Sleep Question

ViteFeet

My baby is almost 11 weeks and I have a question about naps.  She won't nap unless I'm holding her.  She doesn't really sleep well at night either so has been having meltdowns a couple times a day from being over tired.  My question is.. at this point would it be more important to just hold her so she can get the sleep she needs or keep trying to put her down (and she only sleeps for like 5 minutes) so she doesn't get used to being held all the time to sleep?

aehl14

My daughter is about a week older than yours. What are you doing when you hold her? Do you sway or rock her? My crazy girl Loves any kind of motion and sleeps easily with it. Not so much without.

I would try either something that swings or something that vibrates. She has a monkey seat that vibrates and plays nature noises. I guess it feels like she's being held so after she "talks" to the monkeys hanging from it she falls asleep for a while. Same thing with her swing at daycare.

Does she scream or just not sleep? DD doesn't like certain rooms at certain times of day she gets really scared. Maybe try moving nap time to another spot?

ViteFeet

I'm not swaying or rocking at all, she just likes to sleep on my chest on her stomach and the minute I put her down on her back in the swing or anywhere else she wakes up a few minutes later sometimes screaming sometimes just waking up.. but then is a mess later because she doesn't get any sleep.

aehl14

Have you tried letting her nap on her stomach in her crib? I know its not recommended now, but she might just be a stomach sleeper. As long as your awake to watch her it might work.

My daughter was the same way with wanting to be held to sleep. We taught her to sleep on her own in the monkey because of the whole vibrate/ hold combo and later figured out her bed just wasn't comfy. One of her blankets under a sheet in her pack n play and she transitioned over easily with swaddling

I agree with holding her if all else fails but I also know how frustrating and exhausting it is. If it doesn't bother you then hold her, if that doesn't feel right keep trying different things til you find what works for you. Eventually you'll find a happy solution.

Good luck!

545927

My son did that. We have a similar vibrating/rocking monkey seat and a bassinet. At first he would only sleep in my arms. So, I wore a shirt for 2 days and wrapped the chair in the shirt so it smelled like me. Then I started rocking him to sleep in my arms and then placing him in the chair. If he stirred, I'd rock his chair till he passed out. I would often have to pick him back up and repeat the process a few times till it stuck but now he loves his chair.

kd&cd

We use the bouncy chair on vibrate for times when DD won't nap. If I put her in it asleep she usually wakes up but within a few minutes or so she falls back asleep. However as soon as the vibrate turns off she wakes up, so u have to be quick on the button!

jenn43

My LO is the same way.  He's 4 months old now, and he still only gets good naps if I'm holding him.  At DC he naps in his crib.  Go figure.  I just make sure I've got a glass of water and a good book, and enjoy the snuggles.

emslade982

Keep trying putting her down when she's 90% asleep. She will eventually sleep for longer stretches. You can try using a nap time song or just shushing to ease the transition as well as a lovey. I had the same problem with my LO. He will now sleep in h is bouncy seat for decent 30-45 minute naps most of the time. But I do love those nap time snuggles in my arms. I will miss those when he gets bigger.