Napping hell!!!

[CocoaN]

Hello,

Any advice would be greatly received as I'm at my wits end with my 8 month old DS. He is mostly a wonderful night sleeper of which I am very thankful, bedtime routine in place and usually sleeps 7pm-8am with no night feeds. Teething, regressions etc sometimes crop up but so far manageable.

But...napping...this has been a nightmare since about 4 months. I have tried many times to put a routine in place, in the cot, setting the 'scene', dark room, white noise etc. he just gets hysterical. I would happily let him nap on me but won't do that either, I have a bouncy chair but that only works occasionally when he's absolutely deadbeat tired. I am quite good at spotting his sleepy cues but he just fights it!

Friends have said that he doesn't need naps as he sleeps 13hrs night but he is tired and cranky so definitely needs some naps! He will always sleep in the car so if we are out and about then I know he will get his naps in. Buggy doesn't always work for naps if I take him for a walk as he loves to nose and see what's around him.

I go back to work soon and he will be with a childminder and I would like to establish some kind of routine with napping. Has anyone else had similar issues and overcome them??

TIA

Anyone?!

Mine were both rubbish at naps unless in the car but took it as pay off for being good sleepers at night. I just felt like you can't have everything 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry not much help.

Ps nurseries and childminders can make them sleep with their own special magic so let them establish a routine and steal it!

Thank you @Hopeful16, I have thought that too, I am very lucky with the night sleeping. Yes I have heard they are miracle workers so fingers crossed I can steal a good routine from them!

I'd guess that you're trying for a nap too late, that your 'sleepy signs' are actually baby communicating being overtired and exhausted.

I'd try your first nap 2h after waking.
Second nap 2-3h after that

Thanks @FATEdestiny I had thought that too, think I'll keep a closer eye on the clock and see how that goes

Haven't overcome it but we are very similar at 7.5 months. Our LO sleeps well at night (teeth permitting) but will only nap in pushchair or car. I follow Huckleberry wake windows and get her on the move at those times and she sleeps fine then. But putting her in cot at those times just leads to tears. It's been ok, but in cold and rain it's going to suck in winter, buggy rain cover steams up and if I bring her home sleeping she's dressed too hot for the house. I'd love to get her napping in the cot before she starts nursery to help it go smoother, but can't see how. She'll sometimes feed to sleep on me, but wakes on transfer in the day even though I can transfer her ok at night. Once I fed her to sleep on a travel cot mattress on the floor, maybe we'll have to do more of that. Sorry OP this is no help but I do empathise!

I came on to say the same as @FATEdestiny - it sounds like you're trying to get him to nap when he's overtired. Mine fell into a pattern of more fixed nap times around eight months, so one at 9.30 and one around 2ish. Is he on two or three naps now?

Thanks @chocopuffs, he's on 2 naps. I tried the set times today, 2 hrs after waking and 2-3 hrs after that. He put up a fight in his bouncy chair but eventually settled on me after 30 mins of tears. I don't think he'll ever be a cot napper! I'll definitely stick to the set times earlier than I was originally doing but still not sure about persevering with the bouncy chair, cot etc.

Thanks @FTMbg! I feel much better knowing that it's not just me and I do sympathise that you are going through it too! If we are out and about all day then napping is no problem at all as he's a great on the go napper but days at home are tough! Ditto with the feed to sleep, sometimes DS will do that too. Best of luck with your efforts, we can do this!