Nap time struggles

Same. She will sleep 30 minutes at most if I put her in bassinet but hours in my arms. It’s impossible to get stuff done around the house because she’s glued to me or screaming. When he gets home at night I get him to rock her to sleep after I feed and then sometimes switch sides of the bed so she can’t smell me next to bassinet. Hope this helps for night time, I have no advice during the day! 🫠

I also can't get my LO to sleep in the bassinet during the day. I've just been putting him in a baby carrier a lot to get things done. At night a swaddle usually helps to keep him asleep

This happened to us, too. When my husband went back to work it was so hard to get anything done because she would only fall asleep in my arms. Baby wearing became my best friend and allowed me to get stuff done around the house while he was gone. I also started putting her down more often, like on a playmat or bouncer, so she could get used to not always being held by me. Do you swaddle for naps? I also use our pack n play for naps in the living room a majority of the time. I almost feel like since she can sense me being there then she naps better. I know some babies are the total opposite, though. You might have it already, but I bought the Taking Cara Babies course and this helped me SO MUCH for daytime naps.

I’m learning to slowly to no immediately run to her when she wakes up. At first she cries about 1-5 minutes and then she settles in. Maybe try that, I know it’s hard not to attend to them immediately, but stuff does need to get down. Also try a swing. Put them in a swing facing you so that way they can watch you do chores. 30 minutes nap during the day is unfortunately normal for some babies. My baby sleep 10-30 minutes, sometimes an hour on a good day😮‍💨

@Ashlyn Yes! I swaddle for naps! I will change diaper, feed, talk and play a bit. LO will start to yawn so I'll rock to sleep but as soon as I swaddle, LO eyes will open. I'll pick back up, pat or rock back to sleep, and try to put down in bassinet but then LO eyes are back open again lol

lol nothing is harder than the transfer from your arms to the bassinet 😂 try changing her diaper again right when you see her yawn, then swaddle right after you change her diaper. After swaddling, I attempt to rock her a bit and put her down. I also learned that holding your baby in a horizontal position facing AWAY from you while rocking them will get them drowsy enough to put down- seeing your face can be too much stimulation and can keep them awake. Even if she wakes up while putting her in the bassinet, set her down and walk away. If she cries, increase the volume of your sound machine, put her paci in her mouth, put a hand on her chest, shush near her ear a little bit, rub between her eyes, whatever works for your baby, then when she calms down and stops crying, walk away again. This will help her learn to soothe herself to sleep and not rely on you to actually make her go to sleep

@Ashlyn thank you so much for the tips!!!

I feel you!! What helps my son is sleeping on his side with his arm supporting his head 😅 (without a swaddle). If you’re using a swaddle though, maybe try using one of those floor loungers in the bassinet so that baby will feel more snug!

Just reading through this thread to see if I can help! I’ve had two successful bassinet sleepers so thought maybe I could offer advice 🤗 First question from reading your responses - Why do you pick her up when her eyes open? She’s not crying right, just eyes open? If so - leave her! 💕 Both of my kids I would lay down sleepy but still awake, and they drift off after about 5-10 mins! As long as they’re not crying, eyes open are totally okay, they’ll drift off to sleep! You picking them up kinda “resets” that clock and it’s like starting from square 1 again!

@Abby around the bassinet is mesh so I can see when her eyes are open but I don't pick her up. She will cry and I don't bother her until she starts crying bloody murder

Oh gotcha! I misunderstood your comment to Ashlyn when you said she opens her eyes so you pick her up :) what sleepsack are you using? The dreamland sleepsack is expensive but 10/10 worth it! Used it with both kids and both were incredible sleepers!

@Abby no worries! It's the comfy club velcro swaddle. I found it on Amazon I'm open to all tips! My maternity leave ends soon and she will be with me while I'm working remotely