Fighting sleep?

4321piper

My DD is almost 6 weeks old, and until this week she has been taking a morning nap.  Our routine is waking up at 7am, she BF a few times, we play together and have belly time, and then she eats again and then it's naptime around 11am.  This is my chance to actually eat, shower, brush my teeth, and clean the house!  But this week she has been fighting it like crazy.  When I attempt to put her down for a nap, she screams her head off!  I know her diaper is changed, her belly is full, and she has been yawning.  So what can I do to get her to sleep?  I have her favorite music playing, and that doesn't seem to be doing the trick!  I don't want to let her just keep screaming (which she is doing right now) but I am desperate for my 30 minutes to eat and shower!  Any suggestions?

izzourclue

Sounds like she's getting over tired.  A 6 week old should only be up for maybe 90 mins at a stretch. 

Mrs.Honeybear

i don't have any advice, but it was 4pm yesterday before i finally got my face washed and cleaned the bottles fromt he overnight. my guy HATES sleeping so much and it is really taking it's toll on me....when he does fall asleep, he's out for mayyyybe 15 minutes in a stretch. it sucks....sorry i don't have any advice...just wanted to give you some empathy....good luck

lulu3061

6 weeks was a particularly rough sleep stretch for us too.  Our ped. said 5-8 weeks is peak fussy period.  I started watching his cues and would get him to sleep before he was fighting it (I tried to anyway) if he started yawning or quieting down while we were playing I would walk him or nurse him and then put him to sleep.

saraboston

izzourclue:

Sounds like she's getting over tired.  A 6 week old should only be up for maybe 90 mins at a stretch. 

This!

momofmanyinthemitten

saraboston:

izzourclue:

Sounds like she's getting over tired.  A 6 week old should only be up for maybe 90 mins at a stretch. 

This!

Yup!

4321piper

Wow - I had no idea about the 90 minute thing.  She does take a mini nap around 9am (for about 15 minutes) but otherwise her eyes are wide open and she is alert and looking around and making happy noises!  I'm not sure how I could possibly get her to go to sleep every 90 minutes! 

 

utlawgirl

kielpinskim:

saraboston:

izzourclue:

Sounds like she's getting over tired.  A 6 week old should only be up for maybe 90 mins at a stretch. 

This!

Yup!

Definitely. Try putting her down for a nap WAY earlier, like 8:30. I'm willing to bet she goes right to sleep. My 11-week-old can't even make it an hour in the morning before needing a nap. 

JenGarden

izzourclue:

Sounds like she's getting over tired.  A 6 week old should only be up for maybe 90 mins at a stretch. 

This was my first thought.  Most of the sleep info I've read suggests only allowing LO to be up for 1 - 2 hours at a time (so time from waking to falling asleep again).

kimberly_ann81

I agree with the PP.  My LO is 5 1/2 weeks old and takes naps about 1-1.5 after waking up.  Sometimes he will stretch to 2 hours, but he's really fussy then. I do a similar routine with my LO.  Feeding, play time, and then nap.  As for getting your little one to nap you could try what I do.  When I notice him yawning I will swaddle him and then holding him a little.  He then goes into his crib, eyes opened usually.  He will lay there for a little while before falling asleep.  Usually, he will fuss once or twice during this time.  I comfort him and put him right back in his crib.  After that, he will sleep for about 1-2 depending on how long he was been up.

lvk104

God...I'm going through the same thing.  15 minutes MAX before he's crying again, unless I'm holding him right up next to my chest and moving around constantly - THEN he sleeps for two hours.  It's rather hellish, isn't it...

ABizzity

my 6 wk old fights his sleep too, especially in the evenings.  now he will only nap on me during the day.  its exhausting but shouldnt last too long, its normal for their age.