Crying at nap time - Help!

[Annaltf]

My 8 week old is pretty well behaved and sleeps well at night, but she clearly hates being put down for naps during the day and will scream rather than go to sleep. In the afternoon especially she refuses to sleep and will cry for hours, even if I am holding her. She also sometimes cries for a couple of hours when I put her down for the night (at about 7pm) and there is little I can do to stop her crying. I do want her to take naps as she is very difficult when tired and stops enjoying things that she normally loves (e.g. the bath). Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can get her to take naps? I don't want to use controlled crying. Thanks!

watch her carefully. the first time you see her yawn, no matter what you are doing, put her down for a nap. if she likes being swaddled, swaddle her. most babies love it. also their arms and legs flail about and they have no control over it and this can distract them from sleeping. if she has to yawn 3 or more times before you can put her down for a nap she may be overtired and not sleep.

anna, my dd never liked being put down for naps so I just held on to her.

like your dd, she sometimes cried even when I was holding her, and at this age she started to get tired and sleep less during the day

you have my sympathies as it is frustrating and worrying

I am glad you are not thinking of leaving her to cry at all.

How is she fed? Are you sure there isnt a medical problem causing her to cry, such as reflux?

Things that might help - do you have a sling? walking her round the house in the sling might stop her crying and help her to nod off?

I also read Dr Sears - the fussy baby book. There is a website as well AskDrSears.com I think.

Mind you, I'm probably not the best person to offer advice, as my dd is 10m now and still really struggles to get herself off for naps and to sleep at night, but we keep on muddling through, as I have concluded some babies are just like that.

I just wanted to respond as your post was me 8 months ago!

I wonder too whether she's getting overtired, like Mummy2Ashton. I remember from DS being that age he needed a nap after being awake for only 1 1/2 - 2 hours, so he was having 3 naps a day at 8 weeks, often for 1 or 2 - 2 1/2 hours a time. If she's been awake for a lot of the day by the afternoon then overtiredness could easily stop her being able to switch off and sleep. The trouble with overtiredness IME is that the more you do to try and settle her, the more agitated she will get and the less likely to drop off.

Maybe you could try putting an item of your clothing (worn, so it smells of you) in her cot/moses basket/whatever, so she feels comforted and not abandoned?

Hope it gets better soon, as it's distressing seeing them so upset.

Thanks so much for all your advice. DD has just had a brilliant day and went down for her naps and for the night with barely a peep!

Dd1 had no interest in organised day-time naps. I tried to put her down at regular intervals but from the age of a couple of weeks she only slept for 20-40 minute spells.

I gave up on trying to force naps on her - it was stressful for me and her. She would sleep if she was out in the pram or papoose. She slept pretty well at night time (although took a while to settle) so it wasn't so bad.

I know it's hard because it's the parent who really needs the break most!