Crying at nap times

[WillSingForCake]

My 7 month old DD has two naps a day - a short one in the morning, and a longer one after lunch. We have the same little routine before them - singing a little song, zipping into grobag, and putting her into the cot with a little soft toy rabbit she only gets given at nap times. I kiss her, say 'time for a little nap' and then walk out. She then cries for about 5 minutes, then falls asleep.

This has been the same routine now for about 3 months, and am feeling bad about leaving her to CIO twice a day, even though it's for a short time. If I go back in & try and soothe her she just gets more upset because I'm not picking her up.

Does anyone else let their baby cry at nap times, and if not do you have any suggestions of how I can reduce the crying. It's actual crying usually, not just grizzling. It doesn't happen when I put her down in the evening interestingly - then she just rolls over and gets herself to sleep with no crying at all.

It's tiredness, that's all. Have you tried putting her down a little earlier than normal? If you can get her wrapped up, fed, warm, clean bum etc but not yet all that tired she might drift off without getting upset first.

Thanks Cogito, I'll try bringing the naps earlier. She wakes at 6.30am, and I put her down for her first nap at 9.45am, so will try bringing it forward a bit. Would love to put her down for a nap without the tears!!

Don't sweat it, cake. DD1 did the same until she was 12mo, then stopped. Some babies just need to 'cry down' a bit. It'll be doing her no harm.

Ds cried every single nap and bed time, I cannot think of one single time when he just dropped of to sleep.