Struggling with late afternoon nap

emilyec1 · December 2012

Is anyone else struggling with the late afternoon catnap? My guys have a great schedule during the day and nurse around 4 pm and go to bed between 7 and 7:30 pm. Since 3 hours is too long for them to be up at this age, I usually try for a catnap (15-20 min if I'm lucky) around 5 pm, but I feel like it takes at least 30 min. to get them to fall asleep just for 20 min. Since I have twins and am by myself at that point in the day rocking isn't too much of an option since I can only rock one at a time and the other would have to cry while I rock one. Does everyone experience this same fighting the nap?

juliane2004 · December 2012

I don't do this but one idea is a shorter nap of 45 minutes at that time of day.

Oh, and I only have one but I put her down awake. It takes 2 minutes to swaddle and put her down. I've always thought it would be a good technique if I had twins.

Do you want my advice with how to put them down awake? If so, my first question is, how long are they up between other naps?

TMNTgirl · December 2012

We pretty much struggle with all naps Stick out tongue .

But I remember with my first son - that he was on a decent 3 nap a day schedule for a while - but right around 6 months old he started refusing to take that nap. At that point we went to 2 naps a day (each were around 1-1.5 hours) and then we did a really early bedtime. He went to bed around 6-630pm so he wasn't an overtired cranky mess at bedtime. He woke up for the day around 6am - so that part kinda sucked, but it was better than dealing with a fussy baby in the evenings.

Maybe try to shoot for an earlier bedtime (630 or 645) and see how that works?

emilyec1 · December 2012

juliane2004:
I don't do this but one idea is a shorter nap of 45 minutes at that time of day.
Oh, and I only have one but I put her down awake. It takes 2 minutes to swaddle and put her down. I've always thought it would be a good technique if I had twins.
Do you want my advice with how to put them down awake? If so, my first question is, how long are they up between other naps?

Sure, would definitely love advice on putting them down awake! They are usually up anywhere from 1-1.5 hours between their naps. A loose day looks like this for us:

6:30-7: wake and nurse

8:15: nap

10: nurse

10-10:30: down for 2nd nap

1 pm: nurse

2-2:30: down for 3rd nap

4 pm: nurse

5-5:30 pm: down for catnap (I aim for at least 20 min. if I can get it)

7-7:30 p.m.: nurse, bedtime

emilyec1 · December 2012

TMNTgirl:
We pretty much struggle with all naps .
But I remember with my first son - that he was on a decent 3 nap a day schedule for a while - but right around 6 months old he started refusing to take that nap. At that point we went to 2 naps a day (each were around 1-1.5 hours) and then we did a really early bedtime. He went to bed around 6-630pm so he wasn't an overtired cranky mess at bedtime. He woke up for the day around 6am - so that part kinda sucked, but it was better than dealing with a fussy baby in the evenings.
Maybe try to shoot for an earlier bedtime (630 or 645) and see how that works?

Good idea. We'll try that this week!

TaterTot408 · December 2012

I'm having the same problem and don't have much advice. The only thing I do is just let him catnap in his bouncy chair. Regular, full naps are in his crib. By the way, your boys are adorable!

brookith · December 2012

I have twins too, and their evening schedule is similar to yours. Since it is just me sometimes, and like you said, you cannot rock them both, I just put them in their swings for a little while in the evening. If they have napped really well during the day, they may take a short nap or none at all. If they have not napped well, they may fall asleep for an hour or so.

I found that they do not always nap in the evening anymore, but just some quiet time in the swing if they don't want to nap helps them make it to their bedtime. They seem to do better with this rather than struggling to get them to nap in their crib at this time. Good luck!

lcg81 · December 2012

At that point I call it a victory if other naps have been in the crib so I just throw in the towel at that point and we go for a walk. She falls asleep when she's ready and I get a little bit of exercise.

libra31 · December 2012

My little guy has the same schedule. His catnap at that time is about 30 min. He doesnt fight that last nap though and goes down awake for all his naps. He will sometimes cry or fuss but never for longer then 5 min and usually not much at all. I do remember with my others that was a harder time to get them to sleep....I would definitely enlist the help of the swing if one of them will take that nap there.

With twins I would really start trying to get them down awake. The easiest time is going to be for their 1st nap of the day so start with this one. I've always found with all my kids that this is the shortest amount of awake time even though you think it would be longer since they've slept all night. Look at the clock when they wake up. Put them in their bed at the first sign of sleepiness....crying, rubbing eyes or a single yawn. For me it's usually 45min-1hr after they wake up. I wouldn't go longer then 1 hour. Do the same for the other naps not letting them go longer then 1hr 15- 1hr 30min awake. Hope that helps!

By 6 months 2 of my kiddos were done with that nap and going to bed by 6:30. I had one who took that 3rd nap until 7-8months.

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