Naps-7.5 month old

[Dexy2020]

Hi
Can people share experiences of how they put their little ones down for a daytime nap, my little boy will drop off fine in the car or pushchair but when in the cot he needs a bottle to go off to sleep, anyone else the same?? Xx

[Emmaaa1990]

Hey

I used to struggle with day time naps until she was 12 weeks. I literally started putting her down in her crib consistently every nap that I could do at home. I got a blackout blind and a white noise machine, she also snuggles a Muslin and sometimes has a dummy. It took me a good week or so to get her to do this and to settle herself in her crib but she can do this and does it daily now. I was very on it and spent a whole week focussing on getting her to nap in her crib. I had a look online and saw someone had posted about sleep training to an extent - so I popped her down and if she cried set a timer for 3 minutes after that I went in and comforted her, if she cried again went in after 5 then 7 then 10 if needed. We actually never got to 10 and rarely got to 7. After several days she just went down with barely any fuss. I also looked at wake windows for her age and watched her for sleepy cues.

She does occasionally fight naps and I think it's because sometimes she's either over tired or not tired enough. I just found being consistent and setting some time aside to crack it really helped. She can also sleep on the go in the car and very recently I have managed to get her to nap in her pram which she never used to do either! Good to have a versatile baby if possible. She's nearly 5 months now btw.

Hope this helps to some extent :)

[Dexy2020]

@Emmaaa1990 thank you so much for your reply, well little one was awake at 4:30 this morning got him up about 4:50am, took him upstairs at 7am put him in his sleeping bag in his darkened bedroom, told him it was naptime and put him in his cot, he protested for 7 minutes and is now asleep I'm totally amazed!! The 3rd nap is always the most difficult of the day so will be interested to see how that one goes, think your right I need to be consistent/persistent with getting him to nap on his own in the cot 🥰xx

[Emmaaa1990]

Yayy that's so good!! Yes I find the 3rd nap the hardest too! Sometimes she fights it and other times I have to wake her up so she doesn't sleep too close to bedtime! Mainly fights it tho! Yeah honestly it's crazy how quick they learn oh okay I'm in my crib best nap 😂😂 keep me posted! Xx

[Dexy2020]

@Emmaaa1990 2nd nap 10 minutes protest but slept 90mins! Totally unheard of today's naps are! Going to try the 3rd around 3ish but only 30 mins I think :) do you usually let yours naturally wake from naps? Apart from the 3rd :) xx

[Emmaaa1990]

That's amazing! It's surprising how fast they can do it! Some days we have abit of protest still but we mainly good now! Yeah good idea :) I absolutely hate waking her up but sometimes I have to if she's gonna mess up bedtime or I need to go out. But usually I will do my best to leave her and let her wake naturally yeah :) xx

[Dexy2020]

@Emmaaa1990 i just hope I can get the timings right putting him down :) seem to have done OK today as he's slept 2hrs 45mins so far!! :D will happily take the good days like today as they come :) thank you for your messages!! Much appreciated xx

[Emmaaa1990]

Sounds like you've smashed it! Keep at it 😊 no problem at all hope it continues for you 💕 xx

[Dexy2020]

@Emmaaa1990 3rd nap 6 minute protest and asleep :D will just give him 30 mins so we get a nice bedtime around 6:45/7pm :D xx

[Emmaaa1990]

That's so amazing! So pleased for you! Sounds like a good bedtime too evening to yourself! 🥰 xx