No naps. All afternoon. Every afternoon.

JNova78 · June 2014

I should preface by saying that she sleeps decently at night, so thank God for that.

LO will be six weeks old tomorrow. From 11AM until her 8PM bottle (I EBF but for one bottle/day) she will not nap and spends the afternoon crying and screaming. The only time she's quiet is when she's eating. Sometimes, she'll fall asleep while breastfeeding, but only for a 10 minute catnap. I know we're in a vicious cycle here - she's overtired and can't sleep so she's overtired and can't sleep. I've tried the Boba (hates it), swaddling (HATES it), rocking, etc. - all the usual tricks.

Is this "normal?" Growth spurt? Is it worth a call/trip to the doctor? Will she grow out of it? It's so frustrating because I feel trapped in the house all day. I'm afraid to take her anywhere (Bath and Body Works sale starts today!) because of the ceaseless crying.

christinanoelle · June 2014

I have the same problem! She'll cat nap for less than 45 mins at a time and that happens maybe twice a day if I'm lucky! When she is awake though she's pretty quiet so I don't have a problem bringing her out. She sleeps really well at night though and when I asked her doctor about it he just said some kids sleep and some don't lol not very helpful but good to know he wasn't worried.
I'm sorry you're having a hard time taking her out though! Have you tried white noise? It's been a miracle worker for us!

TallaB · June 2014

My LO wasn't much of a napper for a few weeks. She's 8.5 weeks now and I feel like she's starting to nap more regularly during the day. But for several weeks we would go from 9am-8pm with only 10-15min catnaps and absolutely no naps after 4pm. However, she was never fussy - jsut awake.
Would going out and running errands help? I know for mine - she would scream bloody murder putting her into the car seat but the moment the car moved her eyes closed. She's content sitting in the stroller looking around and would at times drift off. Maybe it would actually be good for both of you to get out.

JNova78 · June 2014

White noise, pacifiers, the whole nine yards. The worst part is that she screams when I hold her and try to rock her. I end up having to put her on a blanket on the floor just to take a break. It's really bothering me - I feel like a shitty mother that my own child is not comforted at all by me. As a FTM, I guess I thought this part would be easier/more natural.

*sparky* · June 2014

My DD has days like that too. She sleeps so well at night and takes an awesome naps in the morning but in he afternoon she fights it. What I have found is I have to let her fight it for 10 minutes or so and then she'll pass out. Today I was sure she would not take a nap - she was screaming as I was trying to soothe her - but her eyes finally closed and then she slept for 2 hours.

And I used to not swaddle her either. When she was little it didn't matter - she would sleep anyway. But now that she is more alert her arms will keep her awake so she has to be swaddled. She gets pretty pissed but once I can get her past it she sleeps so much better with a swaddle. I also use white noise and some days I will take her into the dark bathroom and run the fan while I rock her and that conks her out.

If she doesn't get an afternoon nap she is a total terror by evening so that is why I fight so hard for it.

pete0121 · June 2014

I finally caved and bought a Swaddle Me because I was desperate to try everything. I used to laugh at the 5 s theory because she was so irate when doing any if then. However, we began swaddling her TIGHT in the swaddle me. She doesn't like having it done and doesn't like it right away either. We also play white noise, pretty loudly at first and turn it down when she's out. Night time sleep is amazing and naps are getting better.

selina1113 · June 2014

How often does she nurse during the day? Is she waking up crying, like she is in pain or is she happy after her cat nap?

My LO has silent reflux & was a horrible daytime sleeper, also screamed all day when awake.

fourthnlast · June 2014

No advice because my LO has been like this since birth. She sleeps awesome at night - typically 7-8 hours, but the last few nights has been 10-11 hours, but daytime sleep...SUCKS. Sometimes she'll nap in the swing or in the boppy on the couch, but an hour is a long nap, usually naps are 30-45 minutes. I brought it up at her 2 month check up this morning and her Ped wasn't concerned at all, she said since she's sleeping so well at night, to just go with it. She thinks that as she gets older and is mobile, she may nap longer, but like a PP said, some babies sleep/nap longer than others and you can't make them sleep.

usernewname · June 2014

*** lurking from May 2014 ***

This is DS. Sleeps amazingly from 9-8 at night. Having a nap during the day is like pulling teeth. I am just glad to read I am not alone.

Thought my child was broken.

christinanoelle · June 2014

@fourthnlast‌ I think our babies might be twins!

fourthnlast · June 2014

christinanoelle said:

@fourthnlast‌ I think our babies might be twins!

Ha! Let's tell them to let each other know that day sleep is ok, they won't miss anything.

christinanoelle · June 2014

Lol I know! Curious LO's we've got!

nycgirlkat · June 2014

Same here. LO is 6 weeks, 4 days and she fights naps all the time. We never have a regular nap schedule. And she is the same way, will either cat nap all day or not nap at all and we get into that same overtired vicious cycle and she is always cranky. She's maybe settled/just awake for about 30 minutes to an hour and then the fussing/miserableness starts until she eats and catches a nap. I feel your pain. But night time she does fine. It's crazy!!

joyfullyfound · June 2014

Meh, with babies I don't think there is a "normal". When DD was this age she fought every nap hard and all that worked was bouncing around the house with her in the Ergo, with a sleep sheep blasting white noise pressed against her head. Thaaat sucked.

DS is a way better sleeper but afternoons are always more difficult than mornings because all the stimulation of day starts catching up with him. Taking him outside ALWAYS works though... not sure what it is - probably a mixture of the sunshine, fresh air, and various outdoor background noises. Anyways, we've been going on walks to the playground every afternoon, which DD loves, and DS dozes off almost right away. I wear him in a woven wrap.

And take note of how long her awake times are in the morning (at this age it will probably be between 1-2 hours) and try to make her stick to it in the afternoons. For DS it's 1.5 hours that he's comfortably awake for before he starts fussing... so I get a head start on him and put him into the wrap and getting him calm and doze-y after an hour so he has a whole half hour to get to sleep... does that make sense? It's a preemptive strike, haha. But every babies different, so this could be totally unhelpful for you... *shrug*

JNova78 · June 2014

Thanks, everyone, for all of the suggestions. It's nice to know I'm not alone with an abnormal baby!

CatherineDC2012 · June 2014

This is us lately, she's 6 weeks tomorrow. Even nighttime has gotten shorter! I wanted to pull my hair out today, hence the bump searching! We need a schedule so bad, so sad to think were just not there yet. I think we are also having issues with feedings as she doesn't seem satisfied from BF. Anymore and I've been back and forth still trying to BF when I can and supplement with bottles and pumping when daddy is home- which is like realistically once a week for the full day. DH has a crazy schedule of 6-9 and that's am to pm out of the house. Trying not to complain and be happy we have a healthy baby I can be at home with but goodness, is it time for wine yet? Sigh

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