Window of opportunity

[Bena1]

I keep coming across this phrase 'window of opportunity' associated with sleep/naps where a baby should be put down to sleep as soon as one sees the first 'sleepy signs' (rubbing of eyes, yawning etc). Apparently this window of opportunity is very small and easy to miss. The theory doesn't seem to work in practice in my case or am I just not getting it. If I put my DS to sleep at his first rubbing of eyes or first yawn he just cries and it takes ages to get him to sleep - after which frankly I'm the one who needs the nap! Would greatly appreciate some advice on what this window of opportunity is. Is really the first yawn or rubbing of eyes? Is it different for every child? How tired should a baby be before you put them in their cot for a nap? On days I've put DS in with the first rubbing of eyes and I think it was too early and he's cried and cried and CRIED. On other days I've put him either just as he's about to sleep or a sleep and he's been fine (though today he woke up as soon as I put him down and didn't go back to sleep and cried and cried and CRIED!).

HELP!

you do what works!
some babies easily get overtired, and then find it hard to fall asleep... those are the ones who may need to be settled down before they reach the stage of being too tired

if it works for you to leave him til he is just ready to sleep then carry on doing that!

persoanlly i feed mine to sleep and then put them down asleep

I think it's different for all babies.

With DS, if I tried to put him down at the first signs of tiredness, he wouldn't settle. I had to let him get a bit over-tired. It actually helped if he got a bit wound up as I could calm him down, and down, and down, until he dropped off. If I let him get too tired though, it was harder to achieve.

Thanks for this ladies. It's all a bit confusing. Today I didn't even bother doing nap time in the cot. I was so exhausted. Just fed him to sleep and put him down side ways on the sofa. He slept for 40mins.