Daytime naps and routine

[Bub2luv]

My DD seems to hate her day sleeps and today has been awake from 7am until 3.30pm with only a few 10 minute catnaps through the morning.

She is 5wks5days and breast feeds 3 to 4 hourly at night. I am really worried she may be getting overtired but have been unable to settle her to sleep except in my arms (and I have a 2yr old so I cant cuddle her for hours while she has a nap :rolleyes: ).

How long and often are your babies sleeping in the day? Do you have a routine? I would love to hear any advice or tips on getting a good feed - play - sleep routine started.

Thanks

[mum2bubba]

Skye is 2 months old and sort of has a routine, some nights she sleeps about 7 to 9 hours, other nights (like last night) she was up twice for a feed. I am trying to get her into a proper routine but because shes only 2 months old I am also following her lead. I think you just have to listen to your baby esp since she is so young, also try and look for tired signs like yawning, getting grizzly etc and change her, give her a feed if you haven't already then put her down to bed even if shes awake (don't wait for her to fall asleep in your arms or whatever unless you're ok with that) I do controlled crying but I know thats not for everyone. I don't really have alot of advice maybe someone else does.

[sm2j]

Sorry, I don't have a lot of advice either...except that Jayden is 8weeks 5 days, and he is a big time cat napper as well.... only 10-15 minute blocks throughout the day...but we do have a routine at night and for the past few weeks (since 5 weeks) he has been sleeping through the night between 7.5-10 hrs at a time.
I have to say that I am guilty of holding him in the day sometimes so he will sleep....but he feeds 3hrly and a has a few 10 minute naps in between and is usually pretty happy to play or be in his swing the rest of the time.We have a night time routine which consists of bath,massage,feed...and then straight to bed...settling usually only take 5-10 min.

Sorry I wasn't too helpful...just so you know you are definitely not alone.

[maggiemay]

Hey there,

Our little girl (12 weeks in 2 days) used to have a routine (that she put on) for the last few weeks. The last couple of days, she has been way way off what she used to do. She usually will have a good sleep from 11 - 1pm then about 3 - 5pm. Then 7ish is bedtime. That was a very good feed, play, feed routine.

But the last couple of days, she has refused to sleep more than one sleep cycle (under an hour) and today she's has had 4 short sleeps. She's not the kinda baby that would just go to sleep on her own - it involves cuddling and rocking and often holding her to sleep (and if she doesn't get enough sleep, she's a big pain in the backside).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe what's going on with your bubbie will pass? They change every so often.

I love the Hugabub. Just a thought if that's what it involves in getting your little one to sleep. Our little girl loves sleeping in the sling :thumbsup:.

[Hokey Pokey]

Well we just bought a swing, she would sleep all day if we left her in it LOL

She has a pretty good routine :thumbsup:

[miss ani]

hi! :wave:

my DD (9 weeks 3 days) is the last of the great day-sleepers, so i feel your pain! i usually can get her down for a morning nap after a feed; that can last anywhere from 45mins to 2hrs. if i'm lucky i can get another 'long-ish' nap out of her in the afternoon, otherwise it is just catnaps either in mum or dad's arms or in her rocker. she is getting easier to settle as she gets older, but i doubt she'll ever be a 'sleepy' baby - she's much too alert!

i know 'experts' say that babys should sleep a certain amount of hours so they can develop properly... but apparently my mum has told me i gave away proper day naps at about 3 months of age and i still developed normally... kind of. :laughing:

[Bub2luv]

Thanks! Its great to hear that its not just my darling that hates sleeping in the daytime.

She seems to have got herself into a routine where shes awake most of the day till about 3pm then has a good sleep. I was worried she may have been getting overtired but she doesnt seem to be. DD1 naturally fell into a sleep - feed - play routine before 5 weeks of age and I am really unsure as to whether I should be trying to get Eli into a similar pattern. As long as she seems happy and healthy then I am going to go with the flow and let her set her own routine.

Thanks again :hugs:

[alexsmom]

hi there- my 7week baby boy is a cat napper too!!! It seems its quite common! He was only sleeping during the day if I was holding him or if we went for a walk in the pram which is annoying! I wanted to do things when he was asleep! One day I was having a shower and I put him in his bouncy chair in the bath tub( which is sepaprate obviously!) and he fell asleep- so we do that regularly now! Ive also tried putting him in the laundry room while the washing machine or dryer is going and this works too (he's there now!) I guess he just likes the background noise!
This works for Alexander- maybe itll work for your DD too! good luck- i know its frustrating!
Karen