Not one book about naps!

JuneMommy2B

There are thousands of books about sleep, but most of them mostly deal with nighttime sleep problems.  Healthy Sleep Habits (the one I'm reading now) says about naps, "naps should last at least an hour".  Well, thanks, but what if they don't?  "Should" isn't super helpful.  The No-Cry Nap Solution is coming out on Dec. 29, but that seems like a long way away.  I guess I'll just deal with 20 minute naps for 7 more weeks

Has anyone read a sleep book that has good nap advice?  I've tried keeping her up longer, putting her down sooner, EASY, rocking to sleep, putting down drowsy but awake, feeding to sleep, and even a little CIO.  Doesn't matter what we do, IF she sleeps, she sleeps for 30 minutes max.  I'm losing it. 

inateapot

I'm struggling with this too! 

Today we've gotten a couple of 20-30 min naps. It's been SO stressful. I *know* she's tired, she's yawning etc...but she will NOT drop off.  ARGH.

weebride07

ive never gotten moer than a 20-30 minute nap...  not all kids nap for long periods of time. 

hodgie

I read HSHHC and felt the same way. ?DS would go down for naps awake and fall asleep but rarely slept longer than 45 minutes. ?Now that he is a little older, I tried spacing his naps out more (was following the down every 2 hours) and he is sleeping longer (most of the time-we still have our days. ?Like today, for example). ?Don't know if it is just related to persistence or reflecting the fact that he is older and more mature. ?I found the books somewhat helpful but my current theory is that it just takes time. ?Obviously, I'm no expert.

JuneMommy2B

I'm just so tired of spending 60 minutes trying to put her down to get a 20 minute nap. My whole day consists of nothing but trying to put her down.  I know she's tired, she just won't sleep. 

TiaG

Im in the same place. It is so frustrating and exhausting! I'm happy to hear that a nap book is coming out!

Skipperg82

I had the same issue for a long time with DS...except that he wouldn't nap at ALL...spending the entire day just to get a 45 minute nap! ?When I read HSHHC, he talked a lot about the sleeping pattern of babies, how their sleep cycles are 40-50 minutes long and then they re-enter light sleep and most usually wake up at this point. ?I realized that if I was there at the right place and right time with DS...his sleep cycle is exactly 40 minutes long, if I catch him RIGHT as he is awakening, and then offer the boob or paci, he will suck a few times then drop back into sleep for another 40 minutes!

This is the only way I can get him to nap longer...if I miss his wake up point, he is usually then just cranky and overtired and I can;t get him to go back down for a nap until the next one...

I only discovered this one day when I was napping next to him with my top off, he latched back on as he woke up and then drifted right back off to sleep, ?it was amazing!!

HTH....?

?

californiafrog7905

I've written this EXACT same post before; I feel your pain!  (Thanks for mentioning the book, BTW; had no idea and will be lining up first thing that day to get my paws on a copy...)  Ditto Skipper; if I get to DD before she really gets going once she wakes up at 30, I can sometimes nurse or rock her back to sleep for a while longer.  Sometimes it'll extend to an extra HOUR (gasp!) or more. 

Have you tried napping with him to get him to stay asleep longer?  That's also something I've done that has worked occasionally.  Doesn't seem like there's much we can do, but I've noticed the better DD sleeps at night, the more likely I am to get a longer nap out of her at least once the next day.  Hang in there; I can't wait to get that book....