Toddler Naps

brideinsummer04 · September 2013

Hi, I've only posted on your board a couple of times and I think it was over a year ago. I hope you don't mind me posting a question. If you nurse to sleep for naps then how does your toddler nap when with someone else? My mom has tried laying with my 20 month old on my mattress but no luck. Thanks!

Emerald27 · September 2013

I nurse my 22 month old to sleep still for naps and bedtime. If he's with daddy or someone else and needs to nap, they wear him in the carrier and take a walk. The motion + sunlight puts him to sleep within 10 minutes. She can also try rocking and singing to him

If my DH lays with DS, it's all playtime and chatting. That never works for us either. :P

brideinsummer04 · September 2013

Thanks for your response! How does your DH do it in the winter with the carrier? Does he wear like a big coat over the two of them? Does he walk the whole nap or sit and then start to walk again when he has a partial awakening? Thanks!

Emerald27 · September 2013

brideinsummer04 said:
Thanks for your response! How does your DH do it in the winter with the carrier? Does he wear like a big coat over the two of them? Does he walk the whole nap or sit and then start to walk again when he has a partial awakening? Thanks!

When DH did this in the winter, he wore a big coat that he zipped around them both (but honestly my DH is a furnace and probably didn't need it as long as DS had on good socks and a hat). He would walk until DS was sound asleep, then play on his computer or read a book or cook lunch or watch TV for the duration of the nap. If DS stirred, he'd get up and move around and gently "shhhh" him back to sleep.

Are you wondering because of occasionally needing to leave LO or will tgis be every day?

Mrs.AmyDylan · September 2013

J is only 8mo, so not a toddler, but she does nurse to sleep. My mom or DH will lay her in our bed (her usual nurse to sleep nap spot). Get her decked out in her normal nap gear (fresh diaper, socks, onesie, and sleep sack), fire up the fans and drop the blackout curtains. They will feed her a bottle of pumped BM and lay with her until she falls asleep and then sneak out. So it is almost an exact mimic of her nurse to sleep naps with me.

Jenny952 · September 2013

I still nurse DD to sleep for naps and until recently was nursing at night as well. It was a bit of a challenge having someone else put her down to sleep, either nap or bedtime. What worked for her was to be rocked to sleep after having a bottle or sippy of milk. Sometimes she'll also fall asleep in the stroller or car seat so maybe that's an option. How often will your mom or DH need to put your LO down? If it's only once or twice, then I wouldn't worry too much about it and let it be if it doesn't work. If it's on a regular basis, then I'd recommend having them establish a sleep routine with your LO. When I'm not home and DH puts her to bed, they start out with some books and a sippy cup, then they sit on the couch and watch baseball until she's good and tired out, then he rocks her to sleep. It usually takes longer for her to fall asleep but that's their routine.

The best thing for my DD was transitioning to the toddler room at daycare because she had to fall asleep on her own. She can do it if she has to, but she still likes mama when I'm home. Good luck! This is tricky

brideinsummer04 · September 2013

Thanks everyone. I was asking because I'm going back to work. I'm a teacher and was off all summer and we've been nursing to sleep for all naps. My mom will be watching him 4 days a week and DH 1 day a week. Last school year they strolled him for naps but it started not working for a number of reasons so I was looking for some other options. I will have them give some of these a try. Thanks so much!!!

brideinsummer04 · September 2013

How did daycare get her to fall asleep on her own? Thanks!

Jenny952 said:
I still nurse DD to sleep for naps and until recently was nursing at night as well. It was a bit of a challenge having someone else put her down to sleep, either nap or bedtime. What worked for her was to be rocked to sleep after having a bottle or sippy of milk. Sometimes she'll also fall asleep in the stroller or car seat so maybe that's an option. How often will your mom or DH need to put your LO down? If it's only once or twice, then I wouldn't worry too much about it and let it be if it doesn't work. If it's on a regular basis, then I'd recommend having them establish a sleep routine with your LO. When I'm not home and DH puts her to bed, they start out with some books and a sippy cup, then they sit on the couch and watch baseball until she's good and tired out, then he rocks her to sleep. It usually takes longer for her to fall asleep but that's their routine.

The best thing for my DD was transitioning to the toddler room at daycare because she had to fall asleep on her own. She can do it if she has to, but she still likes mama when I'm home. Good luck! This is tricky

brideinsummer04 · September 2013

I will have my mom try to mimic my routine too. I don't know why I didn't think to tell her that, I guess maybe bc it's so automatic for me. Thanks!

Mrs.AmyDylan said:
J is only 8mo, so not a toddler, but she does nurse to sleep. My mom or DH will lay her in our bed (her usual nurse to sleep nap spot). Get her decked out in her normal nap gear (fresh diaper, socks, onesie, and sleep sack), fire up the fans and drop the blackout curtains. They will feed her a bottle of pumped BM and lay with her until she falls asleep and then sneak out. So it is almost an exact mimic of her nurse to sleep naps with me.

boogerbearoriginal · September 2013

My LO nurses to sleep for me, but will lay down with Dad and go to sleep. At daycare he lays down on his little cot and falls asleep without even a backrub from the teacher. She said he's one of the best sleepers at the center - goes down easiest/quickest. Shocked me lol.

When he was younger he'd get rocked/etc to sleep. But when he got bigger he'd wake upon being moved so H started just laying down with him. Initially he had to basically hold him on his chest for a few minutes to get him to relax and not play, but now he goes down without a fight.

They will figure something out, have faith

sucredee · September 2013

DD still nurses to sleep for nap time. Up until a few months ago she would have no problem falling asleep at school 3 x a week. Shortly before she turned 3 she stopped napping at school. She still naps at home on the other days. Part of it may be that she doesn't go down until 1 pm at home and at school they go down at noon. I pick her up at one but she refuses to nap at home on school days. I know that she will stop napping completely if I quit nursing her to sleep for nap.

TiffanyBerry · September 2013

My daughter nursed to sleep for naps until she gave up her nap around 3yrs old.

When she was little (<1yr), she'd go to sleep for others with a whole lot of bouncing and swaddling; she's ALWAYS been hard to get to sleep.

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