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Help 9 month old won't nap anymore!!!

7 replies

GingerMammaBear · 02/02/2017 20:47

Hi this is my first posting, looking for any positive advice!
I have a 9 month old son, who had severe reflux from birth, he's been rocked to sleep from a young age due to having to be kept upright after feeds and falling asleep on us - rod for my own back I know, but what else could I do at the time?!
Anyway, recently he's been so difficult to settle for his daytime naps and is only sleeping about 30 mins in a day, he just will not settle. I'm trying to take cues from him to ensure he's not overtired but I'm obviously missing them, and we both become frustrated. He settles for bedtime no problem in the same way he usually does (being rocked after his bottle, usually falls asleep while having his bottle!). He is usually up once a night for either a cuddle or a feed, but that's been his norm for a while, he sleeps through very occasionally!
He's recently had a bit of a cold, off his food and has been teething so is a bit out of sorts and probably not helping his lack of naps!
Does anyone have any advice on why he's not napping, is it a developmental/age thing? Or a regression/nap transition?
Thanks in advance, please no negative remarks!

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FATEdestiny · 03/02/2017 10:01

Could you try a pushchair walk or long car journey?

The basic problem is that he needs to bricked to sleep and as he gets older, it's harder for him to switch off this way.

This is also the reason for 30 minute naps at a time most babies are extending their naps to an hour or three. 30 minutes is one sleep cycle. Your son is finding it difficult to link sleep cycles and stay asleep through the light sleeping phase between the end of one sleep cycle and the start of the next.

I assume hes got medication for his reflux? Can you try to get to him just before 30 minutes and resettle back to sleep?

If you cannot face sleep training to get baby going to sleep in the cot, could you allow baby to fall asleep in your arms and stay there? That way you can keep the movement going to keep baby asleep. It's not ideal, but the situation you find yourself in isn't ideal.

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FATEdestiny · 03/02/2017 10:02

bricked = be rocked (autocorrect fail)

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picklemepopcorn · 03/02/2017 10:12

He might sleep again when he starts to walk. Mine was a poor daytime napper, only really napped consistently for a while after he learned to crawl and then again walk. The added activity wore him out, until he built up his stamina.

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GingerMammaBear · 03/02/2017 12:53

Thanks for explaining that FATE, it's not an ideal situation I've found myself in and I know it's my own fault! I'm absolutely not a fan of controlled crying, I just couldn't do it! Is there a type of sleep training you'd recommend/has worked for you?

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GingerMammaBear · 03/02/2017 12:54

Thanks pickleme! I was hoping this might the case, he's learning to crawl just now and I don't think walking will be too far behind, hopefully it'll start to tire him out, he's a ball of energy!

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FATEdestiny · 03/02/2017 13:05

I favour a version of gradual withdrawal.

Yes, there will be crying. But you stay with baby throughout. Always being caring, compassionate, attentive.

The idea is you just decide that baby is going to go from awake to asleep in the cot. You get baby ready for the sleep, put into cot and settle yourself in for the long-haul.

It will require lots of calm patience on your part. Much leaning into the cot. Shushing, patting, stroking, tickling. Firm hand on chest can help keep baby still if he keeps trying to get up. Not getting flustered or angry. Just keep on lying baby down, putting dummy in, being there and being consistant.

I'd do it bedtime and naptime. Seperate milk feed from bedtime by giving milk downstairs, before bedtime routine. Into cot and then just go for it.

Expect hours and hours first time. Maybe it will be less than an hour, but set your expectations that it will be more so you cope with it all. Stay right there. Seek out ninja style only when completely asleep.

Repeat for all wake ups, all bedtimes, all nap times. It will get easier the more consistant you are.

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GingerMammaBear · 03/02/2017 15:58

Thanks FATE I've read something very similar and think I need to give it a try. Sometimes when he wakes in the night he does settle himself back to sleep so I know he can do it, we've just gotten into a rut. Thanks again for your advice, will start trying it tonight.....I'm currently camped out in the car cos he's fallen asleep for a much needed nap!