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Nap help!

4 replies

McSleepy · 13/10/2014 14:33

I would love some help with naps. I have two sons aged 3 and 4 months and am really struggling with naps for the youngest. At night, he goes to sleep at around 7pm. I put him down awake and he is usually so full of milk and sleepy that he sends himself off to sleep without assistance. He then wakes once for a feed somewhere between 12-4 and then again at 6-7ish. If he feeds at 12 he may wake for another feed or if later, he's generally not hungry until 9ish. Although the last few nights have not been that good but that is another story.

In the day, he has a limit of around 2-2 1/2 hours of being awake before he needs a sleep. He has fairly clear tired signs so I think I'm happy that I'm putting him down for a sleep at the right time. I had a two yawn rule with my eldest which I read about in the Baby Wisperer and that worked like magic with him. My youngest is not quite as obvious (or maybe my attention is split between the two of them so I don't see all the yawns) but he gets grumpy and very fidgety if left too long without a sleep. So, I put him down awake as per night time. He sometimes needs a bit of shh-ing, rocking or head stroking to help him go off. Then he sleeps for 10-30 minutes before waking up crying. He settles when I pop his dummy back in or pick him up but then generally won't go back to sleep in his cot. If I pick him up and sit with him on the sofa, he'll more than likely sleep on me for 1-3 hours, so he is tired but as much as I like the hugs, that leaves me fairly stuck! On the days my eldest is not at nursery, that means we are heavily reliant on CBeebies for entertainment for him or toys/books that I can get him to bring to me or that he'll play with happily on his own.

Just so as to not drip feed, we use a dummy, swaddle (have tried transition to sleeping bags but he sleeps worse in them), he is in a cot as he is too big for a Moses basket, we have just moved him into his own room as he was stirring with very small noises from us - I.e rolling over, the room is fairly dark but not completely blacked out, white noise app works very occasionally, I am quite happy to let him have a little whinge but would not leave him to cry/ do controlled crying (yet), he will usually send himself off to sleep when we're out in the buggy/car seat/sling, I am combination feeding with one bottle of formula a day.

I am sure this is very minor in comparison with many other people's sleep problems but if anyone has any advice, I will try it!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
workingtitle · 13/10/2014 16:56

It sounds like your 4mo is doing really well - knows night from day and self settling a bit. I think it's just his age - he's still very little to nap alone without fuss in the day. I used to wear DS in the sling around the house too - it sounds like that might help you do more with your 3 year old?

Iggly · 13/10/2014 16:58

Just go with what works for now. My dd started self settling from around 5-6 months.

McSleepy · 13/10/2014 21:44

Thank you both, that has given me some perspective! I seem to remember my eldest son napped really well which is why I don't understand what's going on this time, but I bet I am remembering it with rose tinted specs as I do recall very clearly spending every waking hour researching how to get babies to sleep with him, so it can't have been that good! Using the sling more is a great idea, and I think I will try and get out a bit more rather than staying in and hoping for the best. Thanks again.

OP posts:
Iggly · 14/10/2014 10:10

It will be because you had time to watch your eldest like a hawk! Not so easy second time around.

With my second, I just napped her however worked then as she got to around 5 months I started to try and get her in her cot for nap . Then one day she scared the hell out of me by napping for 2.5 hours straight!! She was fine!

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