Don't fix what isn't broken?

yvanehtnioj · July 2014

I felt like everything was going fine for us until I read The Baby Whisperer. It made me paranoid about letting him nap in the swing. So now I'm alternating between fighting him on napping in an "appropriate" spot and giving in & putting him in the swing. Sucks. I came close to crying today for the first time.

I also used to run errands during his afternoon nap. He handled the transitions and movement nicely. But sleep sites say not to do that and now I feel like a prisoner because the windows where he's awake and not feeding are much more limited.

So 2 questions:

1. If he is otherwise doing ok with bedtime & such, is it that bad to take him out of the house during a nap?
2. We are going on vacation next week & obviously not packing the swing, just the RnP. Are we going to be in for a horrible time if I don't at least try to get him to sleep in the RnP now?

What we had been doing seemed great. I don't know if going back would mean laziness on my part or if this is a case of "don't fix what ain't broken."

usernewname · July 2014

If that's the case then we are all screwed.

Ds sleeps on me during the day and in his bed at night. I usually go out during his naps. Whoops.

I wouldn't worry. Do what works for you. He will outgrow that swing long before he will have withdrawals.

lrmrtn · July 2014

What's wrong with napping in the swing? Isn't that the point of it? If not, we're screwed. We tried not using the swing today. Let's just say it didn't go well...

And we always plan errands during naps... I guess we're doing that wrong too.

whimsy515 · July 2014

The Contented Little Baby says to travel and run errands while baby is fed and napping. It's easier on everyone. As for the swing, I always hear that it's a bad idea, but I don't listen cause we have a good thing going on. So I'd say no need to fix!

purtz · July 2014

We all do these things- I say ignore!

yogasailmomma · July 2014

There are so many different opinions out there I think it's important to do what's right for you and your family. It's unrealistic to expect anyone to be able to stay home all the time just because the baby is sleeping. Personally I think the more you can do to get them used to sleeping different places the better. My baby sleeps well at night and in the car seat and the carrier. She transitions well and stays asleep when she's tired and wakes up if she's not. We have been out and about since she was 6 days old. Just imagine if you had more then one kid what your life would be like, you would just be glad your baby was sleeping, not worrying so much about where and how.

Every baby/family is different. Trust your gut and do what works for you.

fussybunch · July 2014

Another swing napper here! I don't know what I would do without it. Also, I pray that DD falls asleep in the car when I run errands. If she doesn't sleep, she cries so...

jenb_99 · July 2014

I let my babies nap when they're tired, wherever they happen to nod off or wherever I feel like putting them. My son regulated his own sleep schedule by 12 weeks and DD is starting to do the same.

There are so many conflicting opinions and POV out there that I've never found any point in sticking to one expert's set of rules. The experts don't live in my house or know me or my kids, so they can't tell me with any real authority how my household should operate.

Just do what works for you.

Kaylee524 · July 2014

I will say that we were without our swing for the first time the weekend before last after letting DS nap in his swing most of the time. We ended up buying a portable swing to keep at his grandparents'. I could get him to nap, but it took way longer than usual, and his naps were really short. He was a major grumpy pants the first day.

giggler25 · July 2014

I'm a FTM of a 8 wk old so don't have much experience but all I've heard from all other moms I know is to trust your gut and do what works for you!!! No single theory or solution is right for everyone. Also, I'm so jealous of everyone whose LOs sleep in their swings!!

haylo33 · July 2014

Why is a swing bad? I could see why it might become a bad habit at 4 or 5 months but we are dealing with newborns. I feel like there are so many different opinions out there. If we took them all into consideration, our babies wouldn't have a place to sleep. I have one book that says to only co sleep. Another says don't. One says to have them in their own room and crib but another says room sharing until 6 months. It's impossible. I say do what works for your baby. My LO takes naps in his swing, on his play mat, on my chest, and in his car seat. I figure I'm teaching him to be flexible

theoryofwhat · July 2014

If it weren't for the swing, my kid would never take naps during the day. She'll only sleep in her crib at night, despite my efforts to move nap time there as well. Right now we are all just trying to survive the newborn phase, and if the swing is working for you then keep it up.
As for the RnP, I don't think it'd hurt to get your LO better acquainted with it beforehand.
Also, I prefer to take my LO out when she's sleepy and ready for a nap vs wide awake. It usually makes outings less hectic and we are usually able to stay out longer that way.

laurblum · July 2014

I say do what works in your house. Those books will always make you feel like you're docking something wrong. The only thing I would say is try the RnP now so you're not trying something new on vacation.

yvanehtnioj · July 2014

Thanks everyone. "Take the best, leave the rest" is going to be my baby book mantra going forward.

Lild09 · July 2014

Just do what's best for you and your baby! Honestly I remember when we got home from the nicu at 1 week old I was all baby whisperer! My ds was all hell no to that. I was breaking down. Best advice I ever got from my midwife was to just follow baby's cues, likes and dislikes. So much happier! Wherever Eli falls asleep and whenever he does I don't worry about it. The only sort of schedule he has is going down for his longest sleep around 9-10 pm but that's bc he started doing that each night so we just followed! We've all been born and raised for thousands of years without any "expert" advice and I'm gonna say seems like majority of adults have turned out just fine lol

hbird0723 · July 2014

The book I read about sleep and naps said if your LO can take a nap on the go then that's fine

I would say if you're always out during his nap and he is having trouble taking a nap because of it then that might be a different story but sometimes we have to get out even if that is the case and I don't see it being a big deal at all.
I'm having the same feeling about the whole letting her sleep with the vibration. I even decided id just let the battery slowly die to transition her out of it and she went from sleeping through the night and being able to fall back to sleep on her own to waking multiple times. I've decided that if she needs this right now them I'm going to let her have it. They sell mattress ones so I'll just buy that and use it for a little while then maybe try again later. I think if he's sleeping good in the swing then let him. He's not going to be like that forever.

Jelainey24 · July 2014

I want to sleep in a swing! And in the car... Sigh (:|

caballo718 · July 2014

This is why I don't read baby books. I do what works for our situation. It's bad enough that I google things and drive myself nuts asking if in doing the right thing. DS naps in his swing and on me. He sleeps in the rock n play at night and in my bed after night feedings. I guess he's doomed lol In times as he matures we will make changes to what we are doing now.

jenb_99 · July 2014

@caballo718‌ Swing, bed, AND Rock N Play? *gasp* And you haven't been hauled off to mommy jail yet?

FWIW, my son (2.5) has been sleeping in his Thomas tent on the floor of his room for a month. He's happy, we're happy, and we're all sleeping well.

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