Daytime naps too short

[DullWomenHaveImmaculateHomes]

Hi,

DD is 6 months old and I'm just starting to get her into a more structured routine. One of the problems she's always had is napping; she is only likely to fall asleep in the pushchair which means I'm building 3 walks into her routine: one after breakfast, one after lunch and then around 3:30ish after a bit of a mid-afternoon snack.

The main problem we're having is that while she is generally likely to fall asleep during the walk, 90% of the time she will wake up after only 30 minutes (even if I'm still walking). She wakes up happy but very often is really tired again soon afterwards because she clearly hasn't had enough sleep. When we're at home I can't get her to sleep during the day; if I put her in her cot she screams blue murder (she doesn't do drowsy so there's no good time to put her down) and because I'm weaning her I'm cutting down on daytime breastfeeds so can't rely the old cheat's way of getting her to nod off on the boob. I very often end up carrying her constantly because she grizzles and cries if I put her down.

Any ideas about how I can get her to nap for longer?

Have you got room to put her in the pushchair inside and get her off to sleep in that way?
You don't need much room to jiggle the pushchair up and down a little bit.

Yes - I bring the pushchair into the house if she's still asleep after a walk. I wiggle it (so to speak) when she wakes up to try and get her back off again but it doesn't work :(

I have one of these, DD is 4.5 months old and will only sleep during the day if I'm out pounding the pavements and would seem fast asleep as I wheeled through the door and bang she'd be awake. My Mum babysat for us on Saturday and discovered a magic trick that is working so far. The extractor fan over the cooker in the kitchen. i just wheel her pram in and park her up next to it. She's now staying asleep for an hour after we get back. Hoover, hairdryer, washer, tumble dryer all failed where the extractor fan has succeeded. Hope it works for you. Mind you this doesn't solve the problem that we'll all still be pounding the pavements in wind, hail and snow.

Brilliant; will try the extractor fan, thank you :)
Having a spring baby was fab - not looking forward to the wind hail and snow!!

It's not the cheat's way - it's nature's wonderful sleep elixir!!!

Another pavement pounder here, though... at least it helps justify the chocolate addiction

And another one here - however we just returned from our first nap/walk of the day and having read this thread last night I pushed her into the kitchen and immediately turned on the extractor fan.... she is still asleep 30 minutes later! Newbie Lisa your mother is a genius!

As you say we now just need someone else to come up with a solution to walking round the park for an hour first. I will be straight in the Dragon's Den if I come up with it.

Just realised that sounds rather selfish - of course I would share my solution with other mothers - but am sure that if someone does come up with a solution for this will might find it is very much in demand! (Plus I really want to go on Dragon's Den and am convinced solving the challenges of motherhood is my way in!!!)

I love that so many new inventions come from new mums :)
I was telling my dad the other day that I want to invent something to attach to the pushchair that will keep it rocking when we get back from a walk... Until then we'll just have to stick to the extractor fans. Mine's going on now - fingers crossed!!

You know I think someone did invent that and it was on DD last year.

Damn! Must buy one...