Please help! Grandparents do not understand our 'obsession' with DD's sleep

[Dreemagurl]

Our DD (7.5 months) has never been a great sleeper. One of those hyper alert, easily stimulated babies :) She's very active - crawling already - and as a result tires quite easily and can only do 2 hours awake time max (often less). My mum and MIL do not understand why we appear to be constantly putting her to sleep! We use White noise and a snooze shade in the buggy to help her sleep as she does not sleep without them and are having massive arguments with said grandparents about the necessity of these 'props'. MIL has even gone so far as to say we are damaging DD's hearing with the White noise! I am desperately looking for some solid fact based information I can throw in their faces about babies' nap requirements and how things like the snooze shade and white noise will help. Please help! It sounds silly but it's starting to seriously damage the relationship with our parents as they just don't understand! TIA

My DD was like that. She never napped for more than 30 mins at a time until she was 9 months old. She would only nap out walking in the pram, which was fine for us because I had a dog to walk, but meant I never got a moment in the day when she wasn't awake and wanting attention.

At 9 months old something happened. Goodness knows what! Suddenly she started having a decent morning and decent afternoon nap, and being amenable to being put down in the cot. It wasn't anything I did. It was her. At 11 months she went down to one long (2 hour) nap a day and at 18 months she pretty much gave up naps altogether.

I hope that gives you some hope. If it helps too she is now a very bright 8yo :). I think she just always had a busy brain.

Oh and DS, who came after, was a completely different kettle of fish. He loves his sleep. Did from birth. Would self settle and sleep for hours. Would take 3 hr naps and sleep for 13hrs+ overnight sometimes. He's 4 now and starting school in September and I'm worrying about how he's going to manage with no naps!