At the end of my tether with baby’s naps

[tiredparent711]

My DS is 6.5 months old and normally a good sleeper, going down for naps fairly reliably and sleeping through the night or waking up once.

Today though he just hasn’t slept since he woke at 8am. I tried to put him down for a nap at 11 and he just would not sleep - he was babbling away for ages and then it turned into tears. I took him for a long walk in the pram hoping that would help, but he only napped from 12-12.30 then woke.

Now I’m trying to get him to sleep again (I put him down at 3pm) and he just won’t! It’s the same thing again - just babbling loudly to himself and not getting to sleep. He’s in exactly the same environment as he’s always had - same cot, white noise, everything.

Nothing has changed, so why is he suddenly unable to nap?! I’m feeling so frustrated as I’m shattered and was hoping for a bit of time to myself today

Four hours doesnt seem excessively long to be awake. If he is moving towards 2 naps and wakes at 6 then that would be a nap and 10 and then 3 which is pretty normal.

Four hours doesnt seem excessively long to be awake. If he is moving towards 2 naps and wakes at 6 then that would be a nap and 10 and then 3 which is pretty normal.

@KitKatastrophe But I thought they were meant to have a morning plus a lunchtime nap when moving to two naps a day (and drop the afternoon one). Is that not right?

@tiredparent711
Not all babies are the same. Unfortunately you can't really predict or say what they are meant to do

Mine is coming up for 8 months and she more or less has naps at about 10am and 2pm but it varies a lot - today she napped at 9am, sometimes she has 3 naps and sometimes 2. Yesterday she had naps at 9am and 2.30pm because that's when we were in the car doing the preschool runs for my older child.

It's difficult but I try not to stress too much about it. Does it make a big difference to his mood or night time sleep? If not, does it matter what time he naps or for how long?

Does it make a big difference to his mood or night time sleep? If not, does it matter what time he naps or for how long?

I'm just stressing because I read how important naps are to babies' development. And I feel like I'm failing DS.

@tiredparent711

DS was up at 6.30 this morning and I've been trying to put him down for a nap since 8.30. An hour later and he's still not asleep. This is killing me.

You sound like you're getting really worked up about it, he'll be picking up on this. Rather than leaving him to his own devices for nap time, have you tried cuddling to sleep and transferring to his cot once he's asleep? If he's teething, feeling out of sorts or just having an unsettled period, this may help.

Baby can probably feel your stress.

Honestly you’ll look back at this and regret getting so stressed about a nap. You are getting yourself very wound up.

Babies are not robots, they aren’t all the same and can’t be programmed to feel tired at the same time each day.

Some days I’m exhausted and go to bed at 9pm some days I’m so so go at 12pm

Clock watching and thinking how long they’ve been up for isn’t your answer. Watch babies signs of tiredness and response don’t pre empt

I'm trying to cast my mind back (it was only 18 months ago but that feels like a lifetime ago!), I think at that age, mine would wake, nappy change, have a bottle and go back to sleep again. Even now at 2 his one nap us around 10am.

There's no right or wrong, relax and go with the flow, your baby hasn't read the parenting books

@tiredparent711

Does it make a big difference to his mood or night time sleep? If not, does it matter what time he naps or for how long?

I'm just stressing because I read how important naps are to babies' development. And I feel like I'm failing DS.

I really wouldn't worry about his development. I had one that didn't sleep at night or nap during the day.

He's 19 now, at uni. Had great GSCEs and A levels. At least yours is sleeping at night!

It sounds to me as though he is heading to 2 naps. Mine second used to nap at about 10 and 2, and then dropped the morning one and went straight down after lunch. They don't come with a built-in clock unfortunately. Put him down a bit later, and if he really isn't showing signs of nodding off after 10 minutes or so, get him up and try again later. If he's been in his cot for 30minutes, and isn't tired he is going to start crying. He is bored and lonely.

@tiredparent711

Don't worry! Everything s a phase, especially at this age. I doubt he's ready to drop to 2 naps quite yet. Your instinct that 2 hours is about right sounds good to me.

You just need to keep trying and eventually something will work.

I would suggest as other pp give him a bigger breakfast before the nap (dd at this age was ravenous and quickly progressed to 3 meals when I weaned). And try the nap a bit sooner, after 1.5 hours instead of two.

If he doesn't sleep get him up again and try in another hour or so (or if you think he's ready).

Whatever happens it will all be totally different in a few weeks anyway so don't worry too much. You're doing fine! I do remember this constant feeling that nothing ever worked, with DS, but he was a terrible napper from the start - yours sounds like he has the basics!

When all else fails I have occasionally cried dd down for a nap but only when she's clearly beside herself with tiredness and nothing else will get her to sleep.

I don't have a general problem with cry down but I find it soul destroying for naps as it's hard to be sure you're doing the right thing, there are so many other variables.

Thanks all. He’s napped for a total of 45 minutes today. I have downloaded an app that tells me he’s due another nap now, but he doesn’t look tired.

@Aria999 I’m probably being dense but what is crying down?

You're not being dense!

You let baby cry a bit to get to sleep. There are different ways but I do 5 minutes then a cuddle then 10 minutes then a cuddle and so on.

It's controversial, some people think it's a bad thing to do to baby. But when you're completely sure the only problem is that they're overtired it can be a helpful tool.

I wouldn't put too much faith in apps and books. Every baby is different, what works for one will not work for another.

Sure use them for ideas but trial and error and your own instincts are your best friends.

I think I got mixed up with another thread where OP had mentioned cry down, sorry!

OP, hope you got some naps in eventually. I think my LO started to drop to 2 naps some time around then, but it came and went. She amazed me with how long she could stay awake sometimes and be okay. Her naps are not really like the 'schedules' say. You are getting great sleep at night so can you try and rest then, forgot about any thing that's not urgent for a few days and just try and go with the flow a bit. I think it's more frustrating when you try and force naps. Then you might find a new routine emerges.

OP just remember that all babies are different! My DC napped for 20 mins only each morning and afternoon (40mins of naps a day) from 6 weeks old, and refused any nap by 1 year.

Have you tried a sling or carrier? Sometimes babies will be content to just be whilst in them and can relax even if not sleep.....