Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Flip

Original poster

Daytime naps

20 replies

GloriaMumble · 27/06/2007 12:22

How do I get a knackered child to sleep during the day? DD is 7.5 months, for the last few months (since she was 3 months ish) she has not gone down for a daytime nap unless breastfed for morning nap or pushed round in buggy for afternoon nap.

I'd really like to cut out the bf now but need some help as to how to get to sleep during the day without it. I've tried pu/pd but we can be pu/pd-ing for 2 hours with her getting increasing hard to calm and then it hits next meal or milk time. Also tried GW which works to a certain extent in the evening (only takes about n hour to settle her to sleep in the evening!) but GW doesn't seem to cut it in the day. I'm rapidly getting to the end of my tether and willing to try CC -which I swore I would never do - but DH is vehemently opposed.

All the books seem to address getting babies to sleep in the evenings - routines, bath etc - any ideas for getting her to nap?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NAB3 · 27/06/2007 12:36

My opinion is that 7 months is too young to be left to cry. But that is just me. You will need to be careful that you don't swap one crutch for another. Could you cut down on the BF and see how she goes then? Maybe try one change at a time? A lot of childcare just evolves and maybe if you stop feeding her she will learn to go off to sleep herself. Have you tried slightly rousing her after a feed so she isn't fully asleep and has to settle herself? Good luck with what you try.

iloverosycheeks · 27/06/2007 12:39

sorry not sure what pu/pd or GW is but had very similar problems getting DS to nap during the day, we eventually brought buggy into the house and would push him up and down hall and he would go to sleep eventually - as time went on ended up no pushing necessary, just went into buggy straight to sleep, similar time every day. However at 16 months all that stopped and refused to go into buggy, so back to square one really!! Now he just sleeps at random times of day... which makes day quite difficult to plan...so I probably needing advice as well!

witchandchips · 27/06/2007 12:42

We actually did the whole bath + story thing before naps as well at this age basically becuase dc was feeding himself his solids and would always do a big poo at mealtimes so much easier to dump him in shower or bath. So routine for daytime naps was pretty much the same as in the evening

Original poster

GloriaMumble · 27/06/2007 12:44

Sorry, I wasn't clear, we have gradually cut down bf; in that the one in the morning is the only one she now has and its been the only one she has for some weeks now (bar the days we've tried GW and PU/PD when she hasn't had any at all).

The problem with BF is that, due to my size and shape the only way I've ever been able to get her to latch is with me lying down and now she's more mobile, I daren't leave her on my bed once she's asleep even with bed guards etc. Have tried moving her to cot once she's asleep but no joy.

Really getting upset and frustrated now... was hoping there was some miracle method I hadn't tried

OP posts:

cruisemum1 · 27/06/2007 14:34

i think cc would work {runs for cover} but it's hard. no easy way out imho

bohemianbint · 27/06/2007 14:39

I used to put DS in a very dark room with the hairdryer on. Foolproof. Then it got to the stage where he knew what the dark room was for and would go down without the hairdryer. And we've never really had any bother since. Might be worth a go! Good luck, it's so frustrating, you have my sypmpathy. It wil get better.

wishingfourgotone · 27/06/2007 14:41

my dd stopped taking naps then suddenly started again, think it was just a phase, i did everthing too even read books whilst having bottle of milk nothing worked unless she was out being ushed in stroller.
Think at that age everything is far more exciting than sleep!

witchandchips · 27/06/2007 14:46

doesn't wayne rooney still need the hoover to go to sleep?

cruisemum1 · 27/06/2007 18:18

surely he just listens to the droning of colleen

tiredandgrumpy · 27/06/2007 18:21

dd only settled to a good routine at about a year. I put that down to starting at nursery and the introduction of a 'lovey'. She has become so attached to her little rabbit and it really helps calm her at other times too. Wish I'd got it earlier.

Good luck.

beanstalk · 27/06/2007 19:24

GloriaMumble - I have just looked on here thinking about posting an almost identical problem, only my DD is 6 months. I don't have a solution either - DD is falling into a routine now in terms of feeding and sleeping but even so won't go to sleep without a quick BF or a walk in the buggy. I was wondering whether anyone has experience of babies growing out of this naturally, just getting better at sleeping? {wishful thinking } Or do we have to force the issue with CC, which I really don't feel comfortable with and so would probably give in (I also have tried pu/pd - don't know what GW is?). Sorry no advice Gloria, but sympathy - it's tiring isn't it dealing with an exhausted and grumpy DD?!

Original poster

GloriaMumble · 27/06/2007 20:59

yup, when DD hasn't had a nap any particular thing will keep her occupied for milli-seconds if at all and then its onto tired whinging and that does get wearing. I did resort to shouting "Well just bloody go to sleep then" at her this morning ..... didn't work!

It is interesting what you said about nursery though TiredandGrumpy, part of my impetus for getting this sorted was that she starts nursery a couple of afternoons a week soon and I wanted her able to settle herself to a nap before that so she'd be able to nap there.... how do i introduce a "lovey" or does DD pick her own?

Intend to try hairdryer tomorrow - hope that doesn't become the "lovey"

OP posts:

tiredandgrumpy · 27/06/2007 22:53

I chose one. Only recommendation is that you buy at least 2 (nursery lost ds' favorite) and keep one as spare. Make sure it's machine washable & fairly small so as to be easy to carry & acceptable for nursery. We've gone for a Kaloo rabbit - it's easy for little hands to hold, brightly coloured and washes brilliantly. ds, now 3, has grown out of his, so don't feel you have to chose something that will still look appropriate for an older kid.

peacemama · 28/06/2007 02:56

I have the same problem with my ds (7mo) but it seems to be quite common that they find naps hard. I have just begun GW instead of bf to sleep at night and it works quite well (about the same as yours sounds)but tried it in the day and it just became frought! So I have given up at the moment and just willing to do whatever to get him to sleep in the day - rokc him in the hammock, buggy, car, breast feed...I couldn't stand him crying so much in the day and not seeming to get anywhere with it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do though!

beanstalk · 28/06/2007 09:38

Sorry but what is GW?

beanstalk · 28/06/2007 11:17

The magic of MN has worked again - DD has gone down for her morning nap today in her cot without BFing and has so far been asleep for 1hr 10 mins. Every time I post on MN the problem goes away, spooky!!! I did keep her awake for an extra 20 minutes when I knew she was tired and played manically with her, so I guess I just wore her out
Don't want to gloat GloriaMumbles, just very suprised and happy today! Now if only she would do it every day...

bohemianbint · 28/06/2007 12:27

yeah, what is GW?!

cruisemum1 · 28/06/2007 21:05

bohemianbint - Gradual Withdrawal

Original poster

GloriaMumble · 29/06/2007 21:44

Hmm, still no naps without BF in the Gloriamumble house

haven't tried the hairdryer trick yet - mainly cus I can't find my hairdryer... can you tell I've not blowdried my hair in about 7.5 months!!

OP posts:

cruisemum1 · 30/06/2007 07:27

gloria - shame on you! Surely after 7.5mths you should have the house running like clockwork, a freezer full of pre-pepared pureed delights and be preening yourself for at least an hr per day.

Flip