Tell me about naptime

[Deleted]

I am full of questions this week...please tell me your naptime routines!!

LO naps well at daycare, and lately, pretty crappy at home. We are trying to transition out of the RnP because she is too tall.  Our attempts at crib naps have not been successful. If I put her down asleep, she pops up 10 minutes later fussing. If I put her down drowsy, she wakes up and just lays in there talking/playing with the sleep sack.  The only naps longer than 15 minutes are when she falls asleep nursing and I just hold her.  I'm running out of ideas here.  I'm thinking about putting room darkening shades in the nursery? Anyone tried that?

[redhorizon343]

Following! (Sorry, no advice. My best naps come from driving the baby around and then coming home and putting the car seat in the crib. Not the solution you're looking for, I'm sure!)

[weeklyplanner]

Welcome to the dark side...we got here around early December. I've tried everything, even the shades. LO simply won't nap unless he's held. Even when held its usually only 30-40 min before he literally POPS up wide awake and is smiling and babbling. I'm going with the notion that they are only little once, so if this is what he needs then I'll do it. Also, I just can't bring myself to nap train until he naps longer than 40 min. All that effort and so little nap...

[tatorhead328]

We trick mine into long naps by putting him in his bear suits. We have several because they're magical cuddly nap machines. Other than that, we also let him nap in his PnP in the living room, so that he can hear our voices and the sound of the tv / dogs / house stuff. I think it helps him feel less alone and at the same time, gets him used to sleeping in a crib-like setting.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2015 16:16:12 GMT -5 tatorhead328 said:

We trick mine into long naps by putting him in his bear suits. We have several because they're magical cuddly nap machines. Other than that, we also let him nap in his PnP in the living room, so that he can hear our voices and the sound of the tv / dogs / house stuff. I think it helps him feel less alone and at the same time, gets him used to sleeping in a crib-like setting.

Tell me about these bear suits. Are they like the Magic Merlin sleep suit? She sleeps at night in that, maybe i should give that a try.  It's just kind of hard to rock/bounce her in the suit.

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2015 16:12:36 GMT -5 redhorizon343 said:

Following! (Sorry, no advice. My best naps come from driving the baby around and then coming home and putting the car seat in the crib. Not the solution you're looking for, I'm sure!)

Today our only decent nap happened in the car! I was tempted to just get on the highway and drive for an hour.

[tatorhead328]

Feb 13, 2015 16:44:35 GMT -5 @bazi45 said:

Feb 13, 2015 16:16:12 GMT -5 tatorhead328 said:

We trick mine into long naps by putting him in his bear suits. We have several because they're magical cuddly nap machines. Other than that, we also let him nap in his PnP in the living room, so that he can hear our voices and the sound of the tv / dogs / house stuff. I think it helps him feel less alone and at the same time, gets him used to sleeping in a crib-like setting.

Tell me about these bear suits. Are they like the Magic Merlin sleep suit? She sleeps at night in that, maybe i should give that a try.  It's just kind of hard to rock/bounce her in the suit.

I just looked up the Magic Merlin suits (lol, the google images are cracking me up), and yes it is similar to that! We got our brown bear suit from Carter's (www.findnsave.com/offer/Carters-Newborn-Boys-Pram-Suit-Bear/44503726/) and we also have a white one from Target (www.target.com/p/just-one-you-made-by-carter-s-newborn-bear-pram-white/-/A-15267745). The cuddly-ness of the suits puts him out for very long periods of time!

[missgrace2003]

It took us a while to get good naps. We went cold turkey out of the RnP and swaddle, so naps (and all sleep) were pretty much crap for a while. But she finally adjusted and sleeps well now, especially now that she rolls over onto her stomach. We'd be doing really well if we could just get her to lose the paci, but at least she sleeps, so I'll fight that later.

[bkroxfan003]

DD takes naps in the swing but I'm trying to transition her to the crib since she's going to grow out of it soon. It helps if she falls asleep nursing and then I can just put her down in bed, but that doesn't always work out.

[daisylola11]

We are also in the hold for naps camp although I did start putting him in his crib about a month ago by sleep training. Kinda with the Ferber method but adjusted for us. Every once in a while I'll hold him, but he can also sleep in the crib. The length varies a lot, anywhere between 30min-1.5 hrs.

