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First time mums

Baby fights naps

I am concerned that my 12-week old baby isn’t sleeping enough. Getting him to nap is nearly impossible during the day. I am extremely thankful that he is sleeping through the night on most nights, typically falling asleep around 9:30p, getting up for an hour at 5a, and then sleeping from about 6a to 8a. I really can’t complain about the nights and will enjoy it while it lasts. However, outside of that window he is extremely resistant to sleeping. Even though he’s a good sleeper at night, 9-10 Hours of sleep does not seem like enough sleep for his age. I believe the recommended sleep range for three months is 14-17.


I am not sure what else to try at this point. I will try to follow his wake windows (anywhere from 1-2 hours), establish a routine of breastfeed, diaper change, play, and then soothing routine like rocking and singing. Once I lay him in his bassinet though, he cries and cries. Sometimes I try waiting it out for a few minutes to see if he’ll fall asleep, but then I go get him because I know he is too young to be left crying too long. Sometimes he falls asleep once or twice during the day, but then wakes up after about twenty minutes. The longest nap he has taken was 40 minutes.



I am not sure what else I can try at this point. So far I have:

1. Swaddled and used pacifier.

2. Soothing routine following wake windows. Lots of activity during wake window (tummy time, black and white cards, play mat, singing).

3. Gas drops and lots of leg bicycles as I think gas discomfort may be keeping him awake. We also use an infant probiotic.

4. Cut all dairy and soy from diet while breastfeeding. His pediatrician thought an allergy could be contributing to his stomach discomfort. It’s been three weeks on the diet and so far I’ve seen no change. It also stinks that dairy and soy are in nearly every packaged or restaurant food. I don’t have time to cook and bake with a baby who needs to be held constantly and won’t nap. I can’t eat any of the frozen meals I prepped for my maternity leave.

5. Contact naps. Sometimes he will do this, but lately he even fights this.

6. Infant carrier and swing: he does not like being in either of these. He will sit in the bouncer for about ten minutes before fussing. It would be easier if I could just wear him while I get things done.

7. Talked to the pediatrician about possible silent reflux. He doesn’t spit up a lot, arch his back, or struggle with weight gain though. Main concerns are appearing uncomfortable after eating, almost impossible to burp, congestion, hearing gurgling sound in his stomach. Pediatrician again suggested trying the dairy and soy elimination diet. They were not on board with considering meds to help with reflux.

​I’d appreciate any insights from others who have struggled naps/gastrointestinal discomfort with their babies.

My husband thinks I’m worrying too much and we should just be happy he’s usually sleeping through the night. Of course I am grateful for that, but I don’t think it’s healthy that he is not getting naps. Also, my husband is not home with him all day. I love my baby, but it’s hard going all day without any breaks or time to get things done while he is napping.

He also starts daycare next week so I worry about how he is going to adjust without having a caregiver who can hold him all the time. It makes me sick to think of him lying in a crib crying for hours because he won’t nap and they don’t have enough staff ratio to hold and give him attention.