cycle at this age of 20mins, your best bet IMO is to keep going with putting her down for naps but make sure she is tightly swaddled, the room is dark and quiet. If she is sleeping well at night she can obviously settle herself ok so it might just be getting a daytime routine established, the baby whisperer is quite useful for young babies by which you feed baby, keep baby awake for an hour or so and then put down for a nap and repeat!

Good luck Xx

Also if all else fails get youeself a decent baby sling and tie her to you! Young babies love the closeness and you might find she settles down a bit XxX

Funny you should say that.... I spent this evening doing everything with her in a sling, and felt much more relaxed and in control!

But I am keen that she should be able to be put down to nap, as DD1 was such a disastrous napper as a baby and toddler that I had to either walk for miles with the pushchair or lie down with her (and it would still take her about an hour to get to sleep). I'm worried that I won't be able to do all that kind of stuff if I also have to look after DD1, so I am desperate for her to be a bit more organised about her sleeps.

Thanks for your reassurance. I swaddled her for a nap today with good results, so am now feeling a lot happier and more confident. The combination of swaddling and sling has made for a much more tranquil day!

oh good glad you had a better day! Am sure she will settle herself for day time nap if you are consistent with a daytime routine. Good luck xX