What time do you put your babies down for naps? I need help!

[Buriedalive]

My dd has nursery from 8:50am - 11:20am. Ds (8 weeks) is up at 6:30 but we have to leave for 8:30am. Hes usually wide awake during this time. I've been trying to put him down when we get back from the school run, so about 9:30 but crys the min I put him down. I'm guessing this is too early because he just cat naps.

I went into town today when we picked dd up and he slept from around 11:30 - 1:30 in his pram, it was me that woke him because he needed changing.

and he always seemed to want to nap at around 5 right up until bath time, then he has a bottle and goes to bed (luckily he settles fine at night)

What am I doing wrong?? what time do you put your LO to bed and how can I fit it around dd!? I also have to pick oh up at 5.

At 8 weeks, he should only be lasting an hour, maybe 90 minutes at a push, before needing another sleep. How many sleeps is he having across the day? How do you settle him? If you're trying to put him down after 3 hours and he's crying, I wouldn't say it's too soon to be honest, I'd say it's because he's overtired and finds it hard to get to sleep.

I wouldn't worry too much about fixed times at this stage, you just need to give him plenty of opportunities to sleep.

Recently he just hasn't been sleeping much at all in the day, I think because he doesn't get chance to sleep in the morning, he becomes over tired like you said. These past couple of days he been so tired I cannot put him down.

He has a comfort blanket, for bed its bath and bottle, in the day just bottle, but I'm still getting used to it, its been years since I did this with my dd lol.

Maybe if I get him ready while dd has her breakfast, then put him in his pram until we leave so he can nod off in there? when should I start thinking about settling him properly?

At this age I would just go with the flow - if sleeping on the go in the pram/car is what works, do that. If you are at home, it's up to you whether you cuddle or sling for naps, or try settling in cot/basket.

If he wakes up at 0630 I would be trying to get him down for a nap around 8am? My DS used to nap after being awake for 90 mins in the morning at that ages (he could always last slightly longer in the afternoons, but only 2 hours!).

Could you put the buggy up in the house, wrap him up nice and warm and try and rock him to sleep in the buggy at 8am. Then just wheel him out the house (hopefully still asleep!) for your daughter's school run at 0830? Then even if he only has 45 minute nap (common at that age), he will wake up whilst you're out, get some fresh air, and then can have a feed, som awake time etc when you get home? And then down for another nap 90 mins-2 hours later? and repeat this pattern throughout the day).

If your school run involves the car, I would maybe do the same as above, but put him in the car seat in the house at 8am and rock it with your foot (whilst eating breakfast or something??) and then you can just carry him to the car and stick him in asleep for the school run.

Agree with previous posters, sounds like he is staying awake too long.

I only have 1dc but i used to find his little 8am cat nap very handy at that age cos I could take a shower!

Well he was up at 6:45 today, woo a 15 min lie in! LOL

I tried putting him down at around 8, at first he just made noises, then started crying.. I made sure he was changed, fed, tried him with his dummy, he just cried and cried!

Eventually, after taking it out on everyone else, he is wearing me out so bloody much I took him downstairs and put him in his swing for another feed, but by the time i had his bottle ready he had fell to sleep! Not for long, but we did go out after, screaming fit in the car because he was at this point over tired, then slept in his pram.

We came home, still in the car because oh was just popping in to get the electric key and he woke, had a feed e.g. then the power steering on my car went, so went back in, put him in his swing were he just cried and cried... I took him to the shop in the pram, he slept for 15 mins. When we got back we arrange to take the car to a garage, we then had to pop into town for milk e.g. then to McDonalds because it was getting late and none of us had eaten (except him).. the whole time he was wide awake. Slept in the taxi on the way home, got in had a bath and settled him down for the night.

So sorry to ramble on, but my point is... my baby will not sleep! I even tried rocking him at one point but that didn't work. I settle him down, he gets himself all worked up right up until his next feed, then becomes over tired and then its just impossible to settle him at all.

Mine does not sleep much in the day either... I just don't think it's true that babies can only stay awake for 90 mins or so - maybe some, but not all. Mine (10 weeks) only sleeps for 20 mins or so at a time, with a lot of persuasion, and then is awake for 3 or 4 hours sometimes. My first DS was like this too. It's just the way they are. There is no way that either would just drop off in the car seat with a bit of rocking!

Well I was going to try putting him in his pram this morning, but instead, he woke up at 8am, had a bottle, went in his swing whilst I got ready and fell to sleep. He slept for 1 hour and 45 mins.

The thing is Sid, while that might work for yours, my ds def needs his sleep. I can't remember the last time I prepared tea because hes been so overtired through not sleeping and will not let me put him down. He woke from his nap, had a bottle, got dressed and already started showing signs of being tired again. Hes now back in his swing, asleep! I'm beginning to think my little man can't even last an hour awake, hes just a very sleeping baby.