9 mo won't sleep anywhere but own cot

[Madallie]

I know this probably doesn't sound like a big problem but it can be pretty restricting.

Since getting dd to sleep in her her cot and self settle she now will not sleep anywhere else.

She won't drop off in her puschair even when she is clearly very tired.

It is very frustrating as I feel like I have to be for whenever she has naps because missing a nap seems to have a knock on effect (on an inconsistent sleeper as it is) for a few days!!!

Anyone have experience of this?

Whay did you do?

Stay in for naps or go out regardless and just deal with consequences?

My 10 mo twins sleep so much better in their cots but I don't like being tied to the house so I persevere with the pram naps for one (or sometimes both) of their two daily naps. I bought a snoozeshade and it really helps them sleep for up to an hour (whereas would be 1.5-2 at home). Sometimes that means having to have a third nap later in the day before tea, or skipping their bath to make sure they make it to bedtime without a total meltdown!

I have exactly the same issue with my 9 month DD. I could have written your post. I've tended to be a slave to the nap routine and come home in order for DD to sleep. When we've been away on holidays or a special occasion, we tend to use the snoozeshade as well. DD will protest and protest but does then usually drop off for a bit.

It is annoying and restrictive but I try and be grateful that DD settles so well at home.

I had this with DS. From about 6 months till he was around 2. I just went with it and didn't make all day plans. Worked fine and meant that I always had a couple of hours for a nap myself, housework and MN!

Same here too. I am still a slave to the nap, DS is 2.1! At home he naps for 2-2.5hrs in the afternoon, if we are out he will have 30-45mins tops & is a bear all afternoon - IMO it so isn't worth it! If he gets his nap he is much happier & a nicer afternoon is had by all. Like bonzo I usually make plans for the morning & come home for naptime, meaning time for housework & a rest!

Thanks Omama, altho I sometimes feel frustrated as DD will only sleep 45 mins (today 35) in pm. On a good day it's 1hr/1hr15mins but I thibk at least a short nap is better than no nap at all if we go out.

Just feel that I'm not making plans/rushing back home for what is in essence a very short nap!

Hmmm, I was going to post that both mine were the same. but we are talking omama's situation - half an hour if out and 2 hours at home. I would try and time my day, and just take the flak if there was something I really wanted to do.

If it is only 35-45 minutes even at home a lot of the time, I think I would continue exploring whether there is any way you can stretch the naps (may happen naturally in the next month or two) or find any way of getting any sleep out and about. Have you tried all the normal things, like snooze shades, etc.

Yeah tried it all. She does sometimes have absoulte max of 1.5hrs (v rare tho). 1hr 10ish is not too uncommon when at home tho. Just depends (altho on what I have no idea - could be the phasing of the moon for all I know! Ha Ha!)

I should say, she does have her longest sleep in the morning - usually an 1hr 20mins. It's not cos it's too close to wake up time, as I have heard that babies then use this to extend night time sleep. She has this nap 9.30/9.45am.

It's just I feel she needs all of the pm sleep, even if it is just 45mins cos otherwise we just have more probs with NW and EW. In terms of stretching out sleep, tried everything and the thing is she can and will self settle so this cannot be the problem!

Thanks for all advise and ideas.

Maybe try riding it out for a month or two? DD1 was like this. I pushed her morning sleep gradually back until about 11am. She was well past two before she wanted her nap after lunch. But by about 11 months she would do 1.5-3 hours at 11 and then the afternoon was free.

Disclaimer: I know nothing. My DD2 is 15 months and still wakes multiple times. In my defence, DD1 was ok by one.