[Deleted]

My LO will nap pretty good. Sometimes he needs rocked to sleep for a nap but that's usually only 2 or 3 times a week. I start looking for tired signs about 1.5 to 2 hrs after waking up from sleep/nap. When he starts getting cranky I know it's time. I generally put him in a sleep sack and swaddle him with his arms out. Next I place him in the crib with his pacifier. I will start the white noise and projector thing and watch him to see if he goes to sleep right away. Sometimes he goes right to sleep but most of the time he will "fidget" with his paci for a few minutes. If he fidgets I put my hand on his chest and hold it there to calm him. Sometimes I have to hold down his arms too. If he is still fidgety I will start shushing. Usually the holding down and shushing work, although sometimes I have to do it for ~2 or 3 minutes which seems like a long time when you are doing it. If he gets fussy I will rock him to sleep and put him in the crib as soon as he starts the still, heavy breathing of sleep.

Often he will sleep 2 hours uninterrupted but sometimes he will wake up ~45min. If he wakes after ~45 minutes I always go in an put the paci back in and try to do the hand on chest and shushing. If he doesn't go back to sleep then we get up and eat. Most of the time he will go back to sleep.

It is important to note that I am an EPer and don't nurse my son. He usually only eats ~5 times a day.

[weeklyplanner]

Feb 13, 2015 20:48:36 GMT -5 @lizziebennett said:

My LO will nap pretty good. Sometimes he needs rocked to sleep for a nap but that's usually only 2 or 3 times a week. I start looking for tired signs about 1.5 to 2 hrs after waking up from sleep/nap. When he starts getting cranky I know it's time. I generally put him in a sleep sack and swaddle him with his arms out. Next I place him in the crib with his pacifier. I will start the white noise and projector thing and watch him to see if he goes to sleep right away. Sometimes he goes right to sleep but most of the time he will "fidget" with his paci for a few minutes. If he fidgets I put my hand on his chest and hold it there to calm him. Sometimes I have to hold down his arms too. If he is still fidgety I will start shushing. Usually the holding down and shushing work, although sometimes I have to do it for ~2 or 3 minutes which seems like a long time when you are doing it. If he gets fussy I will rock him to sleep and put him in the crib as soon as he starts the still, heavy breathing of sleep.

Often he will sleep 2 hours uninterrupted but sometimes he will wake up ~45min. If he wakes after ~45 minutes I always go in an put the paci back in and try to do the hand on chest and shushing. If he doesn't go back to sleep then we get up and eat. Most of the time he will go back to sleep.

It is important to note that I am an EPer and don't nurse my son. He usually only eats ~5 times a day.

I have done all of this (except for exclusively pumped, but I never nurse to sleep). I probably dedicated about 2 months of my life establishing a strong nap routine and nothing....my kid just won't nap unless he's held and it's never longer than 40 min. He will actually go 7-8 hours before crashing and screaming (tried that too). So OP, I say all of this to say, some babies just struggle with naps. I'm lucky that my LO sleeps 12 hours a night for many months now. Just like some have nappers that wake multiple times a night. I think there are tips and tricks, but nothing is going to change who your baby is!

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2015 21:37:26 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

Feb 13, 2015 20:48:36 GMT -5 @lizziebennett said:

My LO will nap pretty good. Sometimes he needs rocked to sleep for a nap but that's usually only 2 or 3 times a week. I start looking for tired signs about 1.5 to 2 hrs after waking up from sleep/nap. When he starts getting cranky I know it's time. I generally put him in a sleep sack and swaddle him with his arms out. Next I place him in the crib with his pacifier. I will start the white noise and projector thing and watch him to see if he goes to sleep right away. Sometimes he goes right to sleep but most of the time he will "fidget" with his paci for a few minutes. If he fidgets I put my hand on his chest and hold it there to calm him. Sometimes I have to hold down his arms too. If he is still fidgety I will start shushing. Usually the holding down and shushing work, although sometimes I have to do it for ~2 or 3 minutes which seems like a long time when you are doing it. If he gets fussy I will rock him to sleep and put him in the crib as soon as he starts the still, heavy breathing of sleep.

Often he will sleep 2 hours uninterrupted but sometimes he will wake up ~45min. If he wakes after ~45 minutes I always go in an put the paci back in and try to do the hand on chest and shushing. If he doesn't go back to sleep then we get up and eat. Most of the time he will go back to sleep.

It is important to note that I am an EPer and don't nurse my son. He usually only eats ~5 times a day.

I have done all of this (except for exclusively pumped, but I never nurse to sleep). I probably dedicated about 2 months of my life establishing a strong nap routine and nothing....my kid just won't nap unless he's held and it's never longer than 40 min. He will actually go 7-8 hours before crashing and screaming (tried that too). So OP, I say all of this to say, some babies just struggle with naps. I'm lucky that my LO sleeps 12 hours a night for many months now. Just like some have nappers that wake multiple times a night. I think there are tips and tricks, but nothing is going to change who your baby is!

