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7mo won’t nap unless held HELP!

8 replies

manut · 12/11/2019 19:09

Sorry long Q but lots of relevant info! My baby girl is nearly 8 months old and she goes down in the evening with various rates of success and only has one feed through the night (which we’re currently phasing out) but when it’s time for naps SHE.JUST.WON’T.BUDGE. Her naps were typically at 9:15 for about an hour or just over, and then 12:30 or 1 pm for about 40 minutes to an hour. She was never a sleeper so that was okay. We used to have a routine where she’d be quite tired, I’d rock her, she would fall asleep in my arms and then I’d put her down quite easily. That was the case at night too but my back got injured from it so I had to stop. For weeks we tried gentle gradual retreat and nothing worked until we did controlled crying. That’s been working well in the evening and she now falls asleep either straight away without crying or she’d cry a minute or two and then drift off. I tried CC during the day but it just never worked as she’d just wake herself up completely and that’d be it. So I’ve been carrying on rocking her to sleep during the day (making my back worse!) and now every time I put her down she just wakes up. So today we had NO NAPS. At all. She was honestly horrible all day crying and overtired and I had to put her down tonight an hour early, so that means she’ll wake up earlier in the morning. Please help because I will go insane any minute now.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
limpingparrot · 12/11/2019 19:20

The only thing that has ever worked for me is going for a walk at about 4:30 and hopefully they drop off for 10mins, which in our case is enough to lift spirits and stop grizzling until bed time. With my oldest I used to walk about for 2 hours to get a decent lunch nap, but now I’m knackered so 2nd baby doesn’t get that. The only other way I have had any success is to feed to sleep in the daytime. I have never had any success with nap training, whereas as controlled crying with my first worked in one night at 10 months. It’s very crap for you with your back injury. If it’s any consolation by eldest started his super deep 2-3 hour, no fussing naps at about 13 months.

PotteringAlong · 12/11/2019 19:22

Buggy?

Or, if she’s your only child, just sit down and put your feet up whilst she naps?

onetwothreemore · 12/11/2019 20:25

Mom of 2
Same technique worked for both kids - I lay down with them in bed and we nap together or I pretend to nap and read my phone once they drift off. It's a nice treat if you have bad back, too.

manut · 12/11/2019 22:44

@limpingparrot actually I very nearly went out this afternoon but the weather in London was nasty! I think next time I will have to regardless of the weather. Thank you, that 13 month mark gives me hope!

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manut · 12/11/2019 22:46

@onetwothreemore thank you, I normally ate breakfast and lunch during her naps but will have to rethink her routines! Was it just a phase for you as well?

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manut · 12/11/2019 22:47

@PotteringAlong she wouldn’t normally fall asleep in her buggy or car as she’s too interested to look around but I will try it anyway as maybe if she’s knackered it might work? Willing to try that now!

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onetwothreemore · 13/11/2019 13:19

@manut
They do grow out of it. But I never regretted having a nap with the kids. Housework can wait ... Everything can wait really it is such a treat and so peaceful and relaxing spending an hour next to a sleeping little person. By the way - don't forget the sleep regression months! It hit us hard at 8 months and 11 months. The rest has been ok

manut · 13/11/2019 14:09

Aww it does sound cute now you mention it! My MIL is here today so she’s trying to put her down right now. Yeah I know there should be one at 9 months so that’s why I was trying to get her all tickety boo before it but seems like that don’t happen now!

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