Starting nursery and napping

[Dec22s]

Hi, my lb is 8 months and has never been a good sleeper. For naps he either falls asleep feeding or in pushchair. For weeks I have been trying to get him to fall asleep in his cot (in the evenings he goes down drowsy, but in the day even this won't work) but he just screams and cry's and doesn't give in. I feel really guilty for not having taught him to fall asleep without me. He starts nursery in a couple of weeks time and I am really worried that he just won't nap all day and be really unhappy. I have tried giving him a bottle as if he could fall asleep on that I would feel a bit better about it. Does anyone have any advice on anything I can try- I don't mind letting him have a little cry and moan going to sleep, but he has been hysterical this morning and I won't leave him like that- I know not everyone agrees with letting them cry but I have done a bit as was hopeful it would work but lb is very stubborn (and it breaks my heart to hear him so upset).

I would let him cry a little bit like you have been doing but in all honesty you can't make them sleep his nursery will be used to different babies and their napping or not don't feel guilty maybe in a different enviroment away from you he will nap even babies know how to wrap mum round their little finger and behave differently for others, if you explain he naps in his buggy they will do that for you.

You may be surprised. I'm a childminder and parents are always amazed at how well their child sleeps with me. I once had a very reliant child, always breastfed to sleep. He was on a settling visit and mum was dumbfounded to arrive and he was flat out, sleeping alone on the settee lol. They always sleep well here. Routine helps as well as their little friends doing the same

Nursery workers have magical powers and can somehow get 9 babies sleeping at the same time in a bright noisy room. It's amazing

@looneytunes I would not be happy with my child sleeping alone on a settee, that is not something to be proud of

I worked in a day nursery years ago and yes we can magic babies to sleep 😀 sadly the magic didn't work on my own.

He definitely has me where he wants! Thank you for the reassurance 😊

Nurseries certainly are magical places. I had the mist difficult baby and nursery sorted him out!

He slept and ate for them, even started taking a bottle so I could stop breastfeeding. He said his key workers name before he said mommy.

Wonderful place.

At that age my DS wouldn't nap in the cot either. Instead he would just pass out on the floor when and as he needed it. If yourDC needs to sleep they will.

@blazedandcomfised I have a little pickle, he is so loveable and cheeky, but doesn't conform! He just loves breastfeeding- I have tried everyday to give him a bottle for months now and he will quench his hunger with it and then wait until I give in and feed him! It's good to be so wanted, but I really thought when I wanted to stop breastfeeding (at 6 months) Inwould offer a bottle and that would be it! Feel so naive now!

My LO has always been a bit hit and miss with cot naps although goes to sleep no problem in cot at night. I had the same fears about nursery although didn't need to worry at all! They've got LO napping no bother in a cot or on a mat.

Try not to stress but I'd definitely tell them your concerns over napping so they can help.

Can he just sleep in a buggy at nursery? That's what mine did/do.... None of them did cot naps. Fed to sleep / buggy at home and rocked in buggy at nursery. Other babies did the same there.

Lapin I'm a bit baffled by your comment? Why would you not be happy that the person you trusted to look after your little one has managed to get your little one (who always needed to be cuddled through his nap) sleeping independently? Unless you think it was unsafe? I'm not silly enough to let a young child sleep completely on the edge of a sofa? He was one and mobile and it was a corner sofa with an extra part (about the size of a double bed) he couldn't fall off?!?! I was also sitting covering the edge? It's not the normal sleeping space but he was on a visit. A lot of the older children crash out on the sofa all the time??

My child has always slept independently but sofas are not beds and I would not be happy with my child sleeping on one. Too easy to roll off, suffocate etc. Older children are different. Under 18 months it is dangerous.

DD (11 months) mostly breast feeds to sleep with me. She'll nap in her pushchair or in the car if that's not practical, but absolutely refuses her afternoon nap at granny's.

At nursery they put her in a cot and rub her back - she goes to sleep, both naps. They have magic powers.

They also have a pushchair just in case. She only needed that once in the first week.

Obviously we've been unable to replicate their magic cot nap powers,

Yes to nursery workers having magic. But speak to your nursery for reassurance. My DD nursery hapily pushed her back in forth in her buggy inside. Now they pop in on a roll out bed and say sleep time as she just goes to sleep.

It has no impact on sleep at home.

@Looneytune253 that sounds absolutely fine to be honest I'm also a bit baffled by what the problem is! I'm sure you're a great childminder, you sound it.

OP babies adjust absolutely fine in nursery so if they have been cuddled/fed/rocked to sleep they find their own way in childcare x

I'm with you Lapin, I'd also be 'dumbfounded' to find my baby sleeping on someone's sofa, let alone a person who should be absolutely up to date and adherent to safe sleep guidelines.