5.5 month old won't nap during the day

[Gangle]

At my wits end. DS2 is 5.5 months and refusing to nap during the day. Have tried everything (buggy, car, breastfeeding to sleep) but he falls asleep for a few minutes then wakes up again. He will sleep in car but wakes up 10 minutes after being brought into house. He is clearly tired and needs to nap but can't seem to settle himself. Oddly enough he settles well at night when I put him down in his cot and only wakes once or twice to feed then goes straight back to sleep. I don't think he is in pain or anything as he stops crying as soon as you pick him up. Can anyone help? He's currently in his cot screaming as I have had enough and just want him to nap for 30 minutes so that I can clear up the pigsty which is our house/put some washing on/have some lunch. He currently has less sleep than our 2.5 year old which can't be right!

Hi

I went through a phase like this with my DD not so long ago. In then end, I knew the car would make her sleep, so I gave up trying to bring her in the house...I packed a drink, some snacks, a book and off we went for a drive. Once she was sound asleep (after about 20 mins continuous driving) I would park up somewhere, read my book for 45mins and have some me time, then drive home in time for her to wake up. Obviously couldn't do this for every nap, but did probably once every other day.

It meant that I actually got to do something for myself other than the housework (which I would've inevitably have done had she been asleep at home) but the downside was it cost me a small fortune in petrol

In the last couple of weeks she has settled down (she is almost 6 months) and I was gobsmacked yesterday when she self-settled for her 2hr afternoon nap!! All I did was start to put her down in her cot, in her grobag at set times each day (give or take half an hour) rather than trying to read her tired signs. I left her to moan and groan a bit until she had tired herself out, then I would pat/shush her to sleep. Perseverence is the key I think! I also could never get her to have 3 naps, so gave up and now she has one short and one long one.

I honestly thought I was going to go insane because of her lack of daytime sleep and all of a sudden it is OK! It will get better...I promise!