why is daytime napping so different from night sleep?

[glimmer]

DS (16)is a terrible napper/ daytime sleeper. We watch for signs, time sleep cycles, resettle, pram, sling, pat, sush and dummy and just barely manage to prevent him being constantly overtired. When it comes to the worst as today , I put him in a sling and walk for around for two hours.
At night, I just put him in his cot and he falls asleep. Why is it such a battle during the day and so easy at night?
Well, I am obviously very, very thankful that it is this way around, but I just wondered....
What are your experiences?

16 weeks !

i was gonna say...16!!

My dd2 was a cat napper. The only naps I would be guaranteed she would have was if we planned a day trip out (she would sleep all day) or she used to get quite upset about 4pm and I would put her in the pram for a walk, she would sleep for maybe 45 minutes, mind you she didnt sleep at night either, neither of my kids did.

lol!! i was thinking that too!!!

Mine's the other way round actually. DD who is almost 16 weeks (not years!) will fall asleep at the drop of a hat during the day but we always end up having "dummy issues" in the evening. might be something to do with her knowing that i'm there next to her during the day (she naps downstairs) but at night she gets a bit lonely??

As for your DS, glimmer, it could be that there's too much going on around him and he's uber nosey??

Have you tried putting him in his room during the day with the curtains closed and a music box that projects light onto the ceiling, both of mine had one and it made a difference. In fact on the odd occasion where I have slept with them the music box has put me to sleep too.

Sorry for the omission of "weeks" - didnt want to mislead everybody!

Hmm - I had given up on the hope that there might be solutions, but this magic musicbox, Sinqyswife, makes me wonder. Would you have a link for one? Might just try it for myself!

RGargy - yes, son's uber nosey :-) - how did you know?
I think part is that he is afraid he is missing something / left behind when he is sleeping. So, the last thing he wants is to be in a quite room on his own if this makes sense. One of the few occasions, where he just fell asleep during the day was in groups with many people/babies. He just observed everybody, became quiet and dozed off. But if we are quiet and try to settle him, he starts to scream! And yes, he is tired!!!

glimmer, DD does this alot too. In a room full of people she will do lots of people watching and then becomes a little tetchy so i snuggle her in to me and she goes to sleep. Perhaps let him sleep on the sofa next to you or something??