to think it's impossible to force a 5 mo to sleep?

[AlmondAmy]

Dd is 5 months old and an incredibly light sleeper. During the day she never naps for longer than 20-30 mins at a time and I'd say she has 2/3 of these at most. However, she is always happy and sleeps well at night so I haven't stressed over it. My friend was horrified as she has a similar aged baby and she wont leave home if he hasn't napped - will walk/rock/drive him around etc. I have two other children so unfortunately my focus can't solely be on the baby. Aibu to let her carry on as she is so long as she's happy? Or should I do as my friend suggested and fob the other two dc off while I try and force a longer nap?

[Gillian1980]

Yanbu.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

sleeps well at night. I would have put up with anything to be able to say that If she's happy and you're happy... YANBU.

[DisappointedOne]

I had, and still have, ways to make DD (now 4.5) to sleep if she's exhausted but fighting it . But no, that doesn't mean I can "make her sleep".

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

My dd2 was like this. The little bugger would go for a nap then be awake 15 mins later. Gave up napping completely at 14 months.

Not much you can do about it though.

[wigglylines]

YANBU.

[Pyjamaschocolateandwine]

If this horrifies your friend I suggest she sounds a bit of a twat.

You are a mum of 3 and need to
Post this?

Why?

[EstRusMum]

My DD is almost 4 months and is like yours. I mean, 7 hours at night, one longer sleep during the day and 20-30 minutes long naps throughout the day. Usually after getting some boob.
Your friend should learn from you. Babies set their own sleeping pattern and she should read up a bit.

[umbongoumbongo]

My mum gave up on naps for me as a child. I've always survived on little sleep and can't do daytime naps even now. Ignore your friend and do whatever your baby is happy with if you think she is well rested and content!

[BathshebaDarkstone]

You can't force anyone to eat, sleep or go to the toilet. Your friend's mad.

[toomuchtooold]

It's impossible to force them but you can strongly influence them. There is nothing wring with having a routine just as there is nothing wrong with playing it by ear as long as the babies are well.

[Purplepoodle]

Sleeps at night - what's the problem?

[StarlingMurmuration]

I WISH you could force a five month old to sleep. My five month old DS is a terrible sleeper, both during the day and at night. DP and I are at the end of our tether. Even co sleeping isn't helping.

[Purplepumpkins]

Yup you can actually and it's important for children to have sleep during the day so they are well rested.

My charge 5 months sleeps for two hours in th morning and I-2 hours in the afternoon and sleeps all night except her dream feed. It can be done but then I suppose it's my job to be able to get baby's to sleep.

[Justusemyname]

I'd be worried about the means taken to force a child to sleep.

[toomuchtooold]

Starring how do you arrange things for his naps? One of mine needed a pitch dark room to nap in from about 4 months on or would sleep fitfully in the buggy as long as it kept moving. At 5 months ideally you want them to have 2-3 naps totalling 3-4 hours. Averages of course, all babies are (a bit) different. I would recommend the book Teach Your Child to Sleep, and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Of course as with all unsolicited parenting advice, feel free to ignore d

[MustBeLoopy390]

Yanbu, however if you tried to force a child to sleep ywbu. Look at natural sleep patterns and the gentle sleep book :)

[HippyPottyMouth]

That sounds like my DD. At 5 months she'd have a couple of 20-39 minute catnaps on the boob or in pram/car/sling, and sleep 10-11 hours at night. She was happy, I was happy. She's now 19 months and I can sometimes squeeze an hour out of her in the car but that's it. Cot in the daytime is met with anguished howling. It gives me total flexibility. I can arrange to do anything at any time, as long as I go for a drive or walk on the way there or back. Enjoy the sleeping at night, it's worth more than a truckload of diamonds.

[Breadrocks]

Yanbu, but neither is she. My six month old naps badly but sleeps well at night. My friend flips out when her 18 month old doesn't nap in the day well because she knows it has a knock on effect on her behaviour/sleep later. Each child is different, and if this is your friends pfb she is prob 'horrified' because she thinks your child is exactly like hers.
They all have different needs and preferences that you have to work with. So no, you don't need to 'force' your child to sleep unless it's becoming a problem for you.

[ScathingContempt]

You're onto your 3rd child, I think you know what you're doing by now!

My 6 month old doesn't have long naps either, she just doesn't seem to need them. I don't force it. I only rock her into an enforced nap if I can see she's tired and fighting it, not so much enforcement as encouragement really.

[AuntyMag10]

You are a mum of 3, how did you get by if this is something you're bothered about?

[Morelikeguidelines]

Your friend is being silly. Refusing to leave house unless baby plays ball will drive her up the wall - much better to get on with your plans whatever.

If your baby sleeps well at night you are winning in my book!

If it helps my ds went through a phase of very short naps at a similar age but then went back to longer ones.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

You can't force anyone to sleep, but you sometimes need to provide the environment so they can if they want to.

[Twinklestar2]

This sounds like my son. Used to sleep 3 times a day for half an hour at a time but slept well at night.

He's now 8.5 months and sleeps longer during the day. Not sure if that's a developmental thing or because a few times I would go in before the half hour mark and gently resettle him once he started to wake?

Either way I was happy cause he slept at night!!