Advice needed on day nap training

[fedupofpeppa]

I am struggling with day naps for my three month old. He was doing okay at naps and would fall asleep on me or in a bouncer or car or pram which meant I could be out and about with my three year old but things have got progressively worse the last few weeks and now he will only nap on me after a feed or occasionally in his crib but wakes after ten minutes.

Decided he needs a routine so trying to put him down in his crib with his dream sheep toy on and a dummy. Trying to spot sleep cues but I don't think I am catching them so going for nap at least every two hours too.

It isn't working. He just screams. I am trying settling him by putting my hand on his chest and shush ing him and only picking him up when he is really upset then putting him back down. It isn't working he is just getting really worked up. It's been an hour with no success so.have just fed him to sleep again.

I read some sleep guides bur they don't really say what to do if it's not working just that a routine is important so thought I would ask for any tips you all have. I am getting to the end of my tether. Please help!

[TooTiredToTidy]

Hugs! So been there! At three months my DD could only manage 1hour 15 mins of awake time and now at 6 months has only just stretched it out to 1 hour 30. Think your method is good it's just he could be overtired/gotten used to being held to sleep. Persevere and good luck!!

[FATEdestiny]

I found the bouncer great for daytime naps at home, at this age. The bouncing to sleep helps to extend naps.

As PP said, I think you have too much awake time. At 3 months old I would say only about an hour, it might be just 45 minutes awake between one nap and the next.

[Roastednutflash]

Yes I agree that 2 hours is probably too much awake time at 3 months. My DS is 4 months and an only handle 90 mins at the very most. If he's up for longer he gets overtired.

Have you tried loud white noise? We have that sheep too but it's not loud enough for DS...I know it sounds bad but he needs it loud in order to sleep.

[TooTiredToTidy]

We also do the 'double burrito swaddle' which is swaddling for houdinis, as her arms get out and wake her up. We do dummies and white noise and dark dark rooms or a pram with a coat over it.

[fedupofpeppa]

Thank you. I will keep looking at sleep cues then but drop the max gap to 1.5 hours then.

I guess it's just frustrating that he could fall asleep okay with not much help a couple of weeks ago but completely seems to have forgotten how now. Grrr.

Was planning on doing some long walk in his naps to get fit but now he won't sleep in the pram, I can't really. Pram was the guarantee of sleep with my first. Might move him in to the buggy on the flattest setting rather than pram so he can see more and hopefully stay entertained longer.

[hummusigotthehummus]

Oh gosh yeah I found this stage very hard, i think they suddenly become very aware and interested in everything and find it hard to switch off!

My dd would only nap in the sling and even then would still have a major overtired meltdown nearly every evening! It didn't last though. I know people on here think the sling is the answer to everything but it really was a godsend for me at the time and once I'd accepted that trying to get her to sleep in the cot was just stressing us both out I just went with the sling naps and eventually she grew out of it.

Even in the buggy she would take AGES to drift off then wake up if someone so much as sneezed near her.

Oh and I wouldn't bother with a nap routine yet as they're still napping so much, just try get him to sleep every hour and a half or so.

[Roastednutflash]

I have to say unfortunately op that mine won't nap in the pram. He'll fall asleep there relatively easily but won't stay asleep for longer than 20 mins. He'll only nap in his cot. Means we're pretty tied to the house at the moment.

[fedupofpeppa]

Hummysigotthehummus - I might try a sling again then. We rented one for a few weeks but he was napping okay then and I found it tricky to get down and play with my three year old wearing a sling plus had one episode where he got covered in washing up water when I attempted to do that wearing the sling. We gave the sling back but might be worth another attempt even if just for going for a walk at nap times when I can. Do you wear yours all day or just for walks?

Roastednutflash - being stick at home drives me mad. Like being out and about but hopefully this is a phase and will pass. For you too.

[Maybebabybee]

fedup luckily I'm a real homebody so I don't mind too much. In the 1.5 hours or so between naps I run errands and have coffee with friends etc. I figure it will pass and on balance I'd rather have a baby who sleeps well in his cot than one who won't sleep except in pram/sling.

[hummusigotthehummus]

Yeah I know what you mean, people always say "pop them in the sling and get on with your day!" but in reality if you're wearing it a lot then the baby does get in the way! What one did you hire? I had a caboo close which worked well.

I would wear it when going out and about and walking and stuff but also I'd just sit and watch telly once she was asleep in there, obviously you have a 3 year old so that's now such an option for you! But yeah for walks it was great, she'd sleep in there for hours sometimes.

[TooTiredToTidy]

Have you tried blacking out the pram by covering it? I use a coat! And also a Ewan the sheep for mobile white noise. It helped when she got a bit more 'aware' and wouldn't drop off from motion alone.