Sleep protestor- help!!!

[JS1809]

Hi all,

I wondered whether anyone had any experience or tips for a 5 month old sleep protestor?

My baby has started protesting at every nap, unless she's in the buggy or car. She is absolutely perfect at night time and will go down drowsy and awake, I think this is probably because of the bed time routine. She used to go down for a long day nap in her cot but she's not happy about that at the moment.

I think there's a little toothy peg coming through, which doesn't help. Ultimately, I'm a FTM and would just appreciate it if someone was out of the other side of it?

For context, she currently wakes up at 6:30 so has a nap by 8 30 mins (always contact), nap at around 11 60-90 mins (always try cot), nap at about 2 30 mins (on the go or contact) and then a very hit or miss nap at 4:30. She goes to bed at 7pm and sleeps until 6.30.

Any ideas?!

If you think her teeth are troubling her, have you tried her with a dose of Ibruprofen?

I have! She does chill after some nurofen however, the sleep protesting has been an issue since she was about 3.5 months!

Ah ok so it's probably not the teeth that are stopping the naps.

My DSIL had success with putting them somewhere different to sleep for their naps.

If you don't fancy trying that then the No Cry Nap Solution might help?

We hit a lot of nap fighting starting at 3 months and have had it on and off ever since (now 18 months), although I’ve found things are generally easier on that front the older they get (so far). I think some babies just want to see the world and think they’re too busy to sleep!

I have no advice on attaining that elusive consistent cot nap as I never managed it at that age either! I will just say do whatever you can to make things easier for yourself. If she contact naps and that’s not a problem with you, roll with it - most chores can wait or be done another time. If you need some personal space so contact napping isn’t working for you and you know she’ll sleep in the pram, phone someone when out walking or find a good podcast to listen to and make it a bit of you time as much as you can. I walked for naps a LOT because I like walking anyway and could at least have a chat on the phone or listen to something for myself.

You can always keep trying the cot naps before you do contact/walk/drive, which it sounds like you are doing - they do go through phases and changes and it may suddenly work one day when it hadn’t before. Just maybe try to keep your expectations in check before each attempt so that it doesn’t lead to more frustration (easier said than done, I know! Even harder when you’re leaving a good patch and entering a tricky phase so you’ve got used to the cot naps!).

The only other thing to mention is if you think the bedtime routine works for bedtime, have a pared down version for naps if you don’t already. So we always use the sleepsack and have a story, a song and the mobile lullaby playing before both naps and sleep. They do love routines and now mine is older, part of the routine includes climbing the stairs, choosing a book etc.

Main takeaway from this is things will get better (and then maybe worse and then better and then worse), and it is frustrating, but won’t be forever! If it’s any consolation, sounds like you have a curious little baby who is excited to explore the world!