Napping troubles

chalima

My lo is almost 8 weeks old and having some nap time issues. Up until the past week or week and a half, he was pretty good. He'd fall asleep at the breast and in the carrier and on my lap.. just about anywhere. Now, he's getting overtired and crying and fussing and I'm rocking, singing, begging him to sleep before he knocks out. 

He still sleeps pretty well at night. We bed share. I try to lay down and nap with him in the day time, neither of us sleeps. He's still doing okay in the baby carrier, but even that sometimes doesn't work. I try to put him to sleep before he gets too tired and he doesn't seem interested. Once he's tired/overtired he starts actively fighting sleep. Help! How do I get this kid to nap when he's tired?

TiffanyBerry

You start his nap BEFORE he gets tired.  It's hard - oh, I have a challenging sleeper and it is super hard - but you need to recognize the earliest possible signs and start then.  I found making use of 90-minute sleep cycles very helpful.  I would just start putting her towards her nap 80-90minutes after she woke up.  (I would also help her go back to sleep if she took less than a 90 minute nap - waking up mid nap is super common, but doesn't get a full rest/active cycle in.)  As she got older, it would go to being awake for 3hrs, then 4.5hrs.  (I found "the 90-minute baby sleep program" the most useful book for us.)

hollowstar

Could also be a little growth spurt or something. That's always interfered with my son's sleep. Sounds like you are already giving him opportunities to fall asleep before he's overtired. They do just get less sleepy as they get older though, more able to stay awake long periods. Good luck!