Nap time routine

[sunshineskymoon]

My DS is 5 months and has recently gone into his own room. Either as a result, or as a complete coincidence, his night time sleep has really improved but his day time sleep has got so difficult!

We've recently gone through the 4 month sleep regression and (touches wood) seem to be coming out of the other side - hes now waking 3 times a night which is a dramatic improvement on the past weeks! Although he is still cat napping for half an hour in the day time which I'm hoping will gradually start to improve as time goes on too.

Anyway, we have a solid bedtime routine... bedtime playlist and star lights on the ceiling with a massage and getting changed and then chilling out watching the lights in bed. Then it's night night, white noise on and leave the room and 9 times out of 10 he can self soothe and get himself off to sleep.

He used to be able to do this in the day too but since moving him into his own room, he can't do it and he needs rocking to sleep, often more than once because he wakes up when put down or a couple of minutes after being put down.
I know babies want to be held but he also can't sleep with any noise/ light. We have struggled to take him out anywhere since being about 2 weeks old as he wouldn't sleep and gets overstimulated... although it's got easier as he's got older. We had/ have to time everything! He's always been such an alert baby and didn't really have a sleepy newborn phase at all! And of course we tried, pram, carrier etc. All worked intermittently with varying success and no consistency! Although the carrier is a life saver now when we're out and about (we got one with a hood eventually!)

Anyway, I keep rambling, I'm wondering if a little wind down before nap time might help? Any suggestions? I don't know whether to do a mini version of nap time maybe with a different song and lights or something completely different. I don't want him to get confused. Any ideas?

Thanks!

A mini wind-down routine before naps is a good idea. But I wouldn't be inclined to use music/light shows - both of which are exciting and stimulating! Sleep time (naptime and bedtime) wants to be muted, quiet, dark and mostly dull - BUT include a feeling of relaxation and contentment.

I'd suggest a milk feed (or top-up if an earlier feed was given), but not to sleep. Then incorporate winding with a gentle rocking/swaying movement to relax but not to sleep.

Then the main focus is on baby going to sleep in the cot. You mention leaving the room at night. I'd be inclined to stay if baby is struggling to settle, but not rocking to sleep.

Try to keep baby in the cot but physically lean into the cot to be close to baby as settling. A reassuring firm hand on their chest/shoulder helps. Likewise being cheek to cheek so that baby can feel your breathing and closeness - but all while baby is in the cot.

As baby calms and settles, gradually withdraw yourself until it's just your firm hand on chest got reassurance.

The other thing is, if daytime naps are short then keep them frequent to avoid over-tiredness. They will lengthen in time.

Thanks got your suggestions! We do keep to awake windows and get frequent naps in whenever we can. He completely self settles on his own at nighttime now but just not during the day.