Challenge - fix 6mo naps in a week

[MaverickSnoopy]

DD3 is 6mo and up until now has always napped in her buggy downstairs (tiny open plan house). Recently she's started taking an age to settle and will refuse to sleep and increasingly needing to go into a sling to sleep.

I cannot continue with this - I have sciatica and tendonitis and having her in a sling is excruciating. As of next week I'll also be babysitting a friends young DC for a few hours a week and need to be more available too. I'll also need the space back downstairs so the buggy needs to go.

I want to get DD3 napping in her cot in her room. Currently she's in a crib for night time in our room but that will change. The issue I have is that I also have 2yo DD2 at home with me. How do I sleep train/get DD3 to sleep in a cot when I have a toddler roaming the house. She'll be 3 in a couple of months but she's still little. Toddler is no longer in a cot and there is about a 1% chance that I'd get her sat in her bed reading books while I'm doing nap time.

I need a strategy but I'm struggling. Does anyone have any ideas?

Oh bless you I wish I could help! I’m actually in the process of ‘gently’ sleep training my 6.5 month old. I can get him to sleep in the cot but he always wakes after 30 minutes and I have to sit upstairs with him for the remaining nap to make sure he gets enough sleep. The sleep trainer said this is notoriously tricky to crack. So I can’t offer you a magic solution I’m afraid. I’ve had to ask a neighbours au pair to come and sit with my 3 year old at lunchtime on the days he isn’t at nursery. Not proposing as a solution for you just saying I massively empathise. What do people do???

I have no idea! I spoke to the HV last week and she suggested that I have 2yo in her room with toys while I try and settle baby. It sounds great on paper. I know full well that 2yo will be shouting and getting cross at being imprisoned! I started trying to get baby to nap in her cot on Saturday and as long as she's just had milk she'll have a good sleep. The problem is when she hadn't and then she screams and screams. HV suggested pick up and put down which so far hasn't work at all.

I've had a few days with DH home but he's back to work tomorrow. Then this week I am babysitting my friends DC too so no idea how I'm going to make it all work. Maybe take her DC in with me when I put baby down but I can't carry them both upstairs at once and I know that my 2yo will be most unimpressed if friends DC comes in but she can't!!

If you feel like you can safely leave them (playpen if needs be!) I think it’s got to be CBeebies while you’re settthe baby! Good luck!!