any tips for getting baby to nap in cot during the day?

[milli2512]

DS is 3mths, we seem to be getting in to a routine at night and he's sleeping between 7-9hrs which I know is great. But I'm finding it hard to get him to nap in the house (in cot) during the day. He falls asleep ok in car or buggy. Seeing as we're snowed in I thought I'd have another crack at sorting daytime naps. Any tips?

[littleredmonkey]

Hey milli same boat as you so keen to hear what is suggested. Ds is 15 weeks. Night sleeps no problem. Day time is a different beast. I can get him to nap in the day only in his swing sit. I have it all lined out with blankets so comfortable. I have tried in his basket even to the point of him being asleep but soon as his head touches down the air raid siren goes off. I have moved on from Chrismas he would only sleep on me

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Not really, sorry. Know people while put them somewhere different for daytime naps and said that worked. Dsil put them in a bed for naps and the cot at night. A friend used a travel cot in the day.

[Chumpster]

Hello. I found that timing was everything for DS and DD's day time naps. At 3 months (I think) they could be up for about an hour and a half at a time (I'm sure this would vary for different children, but its suprising how quickly they get overtired). As this time was approaching I would take them upstairs, put them in a thin sleeping bag (or maybe swaddling), give them a cuddle till they looked sleepy then put them down while still awake. Then rub tummy until they went to sleep. Note - it didn't always work this well! Sometimes I would end up rocking their crib for a bit (a long bit sometimes).
But putting them down before really tired was thing that worked well.
DD would sleep for an hour or two at a time, but DS would only sleep for about 40 mins at a time (so I got lots of practice putting him down for a nap). Over time his naps got longer.

[milli2512]

Littlered Today I've resorted to putting him in his carseat and rocking that. I put him in his cot and he cried for about 10mins then fell asleep, 'brilliant' I thought, but it only lasted for about 5mins. Happy to sleep in there at night but having none of it in the day.

Chumpster thanks for your reply. I do try and time it before he's too overtired. I can often get him off to sleep in cot, but in the day it never lasts. Hoping things will improve as he gets older.

[Chumpster]

it will deffo improve. My friend always puts her baby to sleep in buggy in the day. She pushes it up and down the hallway till he drops off. It works well for her.

[valiumredhead]

chumpster I have done that will all the kids I have nannied for, works well - ds was a nap in buggy refuser though!

[blueblackdye]

Agree with Chumpster, timing is everything, putDD down awake in her cot, kiss good nap and off I go. She is almost 6 months, goes down every 1.30 hour for 45min... I have only one cot, so nap and nightsleep in the same environment, less DH's snoring during the day.... :)