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Letting 5 month old nap on me

4 replies

WillSingForCake · 15/02/2012 13:12

My DD is 5 months old and is generally a good sleeper. She naps in her cot, goes down well (usually a little bit of crying, but rarely more than 5 minutes) and will nap for 30-40 minutes.

After her lunchtime nap (approx 30 mins) she wakes up crying, which I take as a sign she is still tired, and if I get her up she is grumpy. If I leave her she won't resettle (she is capable of settling herself, as she does it at night) and if I go in to try and sssh/pat she gets more & more hysterical. However if I pick her up and feed her she falls asleep again within minutes, and will stay asleep for another couple of hours with my boob in her mouth (while I sit & play on mn!). If I try & put her back in her cot she wakes up. She's not waking through hunger as have tried feeding her before her nap, and it made no difference.

This has been going on for a few weeks now and I'm a bit torn as to what to do. Since she's been having this long lunchtime nap she's been sleeping through the night, so it is having a positive effect. On the other hand I'm a bit sick of being stuck to the sofa for 2 hours everyday, and (much as I hate this phrase!) I wonder if I'm making a rod for my own back?

Any advice? Do you think in the long-run it'll pay off as her body-clock will learn to sleep more at this time in her cot, or shall I not let her fall asleep on me as it's teaching her bad habits?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RiskItForABiscuit · 15/02/2012 19:08

I'm not a sleep expert but my PFB was a velcro baby and napped constantly in my arms until about 10 months.

I always picked the route that led for the best amount of peace and sleep for us all. Some naps, I'd stay sittin with her in my arms (and mn) and some others, I'd feed her to sleep in bed and sneak away.

I don't believe that you are teaching her by carrying on with the naps as she instinctively wants to be close to you. But if it's that you want to have those two hours baby free, then I'm of no help (sorry!).

Routines change quickly though. She may not take naps at those times in a month or two. I found as soon as I got used to certain timings for naps, she would go and change it again.

So I guess my advice would be not to worry about rods.

slowginny · 15/02/2012 19:16

Have you tried a ring or mei tai sling? That would give you back some mobility!

WillSingForCake · 16/02/2012 16:35

Thanks so much for your replies - may well invest in a sling if this keeps going on, that's a good idea. Some days it would be nice to be able to move between the hours of 12 and 2pm!

OP posts:
stillhopefulforanother · 16/02/2012 17:06

Hey there, I understand that naps and night time sleep are processed by different parts of the brain and are therefore unconnected. I have been told its OK for babes to nap anywhere in the day as this is unconnected to night time sleep. Night time sleep comes with its own cues etc which indicate its night time sleep. Hope this makes sense

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