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Attachment Parenting
jmcgra06
member
Has anyone had luck getting LO to nap alone?
jmcgra06
member
DD is 8 months old, and to this point, has pretty much only slept on us, in a carrier or in our bed (when we are in it with her). I have been able to get things done around the house while she naps in an ergo, and until recently, she has slept pretty well in it. Now that she is getting bigger, though, she is really excited to try and see everything, and I'm having a hard time getting her settled in the ergo unless I'm in a dark room, walking around with a noise machine on. Carrying her while she napped was once something I truly enjoyed and treasured, but now, it is becoming a chore as I stumble around in the dark!
We are still bed-sharing at night, and plan to continue indefinitely. Yesterday, I nursed her to sleep, then crept away. 30 minutes later she woke up, I nursed her back to sleep, and then she was out for almost 90 more minutes. She woke up well-rested and was such a fun girl to hang out with for the rest of the afternoon!
Today, I laid her down, nursed, and let her fuss (she wasn't crying - I could tell she was more angry that I was changing the game on her) for about 20 minutes. When the fussing turned to real crying, I went back up. At this point, I realized she had pooped, so I changed her, nursed for 3 minutes and then she was zonked and has been for about 30 minutes now.
My two main questions are:
1. Has anyone had any luck with getting LO to nap alone but still bed-share at night?
2. Is letting her fuss, then going up when she is really crying, just confusing her? I absolutely don't want to let her cry it out, but I also realize she is a pretty stubborn kid (not sure where she gets that from...) and I am definitely okay with her getting mad when things don't go her way. For comparison, her crying gets to about an 8 out of 10 when I take a phone or power cord away from her which I find acceptable when protecting her, but not for getting her to sleep. Her fussing is more of intermittent yelling and whining, about a 3 out of 10. I don't want her to think that I'm abandoning her, and I also don't want her to think that she needs to fuss for 20 minutes, then I'll come, then she can go to sleep.
If you made it this far, thank you!!!!
We are still bed-sharing at night, and plan to continue indefinitely. Yesterday, I nursed her to sleep, then crept away. 30 minutes later she woke up, I nursed her back to sleep, and then she was out for almost 90 more minutes. She woke up well-rested and was such a fun girl to hang out with for the rest of the afternoon!
Today, I laid her down, nursed, and let her fuss (she wasn't crying - I could tell she was more angry that I was changing the game on her) for about 20 minutes. When the fussing turned to real crying, I went back up. At this point, I realized she had pooped, so I changed her, nursed for 3 minutes and then she was zonked and has been for about 30 minutes now.
My two main questions are:
1. Has anyone had any luck with getting LO to nap alone but still bed-share at night?
2. Is letting her fuss, then going up when she is really crying, just confusing her? I absolutely don't want to let her cry it out, but I also realize she is a pretty stubborn kid (not sure where she gets that from...) and I am definitely okay with her getting mad when things don't go her way. For comparison, her crying gets to about an 8 out of 10 when I take a phone or power cord away from her which I find acceptable when protecting her, but not for getting her to sleep. Her fussing is more of intermittent yelling and whining, about a 3 out of 10. I don't want her to think that I'm abandoning her, and I also don't want her to think that she needs to fuss for 20 minutes, then I'll come, then she can go to sleep.
If you made it this far, thank you!!!!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Has anyone had luck getting LO to nap alone?
you might want to take a look at the no-cry nap solution (by the author of the no-cry sleep solution) for more detailed info. the author also has some suggestions for resistant nappers on her webpage (and here is even more info).
it could be your DD is getting to that separation anxiety phase, too. it is kinda tough when you are bedsharing IMO, because then they expect the same setup for naps. it has definitely gotten easier for us as DS has gotten older, though.
My 11.5 month old naps alone in her crib (usually two 2hr naps) and starts the night in her crib (7:30pm-1amish) then bedshares with me.
She's had periods where naps where hard and I had to do the floor bed and sneak away but we're back to just nursing and plopping in crib and she zonks out quickly and calmly.
It took a lot over effort over her 11.5 months of life to get her to be able to. Helping her get past a sleep cycle etc. But totally do-able. Babies don't like changes so pick a plan and try to stick with it...keep it gentle but it will take time. it rarely happens overnight!