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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Advice regarding nap times

11 replies

chellenemily · 26/10/2011 18:49

Please can people tell me where your lo's nap during the day, and how long for?!?

My lo has always napped in her swing in the living room, but as shes getting older and bigger, its becoming problematic. For example, the swing can't swing properly under her weight. Also she never naps for long, I'm lucky if I get 30mins in the morning and afternoon.

It wouldn't be a problem but now she is getting very cranky throughout the day as she is not napping properly!!

I have thought of putting her in her cot in her room, but am worried this may disrupt her sleep at night (I read you should keep places for daytime naps and night time sleeps seperate).

What should I do and what works for you?!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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531800000008 · 26/10/2011 18:58

how old?

the place of napping is not important, IME, someone's pulling your leg about daytime naps not being in her cot

Original poster

chellenemily · 26/10/2011 20:25

She is 6mo and never been a fantastic sleeper during the day. But she is getting more and more cranky and sleeping less and less nowadays :(

OP posts:

lozzyblue · 26/10/2011 20:34

IMO there's no issue putting her to sleep for daytime naps in cot altho it will be a hard slog to transition from sleeping in a swing for 30 mins to 1.5/2hrs in a cot - hard but worth it.

Personally I like the baby whisperer.. May be contentious but you can take from it what you like and scrap the rest if it doesn't apply... Have a read, but like I said, it'll be hard work, and be prepared for tears whilst you get there!

Sparklyboots · 26/10/2011 21:22

Oh, stick her in her cot, or a sling, or whatever else works. We feed to sleep, [contentious emoticon] where ever we happen to be at nap time. If he hasn't slept 'enough' I try to persuade him to go back to sleep (with a boob). Enough in our house is one short nap plus one long nap around 11/3 ISH, in any order.

DS is 10 months. I seem to remember sometimes spending 30 mins persuading him back to sleep at one stage and I definitely remember it changing month to month, so don't worry that she's never going to sleep well in the day just because she doesn't now.

What always works for us is walking around with a boob in his mouth - so a wrap and a walk - and I do think he sleeps better at night (less stirring and fewer wakings) with good naps in the day. He will sleep on the sofa, in the bed, or out and about though sometimes we do need to get into a less stimulating environment by leaving a very busy room, turning off the radio or using the wrap as a not-very-blackout blanket. We currently are (very topically) manipulating naps to anticipate the clock change at the weekend.

Original poster

chellenemily · 26/10/2011 21:24

1.5/2hrs?! That would be brilliant! The things I could get done in that time!!! :) I'll try her in the cot tomorrow...

OP posts:

bankholiday · 26/10/2011 21:47

DS is 8 months. He has 3x30 mins naps and sometimes surprises me with a long (1.5 - 2h) afternoon nap, but in this case he won't have his late afternoon power nap, as he doesn't need it anymore.

He had all naps on me until he was 5 months old, but would sleep in his cot at night until 4ish am, when I would take him into my bed. After 6 months he changed and became much more independent, he actually prefers to be in his cot, and is much more settled in there (and I miss the cuddles so much!). I would say the most important thing when you transition her to her cot from the swing is a short and gentle routine, I pull the curtains, switch on DS's sleepytime CD, cuddle him for a few minutes and then put him in the cot with his comforter.

It probably won't work straight away, it might take a week or so, but the idea is that they need to know what comes next. Good luck, I hope it works for you!

DuelingFanjo · 26/10/2011 21:50

At six months my DS was having 2 naps, usually on my bed, about an hour each time. I would rock him to sleep. now I feed him to sleep (10 months) or rock him.

Original poster

chellenemily · 26/10/2011 22:08

She is very good at night, I put her down and she settles herself to sleep almost straight away. She generally wakes once for a feed and goes staright back to sleep. We did have a period of her sleeping through (didn't last long though :(). So I don't want to do anything that could disrupt the progress we have made with bedtimes!

I can tell that she is tired during the day, and it is quite frustrating that she will not sleep. And when she does sleep, she wakes up still tired but unable to go back to sleep again. The swing used to be great but it is no longer working and she will soon be too big for it, so I desperately need to try something else...

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Original poster

chellenemily · 27/10/2011 11:05

It didn't work, she screamed and cried in her cot despite my efforts to settle her. Even tried putting her on my bed and lying down. She finally shut her eyes for 25mins when I put her in the swing... :(

OP posts:

bankholiday · 27/10/2011 11:34

Sorry you're struggling, it's frustrating, isn't it? Just persevere, it might take a while for her to get used to it. By this I don't mean let her get distressed, maybe pick her up and comfort her then put her down again? In time she should get used to the new routine.

Can you rock her to sleep in your arms, or is she too heavy? Maybe try this and gradually rock less and less. The No Cry Sleep Solution is a good book, with very gentle suggestions.

lozzyblue · 27/10/2011 12:02

It won't 'work' straight away. It will take time for her to adjust. You will basically have to teach her a new routine and like a previous poster said she will need to understand what comes next. I would cuddle until sleepy in a darkened room and before completely asleep lay down gently. You may need to repeat this over and over the first few times as she is bound to resist but perseverance is key. No need to leave her screaming IMO, but keep reassuring and resettling.

Hth

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