I agree, I was just giving my routine.  I am lucky my DS naps well....for now.  Never said anything about changing who baby is?

[weeklyplanner]

Feb 13, 2015 21:40:59 GMT -5 @lizziebennett said:

Feb 13, 2015 21:37:26 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

I have done all of this (except for exclusively pumped, but I never nurse to sleep). I probably dedicated about 2 months of my life establishing a strong nap routine and nothing....my kid just won't nap unless he's held and it's never longer than 40 min. He will actually go 7-8 hours before crashing and screaming (tried that too). So OP, I say all of this to say, some babies just struggle with naps. I'm lucky that my LO sleeps 12 hours a night for many months now. Just like some have nappers that wake multiple times a night. I think there are tips and tricks, but nothing is going to change who your baby is!

I agree, I was just giving my routine.  I am lucky my DS naps well....for now.  Never said anything about changing who baby is?

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across like you said that. I was just giving the OP some advice that even with trying all of the tips, the baby may still just stink at naps. Some STMs on A14 told me this same advice when lo was about 6 weeks old and I still tortured myself for months trying all these nap tips/routines with zero change in his napping. I just regret wasting so much time because we are both happier giving into the fact that crap naps in my arms is the best we are going to get! Hopefully that makes more sense...it's early here and I haven't had my coffee yet!

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2015 7:43:33 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

Feb 13, 2015 21:40:59 GMT -5 @lizziebennett said:

I agree, I was just giving my routine.  I am lucky my DS naps well....for now.  Never said anything about changing who baby is?

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across like you said that. I was just giving the OP some advice that even with trying all of the tips, the baby may still just stink at naps. Some STMs on A14 told me this same advice when lo was about 6 weeks old and I still tortured myself for months trying all these nap tips/routines with zero change in his napping. I just regret wasting so much time because we are both happier giving into the fact that crap naps in my arms is the best we are going to get! Hopefully that makes more sense...it's early here and I haven't had my coffee yet!

I asked because she used to be a great napper in the RnP, and still takes pretty good naps at daycare. It's just at home we seem to have problems. I asked the daycare ladies and they aren't doing anything different than me really. I guess she just loves all the commotion at daycare?

[sosayweall]

I have a 30 min napper(both for me and for DC) and I am intrigued by these bear suit naps. Does anyone who does this have a tummy sleeper? I guess I would be a little worried about the hood of the bear suit covering his face if he rolls onto his tummy.

[roccobabyk]

Feb 14, 2015 9:24:47 GMT -5 @bazi45 said:

Feb 14, 2015 7:43:33 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across like you said that. I was just giving the OP some advice that even with trying all of the tips, the baby may still just stink at naps. Some STMs on A14 told me this same advice when lo was about 6 weeks old and I still tortured myself for months trying all these nap tips/routines with zero change in his napping. I just regret wasting so much time because we are both happier giving into the fact that crap naps in my arms is the best we are going to get! Hopefully that makes more sense...it's early here and I haven't had my coffee yet!

I asked because she used to be a great napper in the RnP, and still takes pretty good naps at daycare. It's just at home we seem to have problems. I asked the daycare ladies and they aren't doing anything different than me really. I guess she just loves all the commotion at daycare?

DD will nap effortlessly for anyone else. When I have to work and she's at the babysitter's they tell me they lay her down and she puts herself to sleep. She rarely does this for me. I'm going to call it the daycare phenomenon. 

[shevacc]

Oh yes, daycare ladies definitely have a special sort of nap magic about them. DD still naps best at daycare and DS naps in his crib for our nanny. On weekends DS usually nurses to sleep next to me in my bed for naps.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2015 7:43:33 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

Feb 13, 2015 21:40:59 GMT -5 @lizziebennett said:

I agree, I was just giving my routine.  I am lucky my DS naps well....for now.  Never said anything about changing who baby is?

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across like you said that. I was just giving the OP some advice that even with trying all of the tips, the baby may still just stink at naps. Some STMs on A14 told me this same advice when lo was about 6 weeks old and I still tortured myself for months trying all these nap tips/routines with zero change in his napping. I just regret wasting so much time because we are both happier giving into the fact that crap naps in my arms is the best we are going to get! Hopefully that makes more sense...it's early here and I haven't had my coffee yet!

It's all good. I was worried my post came across wrong. Like I know it all or something, which I don't. You are doing great, your lo is healthy and happy.

