Cot naps with new baby and toddler

[SamanthaVimes]

How do you get DC2 to nap in a cot (when under 6 months and you’re meant to be in the same room) with a lovely but loud toddler around?

DC1 never napped in a cot but DC2 is a lot more chilled out and I think he might manage it but I have no idea where to start!

Please explain to me like I’m 5 as DC1 was an intense reflux baby so was never happy lying down but because she was the only one ands lockdown baby I could build life around pram walks and contact naps. DC2 is really different so I’d like to give it a try even if it’s only 1 nap a day.

Swaddling, use a pacifier, use good loud white noise that calms your baby, and I would honestly just put them in the next room with door ajar and video monitor on.

I didn't manage it with either baby as both hated swaddle and pacifier but I am so so jealous of those whose kids will nap in their cots when little.

You could also put the carrycot in your living room for naps and have quiet time with toddler. The white noise might drown out his quieter noise for the baby.

Are they only supposed to nap with you in the room now?

DD2 is 3mo and we haven't bothered! She just naps in sling if we are at home. We need to be in same room anyway as per SIDs guidance and I can't be bothered with the hassle of trying to get her in cot, so she goes in sling and DD1 and I just carry on as normal. Little babies often sleep through anything if they're close to you.

I used to put DC2 in the moses basket in one room downstairs and DC1 would play in the other. I'd potter between the rooms. Newborn babies often seem to sleep fairly well through constant noise, it's sudden noises that can startle them, so if DC1 was fairly calm it seemed to work OK.

Just put DC2 in a room upstairs with a monitor.

I put DC2 in the cot with the monitor on for her afternoon nap. DC1 was still napping as well at that point.

Morning nap was usually in the pram on our way somewhere

Basically, you can't. If you're going to stick to the guidelines, it's just not possible unless you've got a very heavy sleeping baby and an angelic toddler who is very quiet and perfectly behaved.

I just napped baby in the sling, and did cot naps after 6m.

Does DC1 still nap? Generally morning nap for DC2 was in the pram whilst out and about with them both. Then synced afternoon nap for the two of them together as much as possible.

DC2 did end up napping in their own room from about 4 months though.

I have an almost 3yo and a 2mo. I put DC2 to sleep upstairs and watch him on the monitor. I try to hold him and shoosh him until he falls asleep and then put him down in his moses basket. I try to stay downstairs with DC1 and stick the TV on for her and then once the baby is asleep I pop upstairs and stick him down. We're exactly the same as you - DC1 was a lockdown baby with reflux and I would go out for hours walking her in the sling and DC2 is completely opposite. Other thing I do is put DC2 in the sling and once he's properly asleep transfer him to the moses basket.

And white noise in the baby’s room to drown out the noisy toddler!

Mine just napped in the same room as we were in. They slept through it.