Help me get my DS napping in a cot at the same time every day!

[RaisingMrC]

Hi

Just looking for ideas really.

My DS has not been a good sleeper from the get go (now 6 months old) and I have just gone with it (bf to sleep for naps, holding him, buggy, sling) and co-sleeping at night. He does not self settle and I don't think he ever has! He does have a bedtime routine and goes to sleep about 8.

I'd really like to get him sleeping in his cot at regular times in the day. Also for these to be longer than half an hour.

Please can you share your experiences if you have managed to get your LO sleeping in a cot in the day - and ideally if you have done it without controlled crying, as I really don't want to use that at the moment.

Also - is it silly to address day time sleep before addressing night time sleep? People usually seem to do it the other way round. I'm pretty lost with night time sleep too though I am thinking of putting a few ideas from the No Cry Sleep Solution into practice. I have the BCSS for naps too - but my DS seems to have every single problem in there.

Any help appreciated.

I remember mid-mornings being a fairly consistent 'looking a bit tired around the eyes' time and that's when we'd head upstairs. I found that putting baby in the cot when he was nodding after a feed rather than wide awake, screaming blue murder or totally asleep worked best. Happy, fed, clean, comfortable and feeling a little dozy.... blackout blind drawn before we went in the room and a low light from a lamp.

I think if you get them used to dropping off in the cot for daytime naps and if they are well rested all day then night-times are much more relaxed. Don't think there's a right or wrong way really. Good luck