Naps for 6 Week Old

I have had 11 and the sleeping patterns are so varied. I think you just have to go on instinct for that particular child. For some of them I tried a transition kind of thing. Laying down and then sliding them off my chest when they fall asleep, playing music when I nurse them to sleep so they get used to going to sleep to that music then transitioning them to nursing then going into the bed still awake and then finally just music, on days they were really grouchy I just held them if that is what it took on that day. Just try and see what works but go on mothers intuition for this one child not on what the norm is. Is there really a text book baby? My experience tells me no. A child sleeps when they are tierd and some will take frequent short naps some times. I had some that always seemed to do that and never slept as much as "they were supposed to." Hope that is somewhat comforting.

Sincerely,
K. B

www.shaklee.net/takecontrol

I only have a minute but here are my first thoughts...

Is the room in which you dd sleeps dark during the day? If not try putting up DARK curtains. You could start with a dark blanket at first and then if that works buy dark curtains later (Eclipse brand is pretty good).

My two children (3 & 10 mo.) have always taken day time naps. I do have a friend with a 3 mo. old who is doing the same thing your dd is doing (She plans to try the curtains). I would really recommend continuing to seek out a solution that doesn't involve the swing because chances are your little sweetie will get hooked. I would really try letting her cry some more. I know it may be somewhat hard but as far as I know she NEEDS day time rest. It would be better for her to have to cry some and establish good sleep patterns than for her to be miserable all day and not be getting the rest she needs to grow and be happy.

Hope this helps! God bless!

First off, I am convinced that women come from the womb, difficult creatures. Ya, know the whole Men Are From Mars and Women are from Venus thing? My son was easy to teach,minded when I spoke. Mind you my children are very far apart in age.

I however, think that their sleeping habits are our faults. I did all the wrong things with both of them. I rocked the rear end out of a rocker in just three years. They both would wake when I put them down or movement stopped. Now, I just put my girl down and she says,"night,night".
I stopped all the nonsense. Your baby is too young for the "let them cry it out method". That's just my opinion.

Try a morning bath around 945, music or love on mommie time for 10 minutes and then a feeding. I say put her swaddled and in a play pen with a pillow case that smells like you. I did these things and my girl takes two,two hour naps a day and sleeps all night. My daughter is now 15 months old but has been doing this since about five months. I just could not get any other stuff done. Good luck and trust me, it gets crazier, they learn to WALK!!!!!!!!!!!! God is good and my girl is keeping me on my toes. I will pray that the Lord gives you the knowledge, rest and peace that you need.

Sounds pretty normal to me. I would get a sling and 'wear' your baby. I usually hold my babies all day during the day for the first 3 months or until they can 'let go' during the day. This is the way all of my babies were for the first 3 months. I have happy well adjusted kids. They aren't addicted to a certain way of sleeping. Your baby will be fine sleeping in the swing for a while until they get used to non-motion or mom cuddling them. They were used to movement as well as your sound and the coziness of your tummy. It can take quite a while for a baby to get used to more open spaces. I would NOT let the baby cry. Don't ignore them. That is the only way they can communicate with you, the mother, to tell you what they need. This is a need for an infant. If you don't want to wear the baby, I would just continue the swing (I did the swing with my first two). With #4 and #5...I held them during their naps. None were cryers (still aren't) and they are happy kids!

Good luck!

Hey

One of my twins was like that and still is at 4. His twin brother would sleep all day and night if we let him but of course we woke him up during the day after 3 hrs so he would sleep at night, but I would say its normal cause my littlest one done it and still wakes up at 7 and up all day long. Just let her sleep in the swing and if it lays back then do that and just enjoy her cause she will be up and walking soon.

It sounds normal to me. All four of my babies went through phases of sleeping and napping well and not so well and wanted different sleeping places at different times. If she'll let you put her in the swing I'd take it.

I had to hold my son at that age quite often as well, woke up as soon as I put him down, just like yours. I often fell asleep holding him in the rocking chair, on the couch, in the bed...LOL...It was good to get sleep wherever and whenever I could. I had to take him to bed with me sometimes so that we both could get some sleep. I also used the sling often to get what I could done around the house. Now, at 7 months, his naps are regular, at 10 am and 2 pm on the dot. He has no problem staying asleep when I put him down in his crib or pack 'n play either. So, holding him while he slept did not create bad sleeping habits.

I also started reading a book called "Health Sleep Habits, Healthy Child", which helped me understand how a baby sleeps naturally. The book instructs parents to put the baby to sleep EARLY, like 6 or 7 pm. Through trial and error, I found that between 7 pm and 9 pm works best for us. If he had short naps, then I put him to bed earlier. If he napped well, then later. That way, my husband and I get peace and quiet for dinner and a little snuggle time on the couch. Boy, has that worked wonders for our marriage! Anyway, my little one wakes up a few times early on to nurse, and then sleeps well until about 4 or 5 am. I know, an early start to the day, but it gives you a little sanity. Try it!