[inaya]

My mom watches her on the days I work, and sometimes - not always - can put her down awake and she'll put herself to sleep and take a 2 hour nap. She NEVER does that for me at home. She wants to nurse to sleep and be held. About half the time I can transfer her to her crib after she falls asleep but the other times I just have to hold her. I've seen her wake at night and fall back to sleep on the video monitor, so I know she can do it. I just figure she needs my cuddles or whatever and this won't last forever. I've tried a tiny bit of CIO and it's definitely not for us. Sorry I don't have any helpful advice but I have lots of sympathy!

[Deleted]

Just to update...today we tried the sleepsuit for naps. She basically nursed to sleep, 20 min in crib. Woke up and H bounced her for a few minutes, and she slept for another half hour. So success...sort of? I guess sleepsuit is the way to go for us.

[weeklyplanner]

Feb 14, 2015 18:42:20 GMT -5 @bazi45 said:

Just to update...today we tried the sleepsuit for naps. She basically nursed to sleep, 20 min in crib. Woke up and H bounced her for a few minutes, and she slept for another half hour. So success...sort of? I guess sleepsuit is the way to go for us.

I've seriously contemplated buying one of those suits for naps.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2015 18:49:18 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

Feb 14, 2015 18:42:20 GMT -5 @bazi45 said:

Just to update...today we tried the sleepsuit for naps. She basically nursed to sleep, 20 min in crib. Woke up and H bounced her for a few minutes, and she slept for another half hour. So success...sort of? I guess sleepsuit is the way to go for us.

I've seriously contemplated buying one of those suits for naps.

DO IT. Honestly I'm one of those weird people who proselytizes for Magic Merlin. Our transition from swaddle was practically seamless and we didn't have any sleep problems at 4 months. I attribute it all to Merlin.

[fyoubumpmay]

Just bought me a Merlin. I'm hoping it'll help us transition out of the swaddle, because going cold turkey hasn't been working.

[sweetpies]

@bazi45, have you tried putting LO on their side, or tummy to sleep? When we used the Merlin Sleep Suit, I used it for night time and naps. It really made a difference, and DS could nap for 2 hours at a time. Also, when DS was initially having trouble sleeping in his PNP, we would put a heating pad down to warm up the mattress before we laid him down.

[sosayweall]

Do you guys think a Merlin suit would work for a baby who is highly mobile? I thought about getting one for naps, but I think he might be too strong for it. He'll roll across the room like 10x like it's nothing.

[Deleted]

Feb 15, 2015 14:25:15 GMT -5 sweetpies said:

@bazi45, have you tried putting LO on their side, or tummy to sleep? When we used the Merlin Sleep Suit, I used it for night time and naps. It really made a difference, and DS could nap for 2 hours at a time. Also, when DS was initially having trouble sleeping in his PNP, we would put a heating pad down to warm up the mattress before we laid him down.

She's not really a tummy sleeper. sometimes she rolls onto her side, and then immediately wakes up. We are also battling a cold this weekend, so naps are especially tough right now. But I think Merlin for naps is going to be our method, we are making progress.

[Deleted]

Feb 15, 2015 14:44:56 GMT -5 sosayweall said:

Do you guys think a Merlin suit would work for a baby who is highly mobile? I thought about getting one for naps, but I think he might be too strong for it. He'll roll across the room like 10x like it's nothing.

Merlin definitely muffles the movements. If he's hellbent on moving it might not stop him, but definitely could slow him down. Worth a shot....check out Amazons return policy. Maybe you can try and return?

[tatorhead328]

Feb 14, 2015 9:36:11 GMT -5 sosayweall said:

I have a 30 min napper(both for me and for DC) and I am intrigued by these bear suit naps. Does anyone who does this have a tummy sleeper? I guess I would be a little worried about the hood of the bear suit covering his face if he rolls onto his tummy.

Mine is mostly a back sleeper. We occasionally put him down on his tummy for naps in the bear suit, but only when he's in the PnP in the living room and we're right there. I think he would be fine, but I also don't want to risk it.

[robinbird]

I have a terrible napper. DS won't even nap for more than 30 min at daycare, and if he's there all day, he'll usually only take 2 30 min naps. I usually only have success when I either hold him or lay with him.

Today, he wouldn't even lay with me. We got up around 8:30, and I couldn't get him down for a nap until after 1:15. He started to look tired around 10, and I tried SO many things to get him to nap. I kept giving up and letting him play some more, but he kept fussing. Finally, around 12:30 I stuck him in the crib and turned on his music. That little guy wiggled around and fussed off an on for an hour before he finally looked like he might fall asleep. I patted him on the butt for a little bit when it looked like he was close, and he finally fell asleep (on his belly). He's been asleep in his crib for 15 min so far, but I don't know how long it will last. I have my fingers crossed.