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Nap crap!

4 replies

MrsHD · 20/05/2009 13:04

DS is 4.5 months old and in the last week or so has become a nightmare with naps. Previously he went in his cot, might grumble or - dare I admit it - even cry for 5-10 mins then out for 45 mins to an hour. Great stuff.

Lately though it's just become ridiculous. I'm doing nothing different but he fights it and fights it and fights it, eventually becoming quite distressed so I go and take him out of his cot. Thing is, being an evil old witch, I'm getting a bit fed up by this stage as I know he needs to sleep and I need a bit of kid-free time. I can't leave him really distressed though.

Earlier I sat with him for 15 mins and he would quieten, start to go then startle, so I went off thinking I was disturbing him (thinking too loudly or something) but no, that was the end of the world, that was. So I took him out and plonked him on various rugs and beds as I went round the house doing a few things. Eventually fed him again, he zonked on the boob, and I put him in his cot. This time I did hand-on-chest, lovely, he went quiet again but kept startling til eventually he seemed quite awake. He was happy though so I spoke softly to him and came downstairs. He was happy for a few mins then the grizzling started, but thank god he's now grizzled himself to sleep.

Sheesh. Do we have to go through this pantomime every time? Is this normal for 4.5 months? Night time sleep hasn't changed much, he's still waking 1-2 times for a feed. Obviously he's developing and his world view changes - is that what it is, do all 4.5 month olds do this? They seem to be quite tricky customers generally. Don't recall DD doing this though.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 20/05/2009 18:14

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MiniMarmite · 20/05/2009 23:00

Hi MrsHD

My DS went through a nap nightmare period around this age. It settled down again at around 6 months. I found some of the suggestions in 'The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems' helpful. Using the pick up put down technique, for example (but as Starlight says, it is possible that he's not sleepy).

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Marthasmama · 20/05/2009 23:12

Click! Thanks for that Starlight. I just had a big 'AHA!' moment. DD slept through at 3 months and from 4 months started waking up again. She is 7.5 months and still wakes in the night for a feed but she is definitely feeding! It all becomes clear.....

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MrsHD · 31/05/2009 16:29

The point is that he goes down when he's sleepy, not because I decide he needs to go down - not much point putting him down if he's not needing a sleep!

He improved briefly but is now even worse than ever. I just don't know what to do as he's becoming a grumpy old whatnot, as am I! On the upside nights are vastly improved. Ah well, as of tomorrow the school run rears its ugly head again so he'll get more opportunity to zonk in the car.