Wind-down time - what do you do???

[squigglywig]

If you have a wind-down time before naps etc. what do you actually do?? DD is 15 weeks and a really happy, playful baby which is grand - but it means she gets excited by EVERYTHING and so struggles to wind down for naps resulting in tears. Do I just accept that until she's a bit older she's going to cry before naps (I hold her hand, I don't leave her) or is there something that helps wee ones calm down?

I've tried cuddles, reading a story etc. but to no avail. Bedtime works really well with a bath, boob, bed set up - but I can't do that in the middle of the day!!

Squigglywig

I don't have any answer except to say that I have the same problem! My DS is 16 weeks old and cries a lot before going to sleep in the day - he is also very alert and very active so it's hard to get him to calm down.

Hopefully someone else will come along with some advice!

I think 15 weeks is very young to have many expectations of how effectively a wind down will work. But you can still go ahead with it, as it is all storing up a little routine that eventually more than likely will calm her down ready for sleep. If I remember rightly (DS is 3 now) we used to give him a bath, then massage with a little bit of oil and get PJs on with low lights and soft music. Then feed, then bed.

Hmmm. I was out this afternoon and they recommended this

Any experience with it anyone?

We bought this at 5 months when it was no longer safe to use the mobile and it was working like a dream until this week (7.5 months) when DD has decided that she doesn't seem to need to sleep in the day and just screams over it . Watch out for my 'how do I get my DD to sleep in the day again?' thread coming v. soon . When she is prepared to go down for a nap and at night, I find that it distracts her from the fact that she has been put down in the cot to sleep and 99% of the time she's gone to sleep before it switches itself off after 10 mins. Only downside is that there is no volume switch and sometimes it would be nice to have the light show on without the music. Not sure if there are any better ones out there but definitely recommend the concept of them.

Thanks PorridgeBrain (love the name btw). I saw them on sale yesterday so may well pop in and get one then to try.

Thanks!