I would say find a sling or a wrap that you like (not a snugli or baby bjorn, they're not womb-like enough), and just wear her around all day! You'll have your hands to get things done, and she'll get the motion she likes. And don't worry about it "conditioning" her to only fall asleep in the sling. I've nursed my now 15 month old to sleep since he was born (experts tell you never to do that), but he can go to sleep just fine now without nursing. It comes with age, maturity, and independence.

My baby didn't start napping regularly until he was around 6 months old. I think naps are more common for older babies. It didn't co-incide with introducing solids, as he wouldn't eat/take those till later. I think routine is something that older babies do, when little like yours routine is often non-existant unfortunately! Breastfed babies seem to sleep less than bottle-fed ones, I am breastfeeding, are you? I don't think the lack of sleep is harming her, but the grumpiness is annoying! Don't worry it does get easier! Taking them out in the stroller is a good alternative, they cheer up/relax and sometimes even sleep!

Since you love to read, read Babywise. It really helped us get my son on a good sleep routine when he was about your daughter's age.

Hi A.! I don't usually do this but, your question caught my eye. Not sure if this means anything but, will start here -- I had my daughter at 41 -- now 44. For the first 6 months, she never took a nap. The only exception, when we were in the car driving around or I held her, she sleep. With that said, she has always been a GREAT night-time sleeper and still is -- from about six weeks she slept from about 10 PM to about 6 or 7 AM. Now, at two (3 in August) she goes to bed at 8 or 9 PM and sleeps until 9 or 10 AM.

When she was a baby and didn't take naps, it bothered me but, looking back on it I'm thankful she had her sleeping routine down right -- it could have been flipped...slept during the day and up all night. Now that, would not have worked for me. Though tough during the day for you because it's exhausting to not have the break, it may get better.

For me, she began to take naps at 6 months -- morning and afternoon and as a toddler in the afternoon only. What I did when she was a baby is try to get her to take a nap. Every morning and every afternoon, I would go through the routine of trying to putting her down for her nap. Basically, she would fall asleep in my arms and when that happened I would try to put her down in her crib for her nap and each and every time she would immediately wake up and scream her head off. Even though your baby won't nap either, you can still try to start the routine and one day, hopefully sooner than 6 months, it may stick and your baby will just take naps too.

What I've learned, children are all different and you can't judge one versus the other. You have to just go with what you know and do the best you can. If you want your baby to nap just keep trying.

I hope that helps. Good luck.

OMG! A., it sounds like my oldest son who is now 5. When he was first born he would only cat-nap during the day. At night he would wake up once and like your 6 week old, he would fall asleep late in the evening. I spoke to my pediatrician about the number of hours he slept. My doctor assured me that he would get all the rest he needs and not every newborn sleeps long hours. Well my son is still the same way. My 2nd and 3rd child had a much more normal sleeping pattern. You can follow up with your pediatrician just to make them aware. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!

I agree with what most of the moms said, and here's my story. My daughter would not nap when she was a few weeks old (she's now five years old) and I tried everything...even the hypoallergenic formula. Nothing worked, I was exhausted, so finally I just started (quite by accident) holding her until she fell asleep for her nap, and then just holding her while I caught a few zzz's myself. I know, there is so much contradicting information out there that says that this is and isn't ok, but I think that you have to do what works for your family and situation, and this was is for her and I (I single-parented until she was nine months, long story!)It was like magic...once she and I shared a bed, she would nap consistently (without me!) and sleep great at night. Despite all that expert objection, she is a perfect "transitioner", as I like to call her...when she was nine months old, my husband and I moved in together and married, and from that first night in her crib, no sweat. Took her pacifier, never missed it. Replaced her bottle with a sippy cup on her first birthday, never fussed for it. Potty trained on her first attempt and NEVER an accident. I really think she was telling me that she needed me when she refused to sleep without me, and once she was secure, she just flourished! She is a fantastic five year old who is an absolute pleasure! Now on to baby number two, a little different, but same concept...daddy was there from the beginning (he's now eight months old) and he never liked the bassinet either;again, mommy to the rescue! Because I held him to sleep for a few weeks, he is now taking two-to-three hour naps twice a day and sleeping 10-12 hours at night (he actually started sleeping less when he started solids, contrary to what I read.) The point is, my babies, to me, were telling me that they needed me, I gave them one on one, comfort, close contact, reassuring mommy warmth and smell, and they became confident that I would respond to their needs. I know not all women are able to co sleep or sleep share, but I think if you are out of options, you may want to try it out, maybe for a week or so...contrary to what some old-schoolers may tell you, it will NOT spoil the baby (spoiling babies by holding them is IMPOSSIBLE, they NEED you!) and they will not have long-term issues with clinginess. Trust me, my two beautiful babies are living proof! I really hope this helps you sweetie, I know you must be feeling desperate for sleep! I'm new to the area, feel free to ask me any questions or additional info!!