4 month old daytime naps

[Ljm2403]

My DD has been a crap day napper since about 2 weeks old, I think it's because her CMPA kicked in then and wasn't diagnosed till she was 13 weeks so we had weeks and weeks of tears and uncomfortable tummy etc. Every day trying to get her to nap is a nightmare and ends in tears, mostly hers but sometimes mine too. She gets so overtired and won't wind down even though I try to get her to nap as soon as I see her rubbing her eyes etc or being awake for 2 hrs. When she finally is down it'll be for 30 mins - 1 hr max and has to be in my arms, luckily she isn't a huge baby!! I'm finding it really hard to instigate a nap routine as she just fights it although I know it would be really good for her. Her bedtime routine is the same every night but again ends in tears as she's fighting sleep despite is trying later/earlier.

Sorry to go on probably more venting than questioning but at my wits end!!! And no she does not sleep in the pram far too busy gogging about to sleep even with a cover over her!!!

My ds often had 3-4 short naps every two hours at that age, and they were all on me too. The only way I could get him to switch off and relax was to rock him down for naps, give a dummy, and keep hold of him! My HV said not to worry too much about long naps at this age.

At 10 months ds got too big to be held really so then I persevered with rocking him in buggy for naps. It really worked and he started naturally having a decent 1.5/2 hour nap. I think it may also have just been the right age for him.

My opinion has always been that naps last a matter of years only so just get then in when and however you can, and focus your attention on night sleeping if poss.

Hi op. I don't have a huge amount of advice for you but wanted to say that I have exactly the same problem. My 12 week old dd gets massively overtired and fights sleep all day, but particularly at night (when I am trying to put her 'to bed'). I also try and catch it before she gets too tired but it can take over an hour to actually get her off to sleep.

By about week 8 I found that she would tolerate the pushchair, and will now nap quite happily for hours-not all the time, but I have more luck putting her down for a longer period than I do in the Moses basket. She used to HATE the pushchair, but I perservered with taking her out in it and push her round the house in it when she's in a good mood.

When she wakes, I try and stick to the same routine so feeding on waking, nappy change and a bit of playtime, then cuddles, then sleep. I try to put her down 90 mins max after she's woken. I can't say that it always works but I'm hoping that she will get used to the routine. Around 6-7o clock I include a bath and a story. She sleeps brilliantly through the night (wakes once to be fed) but getting her to sleep is still a nightmare.

Hopefully someone will come along with some advice but I suppose I just wanted to say that you are not alone!

My ds is just over 4mo and the only way I can get him to nap during the day is to put him in the soft sling and walk around bouncy and swaying. When he's breathing heavily and properly sleeping, I slide him out carefully into his cot (sleepyhead pod) without waking him up.
Have to say sometimes he wakes up again and cries, so i pick him up and rock him on my shoulder till he drops off again and put him back.
Usually works. It's so much better when they daynap because otherwise they cry all evening and can't sleep!

Oh btw his naps aren't timed to a set routine, it's usually just one at some time in the morning than one at some time midafternoon (like now!)

Thanks ladies feel so much better now!! Today I've managed to get her to nap every 2 hrs without much fuss!!! Xx

That's great!