What to do when your newborn just won't nap

DD is obviously way over tired. She hasn't been sleeping well in her bassinet for the past few days. She sometimes will fall asleep in her swing or bouncy seat but not always. If we go out to my mom's she'll fall asleep in the car seat and I'll leave her there so she would sleep.

Today she is just not wanting to nap at all and I have no idea what to do. I put a sleep positioner in her bassinet hoping that she wants the closeness like her swing or bouncy seat. I tried swaddling her and she screamed to no end. I gave her an extra two ounces of formula, she fell asleep for 20 minutes and woke back up again.

Is there any tips out there? I'm trying to comfort her as much as I can but is riding it out my only hope??? Thanks for any suggestions.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

sometimes ds sleeps in the FP newborn to toddler rocker, other times the swing.. its ok for them so i just leave him be... once its morning he doesnt want to sleep in his bassinett anymore

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

She hasn't really been sleeping well in her bassinet at night either. DH thinks she's too big for it now and wants to transfer her to her crib but I disagree. She's only 5 weeks and she likes being snuggled, which is why she probably falls asleep in things like her swing and car seat. That's why I thought that sleep positioner would help because she doesn't like being swaddled but so far, it hasn't helped much.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

What are you using to swaddle her?

I hate to say that my DS never really "napped" until he hit 5-6 months. He would catnap here and there and would sleep in the car when we drove somewhere but he was never a napper. He always slept well at night though. She is still sooo little...she is probably still figuring things out.

DS was in his bassinet til 6 months so I don't think she's too big for hers yet.

Have you tried using a sling or carrier around the house? Sometimes I was able to get DS to fall asleep in one of them.

Sending you hugs - when I was going through it I felt like I had the only newborn that never slept!

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

My DD hated the bassinet and never slept great in it. She also despised being swaddled. The only way she slept soundly when she was in the Newborn to Toddler Rocker seat which was then placed inside of the bassinet next to our bed. Totally nuts but it worked. I think it was cozier plus the seat had a gentle vibration. She slept that way until about 2 1/2 months old, then we took the rocker out and she slept fine in the bassinet on her own, and then at 3 months old we moved her to the crib with no problem.

EDIT - When we got rid of the rocker in her bassinet we used the sleep positioner and it worked great!! She used that in the crib too until she was able to wiggle around and slide down it, then we stopped using it but by then she was okay without it.

Message edited 6/17/2009 3:15:07 PM.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

Is she having any spit up problems? My son has reflux so when he was that age, he slept in his swing or rocker since the incline was better. He also woke shortly after a feeding when laid down in his crib.

Also are you sure she doesn't like to be swaddled? How long ago did you try? I know some babies might not like it at first but end up liking it later. Sounds like she might.

ETA: you probably won't want to do this (looking back i wish we almost didn't), but we'd walk him around the house sssshhhhing him and bouncing him. He'd fall asleep rather quick. Or at least he did in the beginning.

Message edited 6/17/2009 3:21:47 PM.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

my DS isnt a big napper. If we are lucky, he'll take 2 20 min cat naps a day (he's 5 mos and does generally sleep through the night).

When he was younger, he took his naps in the swing. I let it stay that way and he still naps in there as well.

I'm dreading when he's too big for the swing!!!

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

I would try belly sleeping. I know it's not for everyone but that's what worked for me with both of my kids.

They would only nap for 20 minutes at a time until I realized they were belly sleepers. NOT on soft bedding, no blankets, nothing in the crib/bassinet.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

do you have a moby wrap or another carrier? i wear dd and she sleeps great. at this age they still really need the closeness of being next to mommy. dd hates being swaddled but loves being worn!

i know it's not for everyone, but even if it's not something you want to do permanently, a few days may be enough for her to get some rest and you to get some stuff done.

look into a wrap if you don't have one - they're amazing!

moby wrap

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

Ali, honestly I'm not sure, I'm having issues with her feedings as well. Please see this thread: Link

Katie, I just got in the mail the miracle blanket and a swaddle me. i'm going to try one tonight.

Hofstra - i was considering buying this rocker but if i come home with one more thing DH is going to think i'm nuts!

nrthshgrl, I'll admit out of sheer desperation I have slept her on her belly once or twice. I'm completely neurotic and had to stay with her a watch her breathing every 5 seconds but this only works when she's already asleep. Today she is fighting so much that when I tried to sleep her on her belly she started crying. She's not too fond of tummy time right now, even though I try to get her to do it every day for a few minutes.

pandaworm, my sister got me a Baby K'Tan carrier and I just used it today. She's sleeping in it as I type. She cried when I first put her in it but she finally fell asleep now. Phew!

Thank you everyone for your replies!

Message edited 6/17/2009 4:47:25 PM.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

DD wasn't a great napper at first either. She now refuses to nap in her crib or pnp, and the only two places she naps recently is in her swing or the carseat. I tried everything and found that she likes to be with me and watch what I'm doing I put her in the carseat in the snap n go in the morning, bring her in the kitchen with me to wash her bottles, and she's out within minutes. I HATE that she's napping in her carseat, but it's the only thing that works right now - and DD and I BOTH need her to nap!! Sometimes you have to do what you gotta do to get DC to nap. Definitely try all options - including using the miracle blanket (which I use now at night and DD loves!).

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

For the first 6 months DS would only name in his infant carseat.

Re: What to do when your newborn just won't nap

Message edited 6/17/2009 8:41:14 PM.