Please help -- 3 weeks of almost no naps now. At breaking point.

mrsfirefly

DD almost stopped napping altogether when she started standing in her crib about 3.5 weeks ago.  We sleep trained for naps at around 5 months (because she was hardly napping then too), and since she would most of time go to sleep within 5 minutes or so and sleep for 45-90 minutes twice per day.  We are in day 3 of no naps at all and almost 4 weeks into maybe one 30 minute nap if I'm lucky.  Dr. suggested putting her in the crib with lots of soft toys twice per day for one an hour (as "quiet time" in hopes that she falls asleep).  I've combined this idea with the Sleepeasy Solution (worked great on night sleep for her) and she stands in the crib and cries for the entire hour.  I check on her every 15 minutes and lay her down and pat her back, and she instantly screams and stands up in the crib even while I'm patting her back.  I've tried nursing to sleep, but she wakes up within 15-20 minutes and stands and screams.  She also wakes up within 15-20 if I lay down with her.  Any ideas at all?  She is exhausted and grumpy and I can't handle the crying.  I have tried NCSS for naps in the past but she is way too strong willed for that.  Any advice is appreciated.

Dreamsicle23

I'd start naptime earlier, and try for longer than an hour.  I also probably wouldn't go in for checks at this point...just let her exhaust herself.  

Also, is the room dark enough?  My DS has a very hard time sleeping if the room isn't really dark. 

Melly Mel

We have been having this standing problem too. DD has been waking up earlier and standing up and then crying until I get her. She can't figure out how to get back down yet. Her first nap is usually no problem. I give her a bottle and she goes down. The second nap has been an issue and sometimes she doesn't get one. I am hoping that she figures out how to sit back down soon or I might lose my mind.

Sorry, no advice here but for both our sakes, let's just pray this is a phase!

mrsfirefly

I think darkness (or lack of it) could be an issue.  Her room has two skylights and french doors that open to our room.  I guess I should get DH to install the skylight shade I've been pestering him about for months and get some room darkening shades for those french doors.  I'll get on his case about that immediately when this hour of crying is up in a few minutes!  Right now I give about 2 h. 45 min - 3 hours of awake time between waking up and the first nap.  What would you suggest?  Thanks!

mrsfirefly

Melly Mel:

We have been having this standing problem too. DD has been waking up earlier and standing up and then crying until I get her. She can't figure out how to get back down yet. Her first nap is usually no problem. I give her a bottle and she goes down. The second nap has been an issue and sometimes she doesn't get one. I am hoping that she figures out how to sit back down soon or I might lose my mind.

Sorry, no advice here but for both our sakes, let's just pray this is a phase!

The crazy thing here is that she can totally transition between standing/sitting/and laying down and does it fine at night.  I never thought this phase would last so long!  Good luck to you!

kb1005

We originally sleep trained at around 5 months and then had to retrain right at 9 months.  Does she go down fine at nighttime?  When we sleep train we do the same thing for every sleep time (naps and night time) so I'm not sure how to just train for naps.  

ajetter

mrsfirefly:

I think darkness (or lack of it) could be an issue.  Her room has two skylights and french doors that open to our room.  I guess I should get DH to install the skylight shade I've been pestering him about for months and get some room darkening shades for those french doors.  I'll get on his case about that immediately when this hour of crying is up in a few minutes!  Right now I give about 2 h. 45 min - 3 hours of awake time between waking up and the first nap.  What would you suggest?  Thanks!

A lot of people fall into the 2-3-4 schedule... it didn't really end up working out for us, but you could always give it a try.

right now I'm kind of finding out that the time she woke up doesn't really matter as much as if I lay her down around the same time every day.  morning nap seems to be around 9:30 and afternoon around 2:15.  but we struggle with naps too, so I'm not a ton of help.

mrsfirefly

kb1005:

We originally sleep trained at around 5 months and then had to retrain right at 9 months.  Does she go down fine at nighttime?  When we sleep train we do the same thing for every sleep time (naps and night time) so I'm not sure how to just train for naps.  

