I'm obsessing about naps/sleep. 16 week DD won't nap...does that matter?

[misspollysdolly]

...because I happen to think it does and it definitely matters to me... Two DSs before her would nap for an hour in the morning and two at midday. DD2 is 16wks and snatches two or three 20 minute cat-naps in the day and until recently I resigned myself to this as she was sleeping well at night (for three weeks before christmas she slept 9:30-7:30 and I thought I'd cracked it - ha!). Alas, she is now waking at least once a night and usually twice - Grr! She's generally content, but definitely gets noticeably tired at tomes in the day when IMO/E she SHOULD be napping (eye rubbing, grumpiness and then the crying starts...oh the crying...!). She'll sleep in her pushchair, but even then sleeps for roughly 20 minute blocks and I'm not going to start putting her in the pushchair at home to fall asleep - out and about is fair enough but I don't want to get into bad sleep habits. She'll settle to sleep at night fairly well with a hand on her tummy and music, but during the day does not entertain this at all - I'm starting to obsess and despair all at the same time. Help! How do get her to nap?! I'm almost at a point where I want to put her in the cot, shut the door, put the Hoover on and not listen to the fall-out. Sadly I am also a wuss and can't bring myself to do it. it is wearing me down. Any advice or ideas appreciated...

Just reading that back, I realise I got carried away with the obsessing bit!! I guess what I'm asking is do some babies just need short cat naps and how on earth do you cope if this all she's destined to have...? Will it increase with age/moving around/time...? I've clearly been spoiled by boys who napped brilliantly, especially at lunchtime...

Hi - you sound like me a couple of weeks ago! DD (12 weeks) slept through from 4 weeks and had quite good naps but then basically stopped napping well and was waking for a feed again, I think it was because she wasn't having good naps so she would fall asleep feeding and not take good feeds and be cranky.

She wouldn't nap on me or in the buggy / car seat for more than 20 mins or unless we stayed walking which just wasn't practical with a 3 year old and a house to keep. I knew she was tired and needed to nap and she would always cry herself to sleep, on me or in the buggy so I decided to bite the bullet. I started a nap routine, basically in her cot with her mobile on at the first sign of tiredness and then if she got upset or after 5 mins I would swaddle her, say goodnight and leave. She would cry but I would go back in every 2 mins to reassure her and if she cried for 10 mins I would give her a cuddle. I know this isn't for everyone but I felt so sure she needed and wanted to nap but just didn't know how to. The longest she cried for was 25 mins and after 4/5 days she would cry for 5 minutes. Now, 2 weeks on she cries for 2 minutes or so and she is so much happier when she wakes.

I don't know if this helps you but thats what I did and although it was horrid to hear her cry I think it was worth it for her.

Good luck!

Same problem here, he's just turned 5 months and I think( hope, pray, beg at the knees of Jesus) we're coming out of it now. He would only sleep for 30 mins bang on and now he's been asleep for an hour and 15 mins ish. Keep persisting with naps and try to pounce on it before they're too tired. The first eye rub etc.

I also do similar nap routine than his bedtime routine,change nappy, short feed, 3 lullabies and white noise, in cot awake with a 'sleep' toy.

Ps you've not mentioned a dummy, but I've found that if he goes to sleep without one he will sleep much longer.

I was posting your post on Monday "at the end of my tether now" and we've definitely seen an improvement this week, though it had been going for a month before this.

I obsessed loads about naps with DS and someone on here recommended this site which I found really helpful. Good luck with it all

FWIW, DS did the catnapping thing 'til about 5-6mo but then became the BEST sleeper ever. Now 2yo - sleeps 7pm-7.30am with a 2hr nap after lunch