DD2 is coming up to 4 months old now. Still exclusively BF'd, and cuter every day (of course I would say that).
But she just won't sleep during the day! I assume the price I pay for having a baby who sleeps through (from around 10pm till 6am) is a baby who naps less or has shorter day naps, but come on - from 6am till 10pm, she might sleep for 10mins at a time, twice during the day. I'm not kidding. She's awake all day long, wanting feeds and to be played with, and that's totally fine - but she refuses to be put down while she's awake. She screams her head off if I stick her in her bassinette, bouncer or on the floor for tummy time.
Is it okay for her to not sleep during the day? I remember DD1 at the same age used to have at least 3 big, long day sleeps (between 1 and 3 hours at a time), and continued with the naps until she was 18 months old. DD2 *never* seems to sleep until bedtime, by which time I'm all dried up, worn out, and have done barely any housework because she doesn't like being put down.
my DD is 2 days older than yours - and does the same thing! she wont let me put her down unless she is in a deep deep sleep. and then only for a few minutes. it's draining! not sure it's normal but it's happening here too...
Bella did the same thing at that age! The good news is that not only does she still sleep through (6.30 - 6.30) she also now had at least 3 x 1.5 hr sleeps! Some days she still does the whole day with no sleep but most days has at least 2 longish sleeps.
I remember 4 months being a difficult clingy stage, but it passed. By 5-6 months she was having much longer naps in the day (at least one 2 hour nap). I would just ride it out and try at least once a day to put her down, because you never know when she will be more willing again.
to some extent, the trade-off is that he is sleeping so well at night. I bet, though, if she had a daytime sleep she'd love that too! A babysling is a godsend in these situations. Great for fitness - put baby in a sling and go for a long walk - she'll be "out to it" in no time. And stay asleep - knowing she's snuggled against mum. When she realises that sleep is really very nice, she'll be happier to go down. Try to cue into her "tired signs" For some babies this will be grizzling, suddenly "cracking it" yawning, rubbing their eyes. At this age, babies are fairly easily distracted, and get a second wind. But when you see she's tired, feed her and put her in the sling - help her to recognise she's tired too.
I think it is harder when there is an older sibling about. Phoebe is disturbed by noise, so she often wakes after one sleep cycle. And we go out a bit to playgroups etc for Natty, so she wakes when being transferred to/from the car. Makes it hard for her to get a decent sleep.
But every now and again, if things are quiet and we are home she will have a good nap, maybe 1.5 hours. TBH I don't think the longer sleeps make much of a difference to her temperament. But Phoebe is ok about entertaining herself for short periods, so its ok.
Having said that, personally I'd want a bit more than 10 minutes a couple of times a day. I think Barb's suggestion of the sling is a great one. Might seem like there's not much difference between holding in arms and holding in the sling, but at least then you have your hands free - you can then do a few bits and pieces around the house. And perhaps if she has a slightly longer nap she might be more willing to spend some time on the floor or whatever and give you a break.
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She won't sleep! Is it normal?
(of course I would say that).
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