I am at my whits end with this child and his naps

[Ellajayden]

I've had enough of spending my whole day trying to get this child to nap he was napping fine in our bed till about a week ago and now it's all gone to pot!! Has nearly 7 months old and he's always struggled with sleep things seem to work for a month then they just stop I have literally tried everything and nothing seems to work... it's exhausting me and I just dread every day... the pram works but it's like a blizzard out there so can't leave the house, bouncer won't work he won't go in a sling and the cot has never worked any advice appreciated

My now 8 1/2 month old has always been a bloody awful napper.

I was lucky to get 3 hours daytime sleep out of him after the first two weeksish, and am now lucky to get 90 minutes. He went pretty abruptly from 4 naps of 20-40 minutes down to 1 or 2 naps of 20-40 minutes, though now goes to bed earlier. Today and yesterday we got 45 minutes all damn day.

On the bad days I climb into bed with him and let him feed/comfort nurse while I attempt to doze, but mostly we get out and about, blizzard or no- snow suit, lots of blankets and ski jacket for us!. We move from one room to another and I let him watch me cook if we're at home, I take him swimming, to see people, to various clubs etc etc etc. I like to drag out feeding times and give him finger foods so he can entertain himself for ages over mealtime and we Facetime my mum and my sister while he eats. He can also sit in the bath in a safety ring for ages!

This is no help in terms of advice but I've basically given up forcing him to nap. I didn't sleep much as a child and had sleep issues as a teenager/adult etc. Some babies and people just need less sleep- moving on from 'you must nap' to 'you're not going to sleep, let's find a way to keep us occupied' has been far more helpful than trying to get him to nap.

It can be really tough, especially when lots of my friends seem to have perfectly behaved, well sleeping babies. Going to bed when he does (no matter how early), is always an option. I love a hot bath and a sneaky bit of yoga when I can get it. Audiobooks mean I can retreat into bed and at least rest even if I'm not sleeping.

I'm no help, sorry. Tea and sympathy? Wine and sympathy?

Hi thanks for commenting it's nice to no that I am not alone! All of my friends seem to have baby's that nap perfectly ans were the like the odd ones out! Dose your baby get super grouchy when he's over tired ?I sometimes don't no what's worse listening to him constantly moan where he's tired or try to attempt to get him to nap it can be exhausting sometimes

Both of mine only really nap in the car. Partly due to my eldest being a pain to get down and partly just because we live rurally and are out and about in the car a lot.

Could you try that? It’s not ideal but better than struggling to get them to sleep all day!

He does get really grumpy on occasion, though is easily distracted! If he skips a nap/has a short second one, I tend to put him to bed earlier, which definitely helps.

I was out with him from 9:30am-4:00pm, took him swimming, on several walks etc and he still only napped for an hour in total and wasn’t that grumpy.

Everything I’ve read has always said babies should sleep more than mine does. He did about 16 hours day/night combined for the first 3 days, 14 for the next 2 weeks and has been on about 12 on average ever since. Genuinely, I think he just needs less sleep than some babies, but has always been like that.

These days, I just take what I can get!

I'm learning how to drive at the moment can't wait because it really helps him nod off!:)maybe I just need to stop stressing myself out with it and take each day as it comes! Thank you all for the advice