Help me with cat naps before I lose my ever loving mind.

MelissaMc22 · January 2010

Seriously. This staying at home stuff is SO HARD. I am just barely making it every single day. Mentally, physically exhausting. I was telling my husband I feel like a pin ball machine- just boucing around from one point to another having no idea what is next. It is so much harder than I planned... I 'm sorry I just need to vent, I am having a really hard time.

One of our huge problems is Sawyer will only cat nap. He naps 3 X a day for 25- 40 minutes. NOT ENOUGH. By the end of the day, he is so cranky and tired that he whines and cries until bedtime.

He usually sleeps from 8PM- 3 and 6 to eat, 7:30 for the day.

He needs naps, and so do I . I feel like I have no time for Jack anymore and am just nagging him constantly.

I also feel like I spend so much time "re trying" to get Sawyer to sleep, so time consuming.

Any suggestions? FWIW, he sleeps in a dark room, with a fan and a noise machine- should have no problems getting a decent rest.

This was long, I'm sorry- just feeling a little lost!

Thanks for any imput.

curlypie1 · January 2010

Would you mind letting him try napping in a swing? Nora napped very well a couple times a day in her swing until she was 7 months old. She would sleep in her crib at night.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. You sound exhausted.

Miller238 · January 2010

Does he like his car seat? What about trying the car seat to nap?

I can't imagine how exhausting that must be. Being a SAHM is definitely hard work. A 24/7 job!

suprchicy · January 2010

I hope you find a solution Melissa because I am in the same boat! Brooke will only nap longer than 15 minutes if I hold her the entire time. The moment I lay her down, she is up. I've tried everything I can think of. She is also now waking up every 3 hrs (or more) at night so I don't get any sleep at night either. Will he nap in a Moby for you so you can at least move around some? That will sometimes work for Brooke when I get desperate and need to get something done. I hope you find something that works!

ETA: I also don't envy you being a SAHM. I get a break for a few hours in the afternoon at work, and I think that is the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.

becca070707Ken · January 2010

I second the swing. That was the only way Ayden would nap until he was 7 months. Everytime we put him in his bed to nap he would cry, but when he went to sleep at night in his bed he slept great. The swing was the only thing that kept our house sane for those first 7 months. Sending you a big {{HUG}}. I understand the nagging part also. I feel like I get on Kellen more about leaving his toys on the ground. He has toys that have small parts that Ayden can not get a hold of for choking purposes, but I just feel like i'm nagging all the time b/c of it. I sometimes feel guilty b/c Kellen doesn't get as much attention as he did before Ayden, although he understands and doesn't complain, and he does get special time with just me or DH. It's hard with two!! I know our situations are a little different. You have a toddler and a baby and I have an 8 yr old and a toddler. Now that I wrote to much

Hope things start looking up for you. It doesn't help that the weather has been crappy too.

Mrs.Cooley2bee · January 2010

Ditto the swing idea, but can you put it in his room where it is dark and he has the noise machine? Also, Charlotte slept sooo much longer when she was swaddled (and we didn't stop that until 5.5 months when we started just swaddling from the waist down...she loved the tight feeling). She would always be a little pissed to start with but calmed down quickly.

Good Luck!

Megs&Nick · January 2010

I second the swaddle idea. It was the only thing that got crabby Allie to sleep anywhere other than my arms. She was swaddled until after 6 months if I remember correctly.

KristenBtobe · January 2010

Also a swinger here. (I hope that made you laugh a little) What's his nap routine? I know I say it all the time but I swore by the 2-3-4 method for Maggie's naps once she was about 4 months. Maybe a really solid schedule will help, he sounds like he might be overtired and fighting the naps.

pinkylu · January 2010

Is he on any kind of schedule? Adah was on a pretty predictable schedule around 3 months, so that def. helped. Maybe try Kristen's suggestion of the 2-3-4 schedule? I hope it gets better soon, I feel for you!

Lyons_in_2007 · January 2010

First of all - BIG HUGS TO YOU!! You have every reason in the world to be frazzled and frustrated. It is hard. It's WAY hard, especially when babies don't sleep. It makes for crabby babies and cranky mommies...and I can only imagine how it's compounded to have a toddler in the mix who wants/needs attention and doesn't quite understand why things have changed. All that said, I also suggest trying the swing. For the first two months, Jacob wouldn't nap ANYWHERE but our arms (or a sling). From months 2-4, he would ONLY nap in the swing. Initially, I didn't want to go down that route; but heck it WORKED and there is no harm in it. I'm not going to lie - we have FOUR swings (two at home - 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs, one for travel, and one at my Mom's house) because it worked so well! Somewhere around month 5, he started napping/sleeping BEAUTIFULLY; and it's been that way ever since. There is hope, and this WON'T last forever!

Lyons_in_2007 · January 2010

KristenBtobe:
Also a swinger here. (I hope that made you laugh a little)

BWAHAHAHAHA! Smile Kristen, you crack me up! Smile

Zoogy · January 2010

Oh yeah I feel for you because most days I feel like you do too. I was a working till I was laid off now I SAH and it is soooooo much harder than my boring job. I love it and it is rewarding to see my girls all the time and Mya has become a lot closer to me but there are days I think, I don't know if I can do this. It comes in waves and it normally depends on if Sadie naps well and I get a little break everyday. If she doesn't nap, then those are the days I just feel exhausted, a little depressed and impatient which I hate.

I would also suggest the swing or the swaddle. Those two really helped Sadie when she was younger. We did the swing for daytime and the swaddle for nightime. We used that until she was about 5.5 months old and now I have been putting her in the crib for day and night. Sometimes she sleeps good 2 hours and sometimes for 30 min. It is frustrating when she only sleeps 30 min or less. I need just a little break to exercise or just unwind before the afternoon begins.

Just know you are not alone. Hugs to you.

shawnsweetie · January 2010

((HUGS)) I am right there with you. I got to the point where I was spending a good 3-4 hours a day just trying to get Parker to nap. I had enough at 7 months and now Parker ony naps 1 times a day. I am sorry, I wish I had some great words of wisdom... but I am praying for you and I hope there is a turning point for you soon!

Does Sawyer fall asleep in the car? Maybe just taking a ride would knock him out and then you and Jack could go threw Wendy's and get a Frosty and read some books in the car? At least that would allow you a little one on one time with Jack without any distractions that the house would offer??

MelissaMc22 · January 2010

I really love you girls. Thanks so much, I really needed that!

I will try a few of your suggestions- I think I will move the swing to his room and try that.

Thanks again.=)

bgsugrad · January 2010

I would definitely try the swaddle-me if you don't do this already....Avery was a completely different sleeper when she was swaddled! Hang in there!!!!

linzpinz14 · January 2010

Everyone else has good advice for you so I just wanted to send you some e-hugs too.

I'm not a SAHM, but similar to it, and the days where I don't get a nap break are a big huge blur... taking care of children is exhausting. It is wonderful and great and I wouldn't trade it for the world. But it is hard when you don't get time for yourself.

tpo1118 · January 2010

no help here, but you are not the only one. G is not a good sleeper. I think you are a great SAHM and I don't know how I could ever do it.

doodlebug914 · January 2010

Do you swaddle? Ethan slept in a swaddle until after 6 months. I also laid him down awake, and we played music. He also slept well in the swing. HTH!! Mama needs some rest!!

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