For nighttime sleep I do a bath and then a couple of books and nurse her pretty much to sleep and then just set her down and she's fine.  So I don't know why naps are so different.  If she'd sleep for longer than a few minutes I'd gladly nurse her to sleep, but she sleeps so much better during the day when she puts herself to sleep.  So for naps, I usually nurse her for a bit first to top her off, and then I do a couple of books and songs.  It used to work like a charm!

mrsfirefly

ajetter:

mrsfirefly:

I think darkness (or lack of it) could be an issue.  Her room has two skylights and french doors that open to our room.  I guess I should get DH to install the skylight shade I've been pestering him about for months and get some room darkening shades for those french doors.  I'll get on his case about that immediately when this hour of crying is up in a few minutes!  Right now I give about 2 h. 45 min - 3 hours of awake time between waking up and the first nap.  What would you suggest?  Thanks!

A lot of people fall into the 2-3-4 schedule... it didn't really end up working out for us, but you could always give it a try.

right now I'm kind of finding out that the time she woke up doesn't really matter as much as if I lay her down around the same time every day.  morning nap seems to be around 9:30 and afternoon around 2:15.  but we struggle with naps too, so I'm not a ton of help.

Thanks!  Actually, that's helpful.  I never thought of trying 2-3-4.  That might work.  She does seem to get tired about two hours after waking up but it seems too early for a morning nap.  I could also give the same time everyday thing a shot if 2-3-4 doesn't work.  We will try anything!

ChristinaD09

Have you tried reading the no cry sleep solution?  I just checked it out yesterday, and it has a TON of great recommendations for getting your baby to sleep at night or during the day, no matter what problem you have.  And she doesn't recommend cry it out.  And supports co-sleeping and nursing your baby to sleep if needed (that was a big deal for me).

ChristinaD09

Oh and a couple things recommeded, off the top of my head, that may help with naps too---doing a nap routine, having code words you use when its time to get sleepy (time to go night night...etc.), in the crib at the first sign of fatigue, etc.

ANJ410

If you have exausted all other avenues, then its time to let her CIO until she just wears herself out.  I went through the same exact thing with my DS and that was the only thing that worked. Going in there to check on him just made it worse.  Once he saw me, he thought I was coming in to get him and then screamed even louder when I left the room.

I know you feel bad making her cry, but you have to be strong. She is still a baby and needs to nap.

 

jarbatz

I agree that you have to lose the checks for naps.  She's old enough now that she knows you're going to keep coming in and it just makes her more mad every time you leave.  I had to retrain for naps this w/e and the first time, she woke up after 45 mins...cried/played for almost 30 mins and then slept for another 45 mins.  The 2nd nap, she slept for 90 mins (and I had to wake her!)....today, her first nap was 2 hours...2nd nap...same thing as yesterday...woke up after 30 mins and after 30 mins of fussing she's asleep again. 

I think the 2-3-4 schedule is a good one to follow, but adjust it based on DD's needs. 

And lastly - I always give DD one hour for naps...if she's not sleeping after an hour, then I go get her.  If she's playing or just mildly fussing, I just let her go.

mrsfirefly

jarbatz:

I agree that you have to lose the checks for naps.  She's old enough now that she knows you're going to keep coming in and it just makes her more mad every time you leave.  I had to retrain for naps this w/e and the first time, she woke up after 45 mins...cried/played for almost 30 mins and then slept for another 45 mins.  The 2nd nap, she slept for 90 mins (and I had to wake her!)....today, her first nap was 2 hours...2nd nap...same thing as yesterday...woke up after 30 mins and after 30 mins of fussing she's asleep again. 

I think the 2-3-4 schedule is a good one to follow, but adjust it based on DD's needs. 

And lastly - I always give DD one hour for naps...if she's not sleeping after an hour, then I go get her.  If she's playing or just mildly fussing, I just let her go.

Thanks!  This is so helpful.

LittleBabyC

Have you tried:

Dark room- even during day

white noise machine that loops the entire time

Infant massage for deep relaxation

A completely sterile sleep environment with no outside noise (i.e.- cars, dogs barking, even your movement in the house)