Really irritated about this nap stuff!

Toni828

Or should I say lack of naps.  Most of the time, my boys will only nap for 30 mins.  What is up with that.  I have read so much on sleep: books, websites, forums....my twins seem to be the exception to what the experts say.  I don't know if I am doing something wrong, if it's just a stage, or is this just the way my kids are?

They do STTN from 8pm to 6am in their cribs, so I am so grateful for that. But the naps, they will not sleep in their cribs, only in RnP's or our arms. Sometimes it takes 30-45 mins to get them to fall asleep and then the will sleep for apprx. 30 mins, give or take.  I make sure to put them down 1-1/2 to 2 hours after they wake.  I watch for sleepy signs. 

I would love to be on a consistent eat-play-sleep routine, but these short naps are not allowing it.  Sometimes it does seem that 30 mins is enough, but not on every nap because many times I have 1 or 2 fussy babies to deal with. 

OK- I tried to give as much info as I could to get some opinions, help, advice....or just maybe a little pep talk to help me get through this stage - LOL! 

Thanks

Msdancnusa1

I have the same problem!  I have tried everything!  I am also trying the EASY method but cant extend from the 3 hr cycle to the 4 when she only takes 30 min naps. Cant wait to hear what others say!

Wild_flower25

Same here.  It should get better as they get older. 

I remember getting to a point with ds where I could just put him in his crib and he'd fuss or cry for a few minutes, then fall asleep.  DD is not quite there yet.

pb_bride

DS started doing this when he was 3m1w old.  It took forever for me to bounce/rock him to sleep, and he would only sleep for 20 minutes.  30 minutes if I'm lucky.  

We ended up doing sleep training when he was 4 months.  It was pure hell for me for a couple of weeks before we did sleep training - we were both exhausted and miserable all day and I got nothing done (as I had to hold him while he napped; he woke up immediately if I put him down).  Once DS learned to fall asleep himself at night, I started nap training during the day.  

After a week or so, he was able to put himself to sleep for naps.  Perhaps because of the training, he slowly extended his nap time from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, then to 45 minutes.  By 4.5 months, he was napping 1.5+ hours in his crib.  

Toni828

pb_bride, what did you do for sleep training?  was it CIO?  Just wondering.  We are having great luck with them STTN in their cribs, but I think we may have to take this approach for naps because nothing else seems to be working.  I am pretty sure that when they wake after that 30 mins. or so that they just cannot get themselves back to sleep.  Most of the time, I cannot either, but they seem fussy so I think they need more sleep.