6week old trouble with napping during day

My 6 week old DD will not go down in anything during the day (5am to 9pm). We've tried swing, bouncer, nap nanny, rock n play, crib, pack and play, carseat, walking her in the stroller etc. She ONLY wants to be held to nap. If we try to lull her on us and then gently sneak her into something else she immediately wake up and screams.

It's odd because once 9pm hits we put her down for bed in RNP and she sleeps 3 hr stretches during the night. Then BAM 5am hits and she will not go down in anything else until bedtime again.

Is this normal? Did anyone else's LO go through this? What can I do? She's exhausted during the day.

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

I am going through the same exact thing and my DS is just over 6 weeks also. I find if I swaddle him sometimes he wil stay down but it doesn't always work. I am hoping that other BTDT moms can shed some light!

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

I have to swaddle DD, give her a pacifier, hum, and walk/sway. Once she's sleeping she'll let us put her down.

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

should have added swaddle to my list of 'doesn't works'.

If I swaddle her and rock and sush (5 S's) she'll quiet and sleep on me. Once I place her in something the crying starts.

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

I wish I had advice for you, however, both of my DC are/were that way. My DD (10.5 wks) sleeps in the Moby wrap most of the time. I do try to put her down and sometimes she'll sleep 30 or 40 minutes, but it's really a matter of luck.

I will say that eventually my DS grew out of it so I am assuming that DD will also.

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

My DS was like that. He would wake up if you tried to put him down for a nap. I would say his first 3 months, he probably slept about 2 hours per day TOTAL for naps (10 min here, 20 min there) during a 12 hour period unless you were holding him, then you could get an hour here and there.

Then around 7pm, he was probably so exhausted he started longer stretches. He did have a milk allergy and reflux so I don't know how much that impacted. But he's now 10 months and still high maintenance in terms of his personality, so who knows. At 4 months he started sleeping longer stretches for naps without us holding him.

Have you tried a sound machine?

ETA: Maybe some type of carrier? I know it's not the same as having your hands totally free, but a few people suggested it to me when DS was very small and I tried it a few times.

Message edited 5/6/2012 9:08:54 PM.

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

I would try putting her down before she falls asleep. Shh her for a while and pat/rub her back. And also try getting her to nap 3 hours after she wakes. If she's awake too long, she is probably getting overtired and then has a hard time settling in to sleep.

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

ds is the same at 9.5 wks now since week 5. he had reflux though. hope he grows out of it soon!

Re: 6week old trouble with napping during day

DS did that sometimes. He would go through phases. I have a Moby Wrap and he passes out within minutes of me wearing him. I used to let him sleep for as long as he wanted but now at 12w we are crib training for naps. I put him down when he's sleepy but still awake. In an arms-out swaddle. Sound machine or iPod on. And offer a paci. When he wakes and cries I let him cry for 2mins then go in and soothe him. I do this until he is out. The first time it took about 5 times, now it takes 1 or 2 times before hes out. We started this at 8w by the recommendation of my ped.