Nap help :o(

LuckyBride02

DS goes to sleep just fine in the crib at night, but will NOT nap during the day in the crib. We have darkening things on the window, so it's pretty dark in there. Each time I take him upstairs and I hold him and rock him until he's drowsy and then put him down. Sometimes he falls asleep, but it's only for 30 minutes. I've read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, and I've done what it says to do for naps, but it never works. I'm losing hope that he'll ever be a good napper.

LawLove08

Have you tried letting him fuss/cry for a few minutes. ?I know "sleep training" can be controversial, but it is the only thing that has worked with DS for naps. ?He sleeps well at night, and takes a great morning nap, but his afternoon nap was a disaster - 30-45 minutes at best. ?He was still tired, but couldn't soothe himself back to sleep. ?

After trying pretty much everything else, this is what works for DS: I put him down for his afternoon nap. ?If he wakes and starts to cry I go in and pat him for a minute (without picking him up). ?Then I leave. ?He usually fusses for a few minutes, and then he goes back to sleep for at least another hour. ?I've been doing this for two weeks, and in the last few days he hasn't woken up at all, and has been taking long afternoon naps (e.g. today he has been asleep for almost 2 hours without a peep).

I know your LO has a different issue, but letting him fuss for a few minutes in his crib might help him learn to nap there. ?Will he nap other places (swing, PNP, etc) for a longer period of time??

LuckyBride02

I do let him fuss ... this is what the book says to do. It says for sleep training during the day, don't let them go more than an hour. He has done this before. / I will try the patting on the back thing when he wakes up at half an hour. Thank you!  He has never really taken good naps unless I am wearing him.

LawLove08

LuckyBride02:

I do let him fuss ... this is what the book says to do. It says for sleep training during the day, don't let them go more than an hour. He has done this before. / I will try the patting on the back thing when he wakes up at half an hour. Thank you!? He has never really taken good naps unless I am wearing him.

Ugh, painful. ?I feel for you, I really do. ?Is he swaddled? ?I can't remember if I asked you that already.?

LuckyBride02

He screams harder when I swaddle him. I just don't understand why he sleeps fine during the night but won't nap during the day. He's a pretty grumpy baby, and I'm sure this is why. I want a happy baby. (

abj22

DD had this problem for a LONG time. She always slept great at night but naps were never more than 30-45 minutes. And she always woke up overtired and fussy.?We tried EVERYTHING. The only thing that worked for us was straight CIO. But she's a lot older. I don't think I would have tried it that young. I wish I could be more help. You can read about my CIO story in my blog if you're interested. I feel for you!

ocean71506

I could have written this post myself.  DD sleeps fairly well in her crib at night.  During the day it is a whole different story.  She will sometimes nap and never more than 40 minutes.  When she wakes up, I pick her up and she falls back asleep sometimes and then I put her either in her bouncy seat or carriage.  If she is up, she is up.  I am not ready to sleep train yet, I think she is too young, so I just roll with it and have her nap where she will.