Recommend a nap strategy

ForeverEverAfter · April 2013

LO is 4 months old this week. Bedtime she nurses to sleep and then goes into her bassinet next to the bed. It might take a couple tries, but she does sleep there and only wakes once a night. Nap time is a whole different story. She generally naps when she needs to, so different times. She averages 3 naps, but if one is short she may take another. Either she nods off while nursing, or gets cranky playing and I wrap her up and sway and she falls asleep. But 100% of the time, the majority of the nap is on my lap. If I put her down while asleep she wakes immediately or within 30 min of the start of the nap. If I hold her she naps up to 2h. She has only fallen asleep in the swing or boppy a couple of times and it wasn't a full nap. She falls asleep being worn, but wakes frequently, and wakes if I take her out, so I avoid wearing her when its coming up to a nap time.

I haven't minded, after all I can still Bump with her on my lap! But DH wants her off me, he calls me the day bed. I would love to get more done during naps. Ideally I'd like her to nap in the crib, but I have nothing against the swing (it acts as a cradle, its never on when she's asleep). What have you tried to change your LOs nap habits? Should I work on putting her down first, or go straight to trying the crib?

Mrs.AmyDylan · April 2013

LOL! I could have written this myself! My DD is 3.5m and we have shifted to my bed for naps (much more comfy). I'm interested in the responses!

jshf · April 2013

Elizabeth pantley has a good book the no cry nap solution. The best thing I read was to try to get Ur kids to sleep in more than one way. Like in the car/stroller/ swing or nursing/rocking. This way they have more than one way to fall asleep and u won't b

ForeverEverAfter · April 2013

Thanks, I'll check out that book. LO won't sleep in the swing-she wakes up shortly after I put her down there. I'm looking for advice on how to get her to nap anywhere other than my lap, and eventually to the crib.

Lane05 · April 2013

I had to same issue. LO liked to nap on me after he ate. Sometimes for 1-2 hours....! We co-sleep so I just started putting him in bed (at 4 months) and nursing him side lying. He would fall asleep but immediately wake when I would