November 2011 Moms

putting lo down for naps after 1.5-2 hours

i read this everywhere, and follow his drowsy cues, but he just won't go to sleep. i feel like i spend half my day trying to get him to nap. sometimes he sleeps for 5-10 minutes, and every once in awhile he'll take a 3-4 hour nap, but he won't consistently nap, even though he's showing lots of tired signs (yawning, rubbing eyes, eyes rolling back, etc.)

he sleeps fairly well at night, first 6-8 hours followed by anywhere from 1.5-4 (some nights are better than others) but hates napping. at night he's in his bassinet, but during the day i usually try to put him down in the swing. he used to go into the pack n play but he would never take long naps there. thanks!


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Re: putting lo down for naps after 1.5-2 hours

  • I totally feel your pain. I discovered the secret to getting my LO to sleep...holding her sideways (horizontally against my chest with her head resting on the inside of my elbow) and bouncing her on the yoga ball. It takes her 5 mins to fall asleep when I use that method. Before I discovered that, it would take me at least 30 minutes to get her to nap...I'd walk her around, rock her in the rocking chair, put her int he swing...nothing works like that yoga ball. Sometimes when I put her down after she falls asleep, she will wake up. I just pick her up, get back on the yoga ball, and repeat until she stays down. She usually naps from 1 to 4 hours at a time. 

     Good luck finding your magic trick! 

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  • imageshell42:

    I totally feel your pain. I discovered the secret to getting my LO to sleep...holding her sideways (horizontally against my chest with her head resting on the inside of my elbow) and bouncing her on the yoga ball. It takes her 5 mins to fall asleep when I use that method. Before I discovered that, it would take me at least 30 minutes to get her to nap...I'd walk her around, rock her in the rocking chair, put her int he swing...nothing works like that yoga ball. Sometimes when I put her down after she falls asleep, she will wake up. I just pick her up, get back on the yoga ball, and repeat until she stays down. She usually naps from 1 to 4 hours at a time. 

     Good luck finding your magic trick! 

    This exactly, plus swaddled. Something about that ball does the trick.  

  • imageGnomeLuv:
    imageshell42:

    I totally feel your pain. I discovered the secret to getting my LO to sleep...holding her sideways (horizontally against my chest with her head resting on the inside of my elbow) and bouncing her on the yoga ball. It takes her 5 mins to fall asleep when I use that method. Before I discovered that, it would take me at least 30 minutes to get her to nap...I'd walk her around, rock her in the rocking chair, put her int he swing...nothing works like that yoga ball. Sometimes when I put her down after she falls asleep, she will wake up. I just pick her up, get back on the yoga ball, and repeat until she stays down. She usually naps from 1 to 4 hours at a time. 

     Good luck finding your magic trick! 

    This exactly, plus swaddled. Something about that ball does the trick.  

    I also swear by the yoga ball.  Works wonders.

  • imageshell42:

    I totally feel your pain. I discovered the secret to getting my LO to sleep...holding her sideways (horizontally against my chest with her head resting on the inside of my elbow) and bouncing her on the yoga ball. It takes her 5 mins to fall asleep when I use that method. Before I discovered that, it would take me at least 30 minutes to get her to nap...I'd walk her around, rock her in the rocking chair, put her int he swing...nothing works like that yoga ball. Sometimes when I put her down after she falls asleep, she will wake up. I just pick her up, get back on the yoga ball, and repeat until she stays down. She usually naps from 1 to 4 hours at a time. 

     Good luck finding your magic trick! 

    This puts my DS to sleep everytime too.  Usually just walking around the house is enough bouncing for him.  I do try to get him to nap after 2 hours of awake time and it seems to be a good pattern for him.  He still sleeps 6+2 hours at night.

    DS 11.24.11
    MMC 3.30.16
  • wow, thanks ladies. i'm going to try my yoga ball tomorrow! also forgot to mention my LO is 8 weeks and 5 days, seems like most responses are in same range.

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  • I agree with PP's, we hold LO in a horizonal position also, while rocking and listening to Jewel's CD.  He's usually asleep in 5-10 min.  Then I leave the CD playing on repeat and his white noise machine playing.  These things have finally made him sleep longer than 45 min during the day.  Maybe it's all the background noise that helps him stay asleep.
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  • Great ideas!  I have a yoga ball in a box.  I'm totally going to inflate it today and give it a shot.  Here's to hoping DD sleeps more than 30 minutes!
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