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May 2015 Moms
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Formal vs. informal naps

blairdavis99blairdavis99 member
in May 2015 Moms
My LOs have started sleeping a good chunk of the night (6-9 hours + 3-5 after that) in their cribs so I am pleased with their nightly sleep. During the day, I generally let them conk out whenever they want & wherever they are at (my bed, swing, bouncer, car seat - while in the car only!). Overall I think they get enough sleep during the day but was curious if I should be getting them on a more formal nap schedule and/or location? They are 3 mos. TIA!
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Re: Formal vs. informal naps

  • justkeeptryingjustkeeptrying member
    My plan was to start doing naps more formally and in a consistent location (his crib) at 3 months. Right now he usually naps in my arms or sometimes the pack and play. My sleep consultant recommended consistent location at 3 months so I wanted to start the transition to the crib then. I've also heard that's when you can start doing 4 naps a day rather than these short stints here and there.
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  • Hawk&EyeHawk&Eye member
    With ds1 I started formal naps at 3 months. It's harder now wish ds2. I haven't worked out a schedule and try to read cues. But he still naps in his swing around all the hustle during the day. A lot of times he cat naps and I feel he does better with more sleep so I'll probably move him to his crib for naps soon. (He still sleeps in the rock n play beside me at night.)

    With ds1 I was so Gung-ho on formal naps that it back fired and he won't nap anywhere besides his bed at home. So if we happen to not be home, I end up with a cranky guy the rest of the day. DS2 is bound to be more flexible.

    I also think up until the 3 month mark and schedule is hard but that could just be my experience. Go you with twins!
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  • danibonellodanibonello member
    I am dreading the switch to "formal" naps. I seem to be opposite a lot of mamas... my LO sleeps in her crib at night and naps in her RnP. I'm still really attached to her and I like having her with me throughout the day, even while napping. Also, to touch on what PP said, I'm super determined to have a flexible baby (my niece is a terror if her parents don't adhere to her schedule to the T)... so I try to mix it up for her throughout the day.

    I do know that eventually I'll start formal naps but it might not be for a while. For now if I swaddle her and put her in the RnP she usually naps pretty solid, and she's still exposed to the hustle and bustle of the day.
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  • agilber3agilber3 member
    Exactly what @danibonello said! I want a flexible baby and he sleeps all night in pack n play but naps on me or in rock n play :)
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  • blairdavis99blairdavis99 member
    I agree I need to start making the switch as well but am also dreading it. I too want them to be flexible and not freak out when something changes. Additionally, since they are twins & there is only one of me for most of the day, I feel like they each get feeding times and such "imposed" upon them. I feed on demand but feed them at the same time. So it is really the demand of one & imposed on the other. Napping "on demand" gives them a bit of flexibility and individuality. It usually allows me a bit of individual time with each of them while their sibling is sleeping. Imposing a routine on that as well worries me that I am further restricting their individual needs. But I'm sure there is probably a way to work all of that in. I'm just too tired to think of it right now lol!
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  • canadianmom89canadianmom89 member
    I don't think I will be doing formal naps... Like pp have said when I was a kid my cousins had such strict nap times and routines they couldn't nap anywheres else. My mom was so fly by the seat of her pants that we never had a nap time and the whole family jokes that me and my brothers would just lay on the floor in the middle of the floor if we decided we were tired... We could and would sleep everywheres. dD sleeps ten hours a night and she just kind of conks out during the day wherever she is. At 3 months she already puts herself to sleep if she is tired so I'm not too concerned with following a strict nap routine
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  • MrsElizabethPlanoMrsElizabethPlano member
    I didn't have formal nap time until my first LO had his own room. That was around 8 months I think. It was a super easy transition.

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  • MrsS728MrsS728 member
    My LO has had formal naps since she was 6 weeks old. She's a happier baby when she naps in her crib. We have trouble getting her to nap anywhere else including her pack n play. 
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