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October 2015 Moms
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Baby Doesn't Nap

swickham7swickham7 member
in October 2015 Moms
My daughter is 8 weeks old and for the last 2 weeks, barely naps during the day, unless I am out and she is in her car seat. If we are home, she's wide awake. For alittle while she just looks around and is in a good mood, then it turns to fussing and screaming unless I am holding her or she's eating. She hates to be put down when she is like this and I don't know what to do because I can't get anything done. We go for walks, where she cat naps but as soon as we are home she wakes right up. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am going crazy!
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Re: Baby Doesn't Nap

  • BingjBingj member
    I noticed that around weeks 5-6 that my little guy started to need help to take naps. So now, he is awake for bout 45min-1 hour and then I swaddle give a pacifier and lightly rock to sleep. If he wakes up too early I'll give him the pacifier again and rock a little bit. One sleepy cue I look for is his eyelids get the slightest bit heavy. Also his eyelids have a reddish tinge to them. Once he's fed and diaper is changed he plays a little by doing tummy time or I talk to him and carry him to look at things. If there is a little fuss the only reason is that he is tired. Do you still swaddle? That could help your LO. Maybe you could do a little routine for every nap.
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  • jasminelukejasmineluke member
    My LO did the same thing at 8 weeks. I was freaking out because she would nap 30 mins like 4-5 times and at and wouldn't always be restful and quiet. Once she turned 9 weeks it got better !
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  • ElleMF728ElleMF728 member
    edited December 2015
    Where is she napping? When are you putting her down for naps? What is your routine in terms of what she is wearing, what room, light, noise etc? Cat napping is normal but babies but it sounds like your LO is overtired which is impacting her ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Babies aren't able to soothe this young and don't "know" how to fall asleep, they need our help.  First, to do it for them, then to teach them how or provide the optimal circumstances for them to learn how. 

    Your baby's wake window (time between naps) should be around 45-60 minutes. She will likely take around 4 naps per day, maybe 5 depending on how long they are. Motion will also help her to stay asleep and possibly fall asleep.  A swing or a bouncer allows you to soothe LO through that first sleep cycle so that you might get a longer nap out of her (this is why she falls asleep during walks but wakes when motion stops).  At this point you need to break the overtired cycle.  I know you want to put her down but you really need to ensure that she gets a few good sleeps in her. Walk, baby wear, hold, rock, do whatever you can to get a good nap (even if you need to drive around town for an hour or so). 

    Here are some awesome links that I link to almost obsessively on this site.  Alexis is our sleep guru, my first child was a difficult sleeper but I found a lot of improvement using her tips.  It also helps explain what is "normal" in terms of baby sleep age by age.  Expectations are usually unrealistic for new moms and dads.  DH and I were shocked when we realized that DS1 wouldn't just fall asleep when he was tired and had no idea we were keeping him up way too long. 


    There are other great articles on the site.  

    ETA: I originally gave you an incorrect wake window.  The current one is the correct one for your LO's age. 
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