Getting youngest (5 mos) to nap with 2 kids? Any advice?

Ndsmommy · April 2011

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RP from SAHM: Hi, I am mainly a lurker, but needed some advice on this. My DS is 2 1/2 and is on a very good nap schedule. He sleeps from 7:30 - 7:00 with a nap around 1:00. My problem is DD who is 5 months old. Her naps have always been chaotic and usually she was only falling asleep while nursing. When I swaddled her (up until 4 months) she would sometimes nap in the crib (usually at least 1x per day). However, since she has been unswaddled she will not nap in the crib at all.

For the last month I have been putting her into the swing to sleep which had started out working pretty well. She would take 2 hour naps, 1 - 2 times a day with the other nap usually being in the car. However the last week, she will not nap without screaming in the swing. The first time we put her in the swing, she screams for several minutes (at least 20) before she finally falls asleep. I have been watching for her sleepy cues ever since she was 2 months old, but she doesn't have any specific ones, so I usually try to put her to sleep in the swing within 1 3/4 - 2 hours from waking up and stick with that routine. However with the last week, I have had to lay down in the same room as her to try to get her to nap and it is taking upwards of 30 - 45 minutes of me shushing to even get her to finally sleep. This is almost impossible to do on a regular basis with my 2 1/2 year old. Any thoughts on tips on how to get her to nap more easily? I'd like for her to nap in the crib, but I will take any nap without 45 minutes of crying first. I should probably also add that she has, in the last 3 weeks, learned how to roll over completely, sit-up, is babbling, and may be teething. So it may be a componenet of that too, but would appreciate any suggestions that everyone has.

firsttogo · April 2011

I am not sure, but my littlest naps about an hour after she gets up in the AM. She will be up at about 7, back down at 8 (maybe 830max) and down until about 1030, or 11, and then up until about 1230 or 1 when the boys go down for their afternoon nap. (DS2 still gets an am nap from about 930-11) She is up btwn 3 and 4, and maybe catnaps one more time but back in bed by 8ish for the night.

I wonder if yours needs to go to bed earlier in the AM for her nap. I remember DS1 needed to go right back down, like get up, changed, eat, back to sleep! Oh the life!

roundtheworldgirl · April 2011

I'm having similar difficulties with my 6-month-old. My other one is 18.5 months and she also naps at 1 p.m. The baby usually takes a morning nap but that's it. Then she starts to fuss at 5 p.m. and it's a loooong way until her 7:30 bedtime. My oldest actually was a horrible napper until she was 9 months old. I think I just have crappy luck with napping. I do try to stay home until DD2 has had her morning nap, but other than that, since we haven't been able to get a solid routine going, she just has to nap on the go. Otherwise I'd be stuck home all day long and mommy would go insane.

bulldog_mama23 · April 2011

I have similar difficulties with my 5 month old. My DD is 22 months old and sleeps 8pm to 6:30am, nap from 12:30-3:00. DS always seems to "fight" his nap but is an awesome nighttime sleeper. I think it is because DD is always trying to come in his room or makes loud noise when I am trying to put him down but sometimes it is hard to keep her occupied. I have DS taking about 3 naps a day anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour which seems like a lot but it is quite the struggle to go to sleep. On the days when DD is at my mom's house, I have no problems putting him down at all.

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Getting youngest (5 mos) to nap with 2 kids? Any advice?

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