Any nap fighters out there?

[beepoff]

9mo DS seems to find it very very difficult to switch off. I'll get him "sleepy" through relaxing, darkened room, quiet voices, rocking and singing, put him down in his cot and try to shush him there, his eyes are closing...

I leave the room and before I've closed the door he's squealing, babbling, rolling around etc but doesn't really cry at all. I've tried making naps later or earlier to little avail.

I tried leaving him to it earlier this week, two hours later he was screaming out and massively overtired but STILL didn't sleep. I took him for a drive and after 15 mins he was asleep.

How can I get him to switch off and train him to nap? All the training methods I know seem to focus on them crying before you take action which he doesn't do - at least not for a very very long time!

Some naps he will go down easily using the techniques above but it's about 50-50. I'd like to stop the rocking, shushing, singing altogether if possible though.

Has anyone else had this problem? Really stressed as he will be going to childcare in a few months and he probably won't nap at all if he's still like this!

No advice regards naps as DD is 12 m and also a nightmare, but I wouldn't worry about nursery, They tend to go off better there as they are completely worn out from everything going on and see all the others going to sleep/have it as a 'fresh start' if that makes sense so easier to break habits.

Quite a lot of parents at the nurseries I've worked at have said they've found naps easier since they started if there were issues before.

Hi hop thanks for your post, we're actually looking at a nanny share so he won't perhaps be so knackered/copy the other kids as they are older so wont need to nap as often.

Maybe we should consider nursery instead... I'm not v keen on the nurseries near me with spaces unfortunately.

What's going on with your DD's naps? Nice to know I'm not the only one ;)

Oh gosh this sounds EXACTLY like my DS. He is 8.5 months. Only difference is that he cries too. We are rocking / feeding to sleep at the moment as not sure what else to do!

We're in the process of some gentle sleep training (I'm actually about to post for help with it as we're stuck) and hoping to make some progress soon.

We are lucky as the nursery near us is lovely and they've already said they will help with sleep problems if need be. He's due to start in November. I've also had friends say naps get easier when they start nursery. Might there be a better nursery near where you work? Or near somebody who could drop off for you?