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Baby Thrashing at Naptime - Meaning?!?!

las7880las7880
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

My lo has always been such a great napper and sleeps amazingly well at night - from about 9pm to 7am.  But the last week or two he has become impossible at naptime!  

He's 3.5 months old and still naps after every feed.  I don't really push him to nap, but when he shows all his sleepy cues, I lay him down.  He's obviously ready to drop a nap here or there and that's a whole other issue (I think), but what has me stumped is his thrashing around when I lay him down.  He can be so so sleepy but when I put him in his bed, he thrashes his head from left to right, rubs his hands all over his face and head, tries to gnaw on his fingers, seems to attack a paci but then doesn't want it . It seems like he's starving so obviously I've tried offering him a bottle, but he doesn't want that either. This doesn't apply at night - after bath time and bottle time at night, he's swaddled and goes right to sleep.

Is this signs of teething?  Signs of some other kind of pain?  Or is it just a totally normal sleep regression for his age and he's ticked off that I would dare lay him down to nap?  Could he simply be telling me, "Look, lady.  I'm sleepy but I'm a big boy and don't need a nap so often."  Or is this thrashing behavior something to be concerned about?

Any thoughts?  I'm sure this is a really stupid question, but I'm just not used to this new fussy behavior! 

EDIT:  Forgot to mention the crying.  He thrashes and gnaws and rubs his face like a madman and then the crying starts. He can be soothed usually but then the cycle repeats.   

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Re: Baby Thrashing at Naptime - Meaning?!?!

  • genekellygenekelly member
    I think the thrashing is just a way to calm himself down and find a comfortable place to sleep.  LO also does this and hasn't yet dropped any naps.  If he's not screaming/crying and just moving around, I think it is not that unusual based on my experience.  I toss and turn sometimes to get comfortable so maybe LO does this as well.
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  • las7880las7880

    imagegenekelly:
    I think the thrashing is just a way to calm himself down and find a comfortable place to sleep.  LO also does this and hasn't yet dropped any naps.  If he's not screaming/crying and just moving around, I think it is not that unusual based on my experience.  I toss and turn sometimes to get comfortable so maybe LO does this as well.

     I guess I forgot to add that he does scream! Ha, big detail to leave out, huh?  He thrashes for a few minutes and then screams and cries.  I can usually soothe him with just rocking the RNP, but lots of time this cycle goes 3 or 4 times before it seems he just knocks himself out.   But you have a great point - maybe he's trying to get comfortable but can't in the Rock N Play.  Maybe it's time for his crib.  We have him in there for his reflux and choking spells and like I said, he's a beautiful night sleeper and I hate to make ANY changes there, but maybe for naps we should transition to crib.  

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  • ElatedMom2BElatedMom2B member
    He's learning to self soothe.  When he screams is when he isn't having any luck with it.
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