Baby won’t nap for me & it’s driving me crazy

[Orlofina]

Aaarghhhh! I’m so p***d off right now, my nearly 11 month old just WILL NOT nap unless she is attached to my boob/in the sling, and then only for one sleep cycle.

She has always been a crap napper and had never done more than an hour until about a month ago. Recently though she has been doing 90-120 mins, but only when my DH rocks her to sleep & pits her in the cot. When I attempt it she always else’s and will not sleep even if I leave her for 20mins or so. It’s driving me crazy as I never get s break in the day unless he’s at home & it just seems so unfair!

Please someone tell me this is just a phase!

Just to add - she’s pretty good at night times, I can put her down easily and generally does 7-630. Used to feed to sleep by stopped some months ago & now rock until asleep and then in the cot.

If you want her to nap for a decent time in her cot you need to put her down awake without feeding or rocking to sleep. I would imagine she settles better for DH as she knows your milk is there.

My advice (Sorry, this will be very unpopular!) would be to stop BF. But that is just my personal opinion, if BF is still working well for you obviously you would want to continue.

I wondered about that too - not feeding/rocking to sleep - but wonder why she settles for my DH & sleeps for ages when he rocks her? She must know I’m a soft touch!

Mine generally stopped around this age (12-15 months). But then napping would come back as soon as their mobility and exertion increased.
I'm afraid my advice is to roll with it, not force it.
A buggy walk might work. I know that you may not see that as much of a break, but if you put your headphones on and have a nice place to stroll (bring a flask of tea ), it gives you a breather and some fresh air, plus a nap for your LO. It's not the advice you want to hear, I know! It's not ideal because you want and need a good, proper break. Those are tough to come by before they start nursery.
Maybe a morning playgroup might make your LO sleepy enough to have a nap?

It is a phase and will pass, it’s not forever and she’s still small, I know it’s hard (mine is 13 months) but soon enough they’ll be at school!

Another one who suggests just rolling with it! When they are tired they will sleep! I found trying to make my DD (who is now 16 months) sleep, just ended up stressing me out! She went a bit weird around 10/11 months but once she started walking she started napping better and sleeping through (bar some nights of illness, teething etc.). I am also of the mindset that you just do what works for you - rocking, feeding etc. - whatever gives you the less stress and most sleep! Nothing will last forever and it will all change before you know it!

Why don't you feed her lying down in your bed or on a mattress on the floor and then you can move away once she's asleep? She's less likely to wake early because she's fallen asleep where she's going to stay asleep rather than being transferred somewhere new.