Don't know what to do.....

[lori21]

My 8 month old DS has always been a nightmare napper and hsn't slept well at night since 4 months. his daytime naps had improved but now it seems to have all gone out the window.

Basically should I try and have a daytime routine and try and put him down for a nap at roughly the same time everyday or should i put him down for a nap when he seems tired.

Thanks everyone

Poor Lori - it is so difficult to get any rest or anything done when they wont sleep! I found that my DD changed her nap times at 6mths then again at 8mths and around 12mths - I think they are just in a development phase at these times and it knocks everything for six.
The only tip I can give is this: when my DD seems tired (sucking thumb/"face planting"/grumpy/crying at nothing etc), I take her up to my bed and lie down with her and put my arm over her lightly just so that she can't roll over and crawl away or sit up. She quite often crys in protest for about 30secs but then the thumb goes in the mouth and she's out cold for up to 2hrs. Basically, I think kids just don't know when they are tired sometimes and you need to help them to understand that it's time to go to sleep - they are better for it both during the day and at bedtime.
I know this isn't very informative but I'm sure there are a few other more experienced MN'ers out there who will respond with much better advice. Meantime, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - your DS may get a 2hr nap phase soon!

Thanks for the advice. You seem to think you have it sorted when they suddenly change again. He did go through a big change in naps at around 6 months so perhaps we are having another change now.

If anyone has any suggestions for approximate times he should be having naps that would be appreciated too.

THanks again

Hi Lori - my dd is 8 mths as well and seems to be going through a phase of worse sleeping at night - she's never been great though. On a good day i can get her to nap at (all approx)

8.30 - 40 mins (ish)
12.00 - 60 min (ish)

16.00 - 30 min (ish)

however some days it's much harder and she'll sleep much less. i know some 8 mth olds that only have 1-2 sleeps per day. we've just gone from 4 short naps to these 3 - but it does depend on what we're doing. i use the same bedtime routine as nightime (except for the bath and getting changed). i also watch out for the signs and put her to bed when i spot these rather than go by the times - but i know she can't last more than 2 hrs first thing, and then 3 hrs the rest of the day. they are all so different though - i used to really worry she wasn't doing what the books said or what others were doing. i've relaxed a bit more now and accepted that she's not a "text-book" baby - but then who is???? hth

meant to say that (at the moment but will prob change this week!) she is getting up at 6.30, hence 8.30 naps. but this changes depending on when she gets up - the other week it was 5.15-5.30

thanks dcb - your lo sounds like mine although i really struggle to convince my ds to have a pm nap. at the moment he looks like he needs a nap then is all bouncy when i try and even though i persevere i have no luck. at least i am not alone!

Just want to say thanks again dcb - I should have listened to my lo and realised that he needed to nap 2 hours after waking not 2 hours after I got him out of bed . This meant a 7.30am nap the other morning!