Napping - an idiot's guide needed

[margoandjerry]

OK, how do I get my 5 month old daughter to nap? And how do I get her to nap in her cot? Facts are these:

• she's a great sleeper, goes down on her own at night, no rocking or dummy or whatever other trick required. She now sleeps for 12 hours straight and has done this off and on since 15 weeks and now seems to have cracked it totally

• She was a month prem so initially slept ALL the time (like 23 hours a day) so there was no scope to get into a routine. She snapped out of that at about 10 weeks and since then has only napped in her bouncer during the day for shortish periods.

• She never naps in her cot - screams the house down if I try to put her in it and she generally is not a screamer.

• She probably gets 45 mins of napping in the bouncer max all day - but doesn't seem unhappy about it.

Should I just stop trying to get her to nap more? And should I just give up with the cot? I don't want her to associate the cot with misery so I'm reluctant to force the issue. Maybe she just doesn't need more than the 12 hours at night with a cat nap in the day? What happens when she grows out of the bouncer?

Can anyone help a rookie?

Message withdrawn

I'd just written a message but then re read your post and realised that you said DD is happy despite only 45 minutes during the day and sleeps all night. ermmmm, maybe I'm stupid but what's the problem?

My DD sleeps anywhere she likes because I haven't got the energy to fight it. I spent weeks trying to get her into her cot and it distressed both of us. Now we either curl up together and have a cuddle, she naps in her buggy or on an upturned rubber ring thing.

Honestly, don't sweat it, sounds like you're doing a great job and honestly, you don't know how lucky you are!!

do you mean she's happy about sleeping in the bouncer, or happy all day generally with only 45 minutes of nap time? if the latter then, well, fine. if the former you're probably putting her down a bit too late - try putting her down earlier and patting/shushing etc.

I say this, ds2 only naps if rocked (in car seat or pram) and doesn't sleep all night. so you probably know more than I do.

I just had this idea (well my mum's got this idea!) that at 5 months old she should be getting at least a couple of hours in the day. But I think you are right - she doesn't need it.

And lots of people seem to have problems getting their babies to nap in a cot so I think I'm just going to give up on it.

Well, that was easily solved!

I do need to get a routine going though - nanny due to start in a couple of weeks and we're all over the place!

My DD, at 13 months, is still a nightmare napper!
She will go down in her buggy if she is tired but the only way I can get her to nap if we are in is to cuddle her once she starts yawning/eye rubbing until she falls asleep (takes about 5 mins) and then transfer her into cot while asleep.

At night she goes down wide awake, has a chat with ehr toys and plays some music and goes down for a solid 12 hours!

Good luck!

oops! xpost!

If she is happy enough without a nap and sleeps, I think you are right, DD is a nightmare if she doesn't nap though!

Margo

Is your LO happy to play on her own? Do you need downtime too?

Nice name btw!

Hi Margo - nice name also! My little girl's middle name is Margot - do you think I'm taking it too far?

Anyway, yes she's good on her own so I think I need to persevere with the napping if only to get into some sort of a routine for my own sake. Once I go back to work I think I'll need a routine to get through the weekends.

Margo and Margot !