11 week old doesn't stay asleep for naps

[Lovage]

DS2 goes down for naps pretty easily. Sometimes I bf him but mostly I just stick dummy in, rock him in arms a little and put him in hammock or moses basket still just about awake and he settles himself. But he only stays asleep for 20 mins tops. When he wakes he seems perfectly happy. Most days he'll only have about 4 20 minute naps all day. Most days he seems okay on this - when he gets grizzly he has another cat nap. About twice a week he has a day when he sleeps for a couple of two-three hour periods, more what I'd expect for his age.

I could live with this, although it makes juggling a toddler as well difficult. But his nights are terrible - feeds every 2-3 hours and won't settle between feeds. I wonder if he's chronically overtired. I've never heard of a young baby sleeping so little in the day time.

When he does sleep for longer it's usually when I've had him asleep in the sling for a long while before I put him down. I wonder whether he needs the security of getting deeply asleep in my arms? He is a very cuddly baby who likes to be in your arms a lot (hooray for slings).

Any similar experiences or advice?

No experience, but are you able to try having him in the sling for a while for every nap for a couple of days, just to see how it affects the night?

2-3 hours in the night isn't unheard of for his age, but not sleeping much in the day and not sleeping at night in between feeds suggests he could do with a bit more.

How much sleep do you reckon he gets in 24 hours?

Yep,
I agree with Hopefully. My 4 month DS doesn't really sleep much throughthe day but he does have a 6 hour chunk at night. My DS would sleep forever on me but will only nap in cot.

Thanks.

Yes, feeding every 2-3 hours I wouldn't count as terrible - DS1 did that until he was 6 months, it's the not settling between feeds that makes it terrible, for me, anyway.

He does sort of sleep at night - he tries to sleep but whimpers and tosses and turns and is very restless and needs constant attention (dummy in, rocking, feeding) to get back to sleep. If you count that as sleep, then he gets maybe 13-14 hrs sleep in 24. If you only count the bits where he's falling quietly asleep or actually asleep then I think he gets maybe 9 or 10 hours.

He did used to have reflux, which I thought was the trouble with his restlessness, but he seems to have outgrown that now.

Is he at all windy, from either end?

Does he dissolve into hysterics if you don't feed/rock him etc? I know my DS does, but some babies seem to prefer to be left to settle themselves, and interrupting the process only elongates it.

I reckon DS only gets something like 11 good hours sleep in 24, perhaps another 2 of light sleep. Used to be better, but he is waking up about every 2 hours in the night at the moment

My DD is similar at 8wks old. Have you tried doing whatever is necessary (sleep on you, vibrating chair, co-sleep at night) for a couple of days and nights to help him catch up on his sleep? If he is over-tired then you can get caught in a vicious cycle.

I tend to resort to sleeping on me (lots of rocking!) or in vibrating chair for an extra late-afternoon nap if I thinks DD hasn't slept enough during the day, otherwise the nights are hellish.

Just wanted to say as well that I really recommend trying co-sleeping for a night or two if you aren't doing it already, maybe after the later feed? We don't do it all the time but it is great for ensuring that everyone (you and him!) have a good chance of a decent night's sleep.

I know I'll get slated but have you tried putting him on his tummy? He seems to be in strong sleep cycles. Ds was the same - only napped for 30 min then woke crying. Put him on his tummy and he slept for 2 hours.

How old was he when yu put him on his tum??

He was 7 months admittedly, but I'd had 7 months of ridiculously short naps. I would have done it earlier if I'd known it would work.

Thanks all.

He is not particularly windy now, although he was when he was younger, so I don't think it's digestive discomfort anymore.

Co-sleeping sometimes works, but not always. He doesn't really like being flat on his back. When he does sleep it's in a hammock which is slightly curved or in the car seat (I know, not ideal, but I'm a bit desperate here). When he has fed to sleep with me lying down he often ends up sleeping on his side, so I might try that as a half-way-house to lying on his front.

He does nap better on the days his brother is at nursery because I can spend time and effort getting him to sleep. And he doesn't then get woken up by untender toddler attentions and games. But I can't do much about the days I've got both of them.

I say do what you can to get through it, car seat or no car seat!!!! You're sanity is important!!