Help me help my baby nap safely!

[LaTrucha]

DD is 13 months old. I've always fed her to sleep for naps, apart from one period several months ago when I began to settle her in her cot at home. I can't do this anymore because we are currently staying with relatives for 6 months. I can't remember how I got her to settle in the cot at home. Probably, I fed her until very sleepy and then rocked her with my hand on her tummy.

I need not to feed her to sleep any more because when I do, she sleeps on our bed. Several times recently, she has almost fallen off the bed in her sleep, so I need to get her to nap in her cot.

I've tried the strategy of feeding to sleep and then sneaking her in. I've tried feeding her unitl very sleepy and then rocking her. I've tried sitting next to her while she screams her head off self settles.

All result in hyseterical crying.

She settles by herself at night. She has never been hysterical at night.

What can I do to help her sleep in her cot so she's safe?

you could try letting her sleep in your bed, but bolster the sides of the bed with pillows, or put pillows on the floor so if she does fall off, she has a soft landing.

Are you bfing? If not, you could give her the bottle to hold herself while she's in her cot, and you sit with her until she has finished then remove the bottle. Do not leave her on her own if you do this

Yes, I'm bf. Unfortunately the cot is much too small for me to creep in, or I would!

My problem with your idea - which is a good one, is that we're sleeping in two single beds latched together so there is a gap between the mattresses in the middle. One time I found her in the gap, fortunately face up.

I just couldn't bear it this morning and have sat next to her doing Spanish grammar exercises for two hours. My brain is exploding!

bump (hopefully not on the floor)

LaT does she have to go in cot for daytime naps ? Would she settle better in pushchair ?

What do you differently at night time ?

LaT, I have the same issue with my dd who is 16 months old. She goes down awake beautifully at night (usually with DH). In the day it is a nightmare, I can only get her to go to sleep without crying if I take her out in the car or buggy which is not always an option as I have 2 other dc's in the school holidays. Today she shouted her head off when I tried to settle her after a LONG bf and I am feeling very guilty, but I had to get lunch for my boys. She is now finally asleep!

This is basically a very long BUMP for more advice from someone else!!!

Yes, I second what Lilyloo says - is there anywhere else she could nap safely? My DS tends to have daytime naps in his bouncer as he likes the movement to help him get off to sleep (though he also naps in his buggy, the sling, his carseat - though I don't like him sleeping in here and only let him if he is asleep when we get back from driving somewhere - and sometimes on a blanket on the floor.)

He is 4 months though so doesn't need much routine for sleeping, just drops off when he is tired.

Also how many naps does she have now ?
She may be ready to move to one longer nap and not necessarily tired enough for two ? (if thats the case)

She was moving to one longer nap but seems to have gone right back. I'm sure she'll change again soon.

She doesn't seem to like going to sleep in her new Spanish pushchair - the old one is at home in Wales. At 13 months, I don't fancy carrying her in a sling once a day for a nap.

Hmmm .. sorry to just push back your suggestions!

DD3 sleeps in our bed, we have bedside cot at one side and put pillows around the other.

At your DD's age I would settle in cot, I remember having to do this with DD1 and 2 and if they are really sleepy in the afternoon it was quite easy for them to go to sleep in a cot.

Wait until she is sleepy, feed, then put down, give her a special sleep toy, close the door and give her 5 minutes, I'm not a fan of CC btw but sometimes they just need a little grizzle before they get off to sleep. If you do it at the same time every day chances are she will be ready for a nap so go down no problem.

Or what about a travel cot, DD1 slept in one for naps until she was 15 months?

Marla - she won't nap in the puschair. The closest we've coem is her screaming for half an hour then ducking into a cafe for her to fall asleep in our arms. A bed guard is a good idea, but doesn't solve the gap in the middle of the bed problem. Thanks anyway! Don't tell me they stop napping!

Sweet Kitty - I thikn you might be right and I also think that in a few days or weeks she will go for one nap a day. She was just changing when we came here. I suspect you're right, she just got so hysterical this morning. I think that will calm if she's really tired and just has one nap.

If desperate, what happens if you put the cot mattress on the floor, and lie down next to her that way?

My PILs will look at me very strangely!

Though I am tempted.

My MIL says none of her five children ever cried. Is anyone else at this?

LaT definately not shocked am sure her children did 'cry' and if not i would be at that.

How is she if you keep her up so she can have a sleep in the afternoon. I just think if she is really tired she may give in a little easier ?

latrrucha
i am currently using a technique with my 5 month old from the no cry sleep solution by elizabeth pantley - it is begiinnning ot work
wii have a search see if i cbn find it online - ifnot i will type it out tomoorrow

For the gap in the bed, get a fitted sheet (king size or superking size if needs be) and wrap it round the TWO mattresses thereby covering up the gap IYSWIM?

Move the beds so one is by the wall (put a pillow or roll up a duvet so she cannot get trapped between wall and bed, bed guard on other side.

Mattresses on the floor, another option?

I think one nap for a 13 mo would be fine, if she's had an active morning, you should be able to see her getting tired and get her up for a nap.

Both my older 2 fed to sleep, then when they dropped their daytime feeds, just went to sleep without much fuss during the day.

Nice quiet dark room, into cot with a comforter, if they are tired they should sleep (fingers crossed)

\link{http://babyparenting.about.com/od/sleeping/a/nightfeed_2.htm\pantley gentle removal plan]

then accompany with.......

pantley removal

link{http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=i0ZplWJ3Qf4C&pg=PA147&lpg=PA149&ots=Bs-UWZkidJ&dq=pantley+ph ase+1\start reading at pg147

gosh the whole book is here....

start reading at pg147

the whole book is here...

\linkbooks.google.co.uk/books?id=i0ZplWJ3Qf4C&pg=PA126&lpg=PA149&ots=Bs-UWZkidJ&dq=pantley+ph ase+1\pantley gentle removal plan in the actual book}

man
i need to get with it and learn the new way of doing links

here

Fab links. Thanks Popsycal.

SweetKitty - I think I'm going to try and push her gently towards one nap again. The sheet is a good idea. I'll moot it with DH.

could you stuff the gap with a rolled up towel?

I've put somethig over it today. WE're working on the sheet!