DD can't/won't put herself to sleep for naps...

Mrs_Stevens · October 2009

At night she nods off easily w/just a tiny bit of rocking. Naps are a fight every.single.time. Any hopes of this just happening one day without making her CIO?

22laura · October 2009

I'm writing so I can come back and look at the responses. DS will NOT nap either. I practically have to pin him in my arms, it's quite the struggle! (literally)

ktarr1 · October 2009

i have been struggling with this for several weeks...we have been following the "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby" book. we started by putting him down after soothing, etc...and if he cries, he was to stay for a hour...well, 5 days of that and one huge vomit later - we needed another solution. i think that my ds is super overtired and can't get to sleep because he is so tired - if that makes sense. so, tonight, we are going to an early bed time. we usually start things around 7:15 - tonight, if he is tired we are going to start around 6. the theory is that will help him get the extra sleep and then he will start to get back on track with the naps. from what i have read - this should take about a week...

i am at wits end about this. every day, i hope and pray that today would be the day that he naps. thank goodness for columbus day and my dh being off tomorrow for the extra help!

i hope this helps. if anyone else is doing anything that worked, i can't wait to find out!

LeighK · October 2009

I struggle with this every day as well. DD goes down at 7 pm and puts herself to sleep with about 20 minutes of fussing (sometimes I do have to go back in to comfort her). However, she really will only nap in the car, and usually wakes up when the car stops. I feel like I shouldn't have to waste gas (and time) to get her to nap.

I just tried something that seemed to work - put her in the PNP with the shade/canopy thing up so it is a little darker and she isn't distracted by things she can see outside. I turned on the fan for some white noise. She went down at 4, fussed for 20 minutes and is still sleeping. I'm crossing my fingers!

So maybe removing all stimuli will work for you? Good luck!

jerseysunrays · October 2009

DS will easily fall asleep while I'm wearing him or if he is in the swing.

DS will fuss a little but fall asleep if we are in the car or rocking.

DS has only been able to put himself to sleep in the pnp once or twice.

And, as soon as one thing works it stops working a few days later!

aynjc · October 2009

I never let DD CIO, but I would let her fuss a little. I followed the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child book, too. However, I never left her alone for an hour like it says you can. I started with 5 mins and gradually left her longer.

Bottom line, they need to learn to put themselves to sleep. It will help with STTN, too. Do your normal routine...rock, shush, bounce...whatever you normally do. Then put baby down (asleep or not). I would try not to make eye contact and just get the heck out of the room. It will be hard, but leave them for 5 minutes at a time...go back and sooth without picking them up and do it again. Length of time should go by their mood. If she was screaming, I would not leave her. I'm sure you know your LO's cries. Just use your judgement. The cries will become less intense. I would try to do wash or something (with the monitor or course) so I wasn't watching the clock. Good luck

TandTNN · October 2009

When did you start doing this? I am reading the book as well, but not for sure if I should start at 4 months or wait until LO is 5 months old. Any advise would be great. TIA!

MandaJo9 · October 2009

DD is finally getting good at putting herself to sleep but she still wakes up 3-5 times per night. Anyway, when we put her down, she is usually pretty groggy. We turn on her sleep sheep. She lays in bed and talks to herself for a few minutes, sometimes fusses a little, then is out.

Have you tried some kind of noise machine?

Corinneallyson · October 2009

Ugh. Savi needs me to lay down next to her, pin her arms, give her her paci, and then stay next to her for the entire time she naps (or else she won't)....so aggrevating. I don't know what to do about it. She STTN, and goes down for bed really well...I don't get why there is such a difference.

Mrs_Stevens · October 2009

We've tried a noise machine, we've tried swaddling/unswaddling, letting her fuss for a few minutes...etc. The only thing that really works is if I hold her tight and sometimes she even fights me then. I guess we'll just keep trying with the fussing it out thing and see what happens.

R&R_in_QC · October 2009

We have had the same problem. She has always gone to bed at night perfectly fine, naps were always a fight.

In all honesty I never did anything to solve the problem, I learned that she napped better in her swing and even though it was still a fight, it was less of one then the crib or me holding her, so she napped in her swing 99% of the time.

over the last month (maybe less) she is getting better and now she will go down for naps in her crib with a little fussing but no CIO. So we go back and forth crib or swing depending on how tired she is, or I am Stick out tongue Honestly as long as you find something that you can deal with, it will likely pass in time.

Want a personalized experience?

DD can't/won't put herself to sleep for naps...

Re: DD can't/won't put herself to sleep for naps...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards