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The infant who would not nap... Help me... please. :)

rainonmerainonme member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

Hi ladies,

DS is 4 months old.  Thankfully, DS is a decent night time sleeper (although last month was a wreck... that's a whole other story).  He tends to fall asleep around 8 after his bath.  I rock him and feed him a bottle while playing relaxing music.  He falls asleep within 10 minutes usually and has been staying asleep until around 4 am.  He gets his bottle and then is usually up around 6:30.  He stays up until around 8 and then takes a 45-60 minute nap.  Then between 9 am and 8 pm it is all downhill with sleep!

HE WILL NOT NAP.  This has ALWAYS been a problem.  He used to struggle to fall asleep at night too, but has responded GREAT to the routine that we have.  But I am afraid that he may be dependent on the routine, since he won't sleep any other time.  ???   But I am afraid to give it up at night b/c he responds to it!  I seem to be the ONLY person who can really get him to fall asleep during the day, but I have to rock/bounce/shake him while he drinks a bottle, and even then, he FIGHTS it and only stays asleep for an hour MAX.  Sometimes he wakes himself up after 10 minutes and does not fall back asleep.  He will typically take around only 2 naps during the day. 

So, in all, he is probably sleeping around 14 hours a day.  Is that enough?  Even if it is supposed to be, he gets SO overtired and cranky, especially by the late afternoon.  So I know he NEEDS more sleep. 

What do I do?  I am afraid to let him CIO and my pediatrician said not to do it yet.  When I have tried, he escalates and can not calm himself down.  Any recommendations on books that are good resources?  I feel like I am getting him into a terrible pattern and want to stop before he is too dependent and is never able to fall asleep on his own.  

Thank you!!

 

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Re: The infant who would not nap... Help me... please. :)

  • arkabeearkabee

    Do you have any kind of soothing noise machine you can use? We use the Fisher Price rainforest noise thing in the crib. And we still swaddle DS for all naps ... I've tried keeping one or both arms out, and he just sleeps better when we do the full swaddle. We use a crib sheet now, because he's so big he kicks out of everything else. We also use a second, light cotton blanket inside the sheet, folded in half triangularly, then folded down over each arm and under his bottom, to keep him from tearing out of the swaddle.

    A pacifier helps us, too, but I don't know what your feelings are on that, or if you've tried it already. When DS wakes up early from naps, a lot of times if I just go in and put the paci back in (and reswaddle if he needs it), and restart the noise machine, and he goes back to sleep.

    Don't know if any of those will help you, but I thought I would throw them out there. Good luck and big hugs!

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  • momto1momto1

    You've had a lot of reads, but no responses, so here it goes...

     I've been there.

    And all I can say is-- try not to worry about it so much. 

    My son was the exact same way.  And it is normal. IMO your LO is still waaaaay to young for you to worry about a sleep schedule.  Not to say some babies aren't on them.  My ped. reminded me that babies can get all the sleep they need in short naps here and there.  Sucks for parents, but totally fine for babies.

    I spent most of the 1st year of my sons life worried about him becoming dependent on me in order to fall asleep (I nursed him to sleep/rocked/bounced/ sang/co-slept....etc.) and by the time he was a year, he'd fall asleep on his own, in his own bed no problem.  By the time he was 18 months, he was in a toddler bed, staying in bed, falling asleep on his own.

    Not to say that CIO doesn't have it's place--I like Ferber better though. You let baby cry for 1 min. then 2, then 4...ect. It is easier on mom & dad...and I think easier on baby too.

    Also remember, babies pick up on your mood.  If you are frustrated, sad, worried, etc...can also be keeping him up or effecting your breastmilk (if you are nursing...it could cause a tummy ache).

    I hope it helps to know someone else has been there....and to know that it does end. I think by the time Stink was around 5 or 6 months (introducing solids) he became a much better sleeper. 

     

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