Nap Help Needed

Mmm79 · August 2013

I cannot get A to nap for longer than 25-30 minutes. Please help. These cat naps are just not cutting it at 5 and a half months old. I have googled the crap out of this and tried almost all suggestions I have found and nada. I think I'm especially aware of it after spending a solid 10 days with him on vacation. Before on the weekends the days kind of flew by and we had so much to get done that I didn't really notice it as much.

I have been trying to replicate our bedtime routine (nursing, diaper change, face wash, story and swaddle) but no dice. My first attempt is always in his crib (well, the PNP in our room which is still where he sleeps). Sometimes he will fall asleep here but is always up again in 25-30 minutes. If he won't sleep there (like this morning after 20 minutes in the PNP), I move on to the bouncer with the kitchen fan going. He always falls right asleep with this combination, but again he is up after 25 minutes. Other times I throw him in the car where he also promptly passes out. But again, unless I drive around for an hour plus, that nap is also only about 25 minutes. Yesterday he slept for an hour and a half in the care on our way back from vacation, but I can't drive him around for that long at each nap time.

I typically aim to put him down after he has been awake for 2 to 2.5 hours.

At bedtime he is hit or miss- sometimes going down ok but other times requiring extra singing and head rubbing to fall asleep. He had been STTN from 7:30 to 4 am pretty consistently until about a month ago when he reintroduced the 2am feeding. Once upon a time he went to sleep like a champ as soon as we left the room.

He goes to daycare where his provider says he naps every day with the other kids from 12:30-2:30. I tried arranging his weekend feeding schedule and nap schedule to coincide, but he will not nap for me like that. I've asked if she does anything special and the answer was no- just a bottle at noon then down to nap at the same time as all of the rest of the kids. She says he will also typically nap for about 45 minutes following his 9am bottle.

I am so discouraged reading about all these five month olds who take 2 to 3 naps per day each lasting 1-2 hours. And selfishly, I could really use a more than 25 minutes to recharge/get stuff done.

Help?

CNYBride05 · August 2013

I think a lot of kids nap well at DC due to a combo of stimulation and routine. At home, he wants to be with you

. So no advice, but FX for a shift back to great naps!

ProfessorPedals825 · August 2013

I'm sorry, I wish I had some advice for you. Naps are all over the place for us too. Sometimes, it's great and scheduled and others it's just here and there catnaps. I really just have to wing it and try to follow her sleep cues. Good luck, and I hope things get better soon.

ct103 · August 2013

I have no advice because we're going through the same thing right now. Night sleep has gotten better, but not naps. And man, this girl needs it! A few hours ago she managed about 30 mins because I first got her so drowsy in the Moby wrap, then transferred her to the crib. I'm trying the same thing right now with her in the wrap while I write this. The last 2hr nap she had was last Wednesday, and she felt so much better afterwards. Since then it's been a bunch of pathetic power naps. Not cutting it for either of us! No advice, just want you to know you're not alone. I hope someone has some good advice to share

delino · August 2013

This was DD's first week at DC. While on ML she would nap like a champ...30-45 min in the morning, 2-3hrs in the afternoon and another 30-45 min nap in the late afternoon/evening. This week her schedule is all f'd up. She naps at DC, but it's not very regular except for 1 which is when the other kids nap. Yesterday we were home and she took craptastic naps. Today she had two small morning naps and has actually been down for over 2.5 hours right now. Can't say I did anything different between yesterday and today. I think it's just kids adjusting. Maybe as PP said...he just wants time with you. Sorry I can't be of help

Mmm79 · August 2013

Thanks, ladies. It's frustrating, but glad to know we are not alone.

VeilSdeGTO · August 2013

I have no advice because DD took 30 minute naps up until she was 1.5 yrs. At daycare, she would also do 30 min naps in the infant room, and then longer (roughly 1hr) when she moved to the infant 2 room at 9 mos. She moved into the toddler room at 15 mos and they have a set nap time of 12:00-3:00, and she typically will nap 2 hrs.

I was worried in the beginning because I was also hearing how all these babies were taking 2hr+ naps. However, I realized (after many, many, MANY) failed and frustrating attempts to get her to nap longer, it just wasn't for her. She was just one of those babies that could do 30 min naps and would take a longer one if she needed it.

I really hope your DS starts taking longer naps but if he is waking up happy, seems to be fine during the day, I'd probably save myself the frustration and hope he does it on his own soon.

ETA: She wouldn't take longer than 30 mins naps at home til 1.5yrs.

katigox · August 2013

My DS is a horrible napper. Honestly, it's rare to get more than thirty minutes (and that's what we've worked up to from 15-20min. since birth). Some babies are just cat nappers through and through. And I can 100% say, that he never slept 2-3 naps a day, ranging from 1-2 hours each <-- I know that can't make you feel better, but at least you aren't alone!

I will say, that every kid is different at home and at DC. And I do think it could be as simple as him missing you and wanting to play with you - rather than sleep (silly babies! Don't they know they are wearing us down?!). I do wonder if he just sees all the other babies going to sleep, and kind of just takes their cues, and does it himself? (it's the only thing I could imagine that's vastly different from home to DC).

I'm sorry I got no advice, but I do hope it improves (even if by only a little). I treasure the super-duper-rare one hour nap . . . though I don't get anything done, because I just know as soon as I'm knee deep in something, he'll wake up

Want a personalized experience?

Nap Help Needed

Re: Nap Help Needed

Choose Another Board

Search Boards