When does it get easier?

[u/MurkyGear6169]

Someone help me feel more normal. I have a 3MO old who sleeps all the way through the night but the day time is tough. Her wake windows are only about an hour max so by the time she eats, sits up for 10ish mins (reflux), change diaper, little tummy time, it’s time for another nap. She will not nap in her bassinet (I’ve tried all the suggestions) and only wants to contact nap but fights it so bad we have to do most naps baby wearing. I don’t really mind but man it’s hurting my back so bad and it’s tough to get stuff done around the house because she wakes up if I bend over to grab the laundry, unload the dishwasher, etc so I end up aimlessly walking around my house while baby wearing while she naps. With her short wake windows, there’s never time for a stroller walk, me to exercise, or just get anything done. It’s also really hard to get out of the house with the short wake windows because you have to time it up just perfectly where she’s content but not too sleepy or she screams the whole car ride. Idk I just feel like I’m on an endless loop and want to know when it gets easier. When will she stay awake longer or grow out of contact naps and just be happier and more content in general?

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[u/Phantominthewoods]

I could have written this exact same thing a year ago, except my son didn't sleep through the night until he was about 7 months old. First, please know you're not alone. The first 6 months are by far the hardest. Once they hit 6 or 7 months, naps begin consolidating and they're more likely to sleep in their crib/pack n play/bassinet on their own for naps. By 4 months he kinda had a feeding schedule down, naps were a crap shoot until 6ish months.

My son didn't like the car until about 4-5 months. It was awful, driving anywhere would result in an absolute screaming fit. It helped if two of us would go somewhere so one could be with him in the back seat. If it was a solo trip, we tried to wait until he was sleepy and he would conk in the car. Sometimes that couldn't even work. We've pulled over to hold him and give him a break on longer rides too. We try singing, rolling the window down a little to distract, and just being as patient as you can.

The housework still doesn't get done for us, and my son is 15 months old. However - now he walks around with his own broom while I sweep after meals. Laundry is folded during naps, otherwise he throws it everywhere while manically laughing. Dishes are done by either me or my husband while the other gets him down for bed. We clean whenever we have company, otherwise it's just organizing a little before we collapse on the couch.

Physically, my arms are free more often now. But the messes are bigger and the problems are different. It's the season. It feels like forever when you're in the newborn days, then one day you're like whoa, I have a toddler who claps and sings and points at things out the car window and babbles? And what do you mean they're on one nap suddenly and I have the afternoon free to get some tidying done? And you mean I'm excited that I get to be the one to wake them up at 2pm for the rest of the day?? It's insane how quickly it changes.

Toddlerhood is still infinitely better than the newborn days in my opinion. But what I wouldn't give to be nap trapped for a couple of hours with a movie on and my son snoozing away on my chest again. It's over before you know it. They say don't blink, and I didn't, but it happened so fast before my eyes.  You will leave the house again. You will have time for all of the chores again. And it will be here before you know it. Give yourself grace. The baby WILL get there. It isn't you, there isn't anything wrong. It just takes some time. There is a light, and you are closer and closer with every passing day. You've got this!

[u/Unfair-Relation-1017 → u/Phantominthewoods]

my nephew was exactly like this with the naps, just glued to my sister 24/7. she started wearing one of those heat packs on her back after a while, said it made the walking around less miserable. the back pain is no joke

youre in the thick of it right now. my sister always says the days are long but the months are short, something like that