4mths, putting down awake for naps, what next?!

[LaTristesse]

I made the 'mistake' with DS of not teaching him to self settle until he was a lot older, so eager not to repeat this with DD I'm trying to put her down awake for naps. She has other ideas and lies there playing for ages until she starts yelling and crying. What do I do then? Pick her up? Feed her? (ebf), settle her and start over again? She's at best a cat-napped but I really want her to learn this skill early on. Tips anyone? I know she's tired!

Im by no means an expert but have been helping 4month DS to self settle & seems to be going ok.

Started a month ago with the first nap of the day as we're home & it's the most reliable. I look for tired signs. This was key for me as I often got there too early or too late. We then go into the bedroom which is dark, pop the grow bag on & have a little cuddle to relax him. I place him in the cot with his mobile to distract him & a bit of lullaby music. He moans for a bit but will then suck his fingers & drop off. Could take about 15mins initially, now takes about 3mins I've been consistent with doing it daily & around the same time.

Once this was going well i started with other naps & bedtime. The last nap of the day is the trickiest & it rarely happens. Bedtimes are more often than not now.

If he starts crying, I know I've missed the window & go for a walk instead. Pick up put down & sshh pat doesn't tend to work for us. In fact the less I do the better. The mobile & music are it for him. If he's struggling I lay down by the cot so he's not alone but don't talk or touch him. If he's not off in 20 mins I'll go for a walk before he gets overtired & try again tomorrow.

Does this help at all?!

Yes definitely, there's lots of bits there I can try and use. I'm also juggling a wild 2yo so done of it might not be too practical, but lots of food for thought.

Anyone else? If yours cries after you put them down wdyd?

Oh good - have no idea how people manage anything with two. I can just about get the hang of one

I've got a 4.5 month dd and have just started doing the 'no cry sleep solution'. This will be our second night. I am concentrating on night time at the moment and then will move onto naps.

With this method I rock her until she is almost asleep and then put her down, if she starts crying I pick her up and do it again....and again...and again. Last night it took 6 goes before she settled without crying the first time, then 1 go the next time she woke up...the time after that it took over an hour..but hey, itwas the first night and I was just impressed she did it at all.

The theory is that you then gradually start putting them down earlier and earlier and helping less and less until you can just pop them down and leave them to it. I live in hope :o

That sounds good hearmyroar - sometimes I have trouble getting LO back to sleep when he wakes at about 4am for food. I might give that a go this evening!