Community› The Bump Message Boards› Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Babies: 3 - 6 Months
New Discussion

What is your nap time strategy?

cg0112358cg0112358 member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Ever since we hit the 4-month growth spurt/sleep regression/hell week we have been struggling with naps. I try to watch for her early signs of sleepiness but don't see anything until she hits the eye rubbing stage. I then change her, swaddle her (top only), give her her paci, and then hold her in my rocker/recliner while I pat/shush/rock her to sleep. This used to work like a dream but lately she just screams and kicks at me until she passes out. It's very frustrating and I just can't seem to find anything that works to calm her down other than letting her wear herself out. It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm in her nursery with only white noise or up front with my rowdy toddler. I do on occasion nurse her to sleep but she generally starts screaming at me the moment I pull my nipple from her mouth. If I don't pull her off she will stay there the entire time. Also, lately her naps are 10-15 minutes long. I *may* get one longer nap earlier in the day but only rarely but she does sleep pretty well at night. Anyway, I'd love some input from other moms. What are your sleepy time cues? Do you have any suggestions for things that did/didn't work for you?
DS1: 8/3/10, DD1: 8/17/13, DD2: 8/13/15
Twins lost to due to partial molar pregnancy: September 2011 
~~PAL, PgAL Always Welcome~~
Report Reply to Post

Re: What is your nap time strategy?

  • keyshahartkeyshahart member
    Have you tried letting her put herself to sleep. At that age they should be able to. My 5 month old hates being held to sleep. She does the same thing screams and squirms until she wears herself out. But if I lay her down in the playpen with some white noise and her soother she falls asleep within 2 minutes. I did have to train her for a couple days to put herself to sleep but it works like a beauty now! No more fussing or rocking at nap and bedtime.
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • hmlynch84hmlynch84 member
    My LO is 4 months and doesn't put himself to sleep yet. His sleepy cues are rubbing his eyes and yawning and he usually needs a nap after one hour to 1.5 hours of being awake. If she is already overtired by the time you notice her rubbing her eyes, time her next waking period to see how long it took her to get to that point, then next time try to put her to sleep 20-30 minutes earlier than that. I take LO into his room, do a diaper change, put him in his sleep suit, turn on his white noise and projector, nurse him and then try to put him in his crib. I also aim for 2 hour naps, so if he wakes up and fusses, I nurse him again to sleep and either put him down again or just let him sleep in my lap until the 2 hour mark or unless he is definitely awake. Good luck! It's hard but you aren't alone!
    image
    Report Reply
  • ssublett09ssublett09 member
    Were trying to figure out this too. Getting LO to sleep has been difficult for about the past month. She doesn't like to be rocked anymore and she can't really put herself to sleep. I lay her down and let her fuss and go in frequently to check on her. We've started a very bad habit, she won't keep her paci in so I give her a tiny bit of gripe water to help her want to keep it in... We have to break this soon but what I wanted to say was her early tired cue is when she starts getting frustrated or annoyed with her toys I will then try to get her to sleep and it usually is a lot easier than when she starts fussing while playing.
    Report Reply
  • Silverlining2011Silverlining2011 member
    keyshahart said:

    Have you tried letting her put herself to sleep. At that age they should be able to. My 5 month old hates being held to sleep. She does the same thing screams and squirms until she wears herself out. But if I lay her down in the playpen with some white noise and her soother she falls asleep within 2 minutes. I did have to train her for a couple days to put herself to sleep but it works like a beauty now! No more fussing or rocking at nap and bedtime.

    This. I find my baby wants me to put her in the crib and walk away and let her sleep! I have so much more time now that I don't have to do the rocking and shushing!
    Report Reply
  • LmdesaikuLmdesaiku member
    I had the exact same situation with my 6 month old son except he didn't cry he just wanted held for nap with boob!! Impossible with a 2 year old. Finally I buckled down and started sleep training method that I used with my daughter (who is an awesome sleeper). I use dr weisbluth healthy sleep happy child. The first day he cried 30 min then slept 3 hours!!!! Now he cries 5- 10 min then sleeps and at night goes down without a peep. Used to nap maybe 30 min if I was lucky and had to be held. Used to wake up 3x a night now only 1-2 because he's so well rested. Of course you know your baby best but it really sounds like she's overtired. My son was too. It sucks to let a baby cry but teaching them how to sleep is such a valuable lesson. I highly recommend getting the book and adapting it to fit you and your baby. Good luck and stay consistent that's the key.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"