Tricks for getting LO to take a nap?

res932

Napping has been a point of stress for me for the past couple of weeks. DS seems to be getting harder and harder to get to take a decent nap. I have gone back to work, although I work at home, but having DS take a one or two hour nap is ideal since then I can get work done. Also, if he is taking decent naps then I can too. I have tried swaddling him, rocking and singing to him, or putting him in his swing or bouncy. Sometimes he will fall asleep in the swing, other days he wants nothing to do with it. Sometimes I will get him into a deep sleep but as soon as I try to put him down or leave the room he starts to cry. Also, he has problems with grunting and straining (I am guessing it is to either pass gas or poop) and that will sometimes wake him up. He does this at night too. The only consistent way to get him to sleep is to put him in his snowsuit in the car seat and drive around. I don't want to have to drive around every day to get him to take a nap though. Also, I have heard it isn't good to let them sleep in their carseats. Does anyone have any tricks on what works to get LOs to sleep?

christy619

My LO likes to snuggle up in the middle of a Boppy pillow because I think it makes her feel secure.  I know there is some risk with this so I only have her sleep in it for naps when I can keep an eye on her.  At night, she seems to sleep better in the bassinett when she has a sleep sack on.  Good luck! I'm sure it's tough to find time to work from home!

Qmommy

Since he's only napping, napping in the carseat is just fine.  They just don't want babies sleeping 8 hours in a row in a carseat.  I just wanted to say I hope you're not putting him IN the snowsuit then buckling him in the carseat.  He should not be wearing anything puffy while in the carseat.  Put a warm blanket over him instead of the snowsuit.  

Will he nap if you wear him?  Have you tried white noise?   

HPickle23

This is gonna sound crazy but when DD doesn't want to nap, I put some classical music or something like Josh Groban on full blast in my living room and rock her in my arms. She usually starts to doze off. Have you tried just putting LO in the carseat and rocking it? Sometimes this works too instead of actually having to drive anywhere.

I work at home too (etsy) and have found that sometimes DD just doesn't want to nap, so I let her entertain herself in the bouncer or on her playmat. Like today, she didn't want to nap or be held...she wanted to lay on the floor so she could move around a lot. Funny, but that's just want she wanted to do. As long as I'm on the floor, she's usually pretty good. (Not sure if you can work on the floor LOL.)

ksb717

Sorry it's getting stressful! 

 

How long is his awake time?  I find if I wait too long it makes it harder.  If I catch him as soon as I see his sleepy signs it takes only a minute or two.

I wrap him up and walk with him until his eyes start to close, he's still a little awake, and then put him down.  It's not always that easy but it normally works for him.

 

Good luck!