6mo will not nap AT ALL!

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Poor DS has abandoned naps in the past couple of weeks and it's driving us both crazy. He is worn out but when i try to put him down he just won't have it. He's kind of manic and frazzled. Feeding to sleep worked for a while but now he won't even do that.
We have a good nighttime routine and that remains fine but all the routine we used to use for naps now doesn't work (shushing, jiggling, lullaby and dark room). I feel v sorry for him - and it's not that great for me either! Any ideas?
Ps he's just started solids but only a few tastes, not even every day, and he hasn't any teeth yet.
tia

Hi, sorry to hear this it sounds like really hard work. DS1 never used to nap in the day until around 4 months (before this he would have 10 mins here and there). We gave him a dummy in the end just for his naps not at night and he slept really well and continued his mid day one past the age of 2. If you are not anti dummies it might be worth a try.

really sympathise AHM I have very similar problems with my 5.5 mo DS. His first nap of the day is always fine and so is bedtime but the other two naps (he only sleeps for half an hour so needs 3 naps) are a nightmare. He's ok if out and about in pram/car but seems to hate his cot -I just don't get it.

I also have just started him on solids but the problem existed before then. I've been loosley following EASY -Baby whisperer routine but in the last few days he's only taken his last nap after a feed. I don't want to give him a dummy now despite lots of pressure to from the in-laws and I don't think he'd take it anyway.

anyone out there with a magic solution or can anyone reassure us that it's developmental and they grow out of this? PLEASE!!!

Could he be over-tired? I find putting them down two hours (roughly) after waking up tends to get them into a routine of sorts, at that age.

Yes i def think he gets overtired. He's at that age where absolutely everything is super-exciting from cereal packets to next door's cat to anything i'm holding. I have just managed to get him down by catching him at the very first signs of tiredness. 17 mins and counting...

My ds2 also a very poor sleeper, daytime and night-time. He hates his cot and will only bf to sleep. We were having real problems getting him to nap and my only solution has been to lie down with him. So I feed him to sleep in the big bed, and stay with him there, either snooze myself or read or listen to the radio quietly, and he's at least getting an hour or so for each nap now. If he wakes up in this time I just quickly feed him and he usually goes straight back to sleep. After 20 mins or so I can usually leave the room and he'll sleep on, though possibly not for as long as he would if I was in the room still. It's definitely helped him as he was very grizzly and miserable before and is now much happier.

If you're able to lie down (I can only do this because ds1 is at nursery in the mornings and is also asleep when ds2 has afternoon nap) I'd recommend trying it - it will also help you to get a bit of kip too, if it works