Grumpy baby

[Radiator1234]

My DD2 is almost 5 months old. I also have another DD who is 3. DD1, was a fantastic baby, good sleeper, very textbook... Ie only cried when she was hungry/ tired etc... Overall I had a relatively easy time of it with DD1.

DD2 on the other hand... Completely different! Very grumpy, often also windy, but I think we're past that initial windy/ poorly tummy phase.

My main gripe is that every time I try to settle her for a nap, she screams blue murder! This is only in the day mind, at bedtime she is fine. I don't understand why she is like this, as I follow a vague routine (suffice to say she eats at broadly speaking the same time every day, and I put her down for three naps a day, not at the same time, but when she looks tired/ depending in when she last woke), so it's not like she doesn't know it's the same programme every day, and she's blatantly tired.

I use a dummy and often have to go through the whole dummy falls out, need to put it back in palava. Eventually after ten - 15 mins or so she typically drops off.

Ah suggestions/ tips?

At least as it's my second I have the benefit of knowing that it's a phase that will pass... But any similar experiences or tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

PS she does have lots of non grumpy / smiley time too when not trying to go down for a nap so it's not all a disaster :-)

It could be that she only needs two naps....both my DDs shifted to morning and afternoon naps at this age...or thereabouts.

I put mine down at about 10.30 if I remember.....and then she'd get up for lunch at about 12....then another nap at 2.30 or so. Could you try this?

Hi there thanks so much for your reply. Good suggestion but I am not convinced that's the case as each time I try to settle her she does appear tired and does sleep eventually. I could try the nap times you suggested but they wouldn't really fit around the rest of the family routine/day unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Do you think she is getting past tiredness and therefore can't handle it? You have probably already done this, but if there is a predictable time frame that she is awake and happy for between naps, maybe try winding things down a good 15mins before you know she needs to be settled (darkened room, gentle music, cuddling)

Thanks or the reply, might try the 15 min thing. Feel like I am quite good at spotting the tiredness, but maybe I need to put her down before she's tired (although tbh she is often grumpy without attention so I suspect that putting her in her cot earlier will just make her cry. I can always try though!) . Thank you.