My sweet boy sleeps great through the night but wont nap. He likes to be rocked to sleep, but we cant do that...we have a 2 year old too. I have heard numerous times to lay him down when he is drowsy...this doesnt work. I toughed it out for 2 weeks and his still didnt nap, he would cry when i laid him down and kept crying. i tried ferberizing also, that hasnt worked yet. he may be too young for that. I play soft music/white noise and still nothing...any ideas?
Thanks. my son is never cranky, even when tired, so I am greatful for that. Thanks for
encouraging me to keep doing what I'm doing, i think that is what I needed to hear.
Get a hot water bottle and fill it with warm water and place it next to the baby. The warmth from the bottle will make him think you are laying next to him.
Most parents underestimate the amount of sleep their child needs, so be sure to watch your child’s behavior for signs of insufficient sleep. Mom try reducing the nightly sleep your son gets, based on you saying he does sleep well through the night. Signs of sleep deprivation can range from the obvious — like fatigue — to more subtle problems with behavior and schoolwork.
Ask yourself:
* Does my child act sleepy during the day?
* Does my child get cranky and irritable in the late afternoon?
* Is it a battle to get my child out of bed in the morning?
* Is my child inattentive, impatient, hyperactive, or aggressive?
* Does my child have trouble focusing on schoolwork and other tasks?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider adjusting your child’s sleep or nap schedule. Remember that it may take several weeks to find a routine that ensures your child gets the rest he or she needs.
For toddlers and preschoolers, sticking to a naptime schedule can be more challenging. Though many do still love their nap, others don’t want to miss out on a minute of the action and will fight sleep even as their eyes are closing. With these children, let common sense prevail. Don’t let naptime become a battle — you can’t force your child to sleep, but you can insist on some quiet time. Let your child read books or play quietly in his or her room. Parents are often surprised by how quickly quiet time can lead to sleep time — but even if it doesn’t, at least your child is getting some much-needed rest. If your child has given up daytime naps, consider adjusting to an earlier bedtime. Talk to your doctor if you continue to have concerns about your child’s sleep.
Good Luck!
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You are so lucky to have your little one sleep through the night. You just don't know. Get a swing.Pop him n there and let the swing do the work. I Had to crank up a swing for my son to get him settled. let the swing do the rocking. and let him nap early in afternoon so it won't interfere withe the blessing of sleeping through the night. Good luck. J. Gordon
You could also experiment with the time you are trying to put him down. I think at that age mine was taking one about 2 hours after he got up and then again just after lunch. He may need just the one right before lunch. Also to get him used to taking a nap, you could first try to take a little drive int he car. It may work to put him to sleep.
Hi K.,
My son is now 9.5 months. He didn't nap during the day between 4 - 7 months. But he did sleep through the night. Now he still does and once he becomes more active, i.e crawling and trying to stand up our son takes at least 1 nap before lunch about an hour. Sometimes an afternoon nap.
Since he was born we play music for night time and nap time and it works. We just NOW started to give him his night time bottle, as he becomes sleeping we put him in his crib and we leave the room. Luckily there is very little sounds out of him. Do you have a routine set up?
We do play time, dinner, play time, bath, books, night time bottle then he knows its time to sleep. You have to be consistant which I'm sure you know. It works!
I don't know what is going on with those little guys at that age, but it seems like a lot of 6-9 month olds have nap issues--I know mine did. He isn't too young to cry it out or use the ferber method--you just have to be consistent. Commit yourself to one hour per naptime. Put him in his crib at naptime and use the ferber method for one hour. If he's not asleep at the end of the hour, forget it and move his 2nd nap a little earlier (repeat the process then). If he doesn't take a nap at all, put him to bed earlier and try again the next day. Eventually he'll get tired enough and get it. be tough--it's a hard thing to do, but you'll both be better for it when he gets the hang of it.
Just keep laying him down and let him cry. You didn't say how long you were letting him cry for before you went into his room or if you picking him up or not. Don't pick him up at all when he is laying down. Talk to him softly and no touching (you can start rubbing his head or back after you've been trying for a few days). Start out letting him cry for 5 mins at a time before you go in the room and 5 mins in between each visit. A few days later, extend that out to 10 mins and so on. And don't make your house so quiet you could hear a pin drop either. Otherwise you won't be able to move cause you'll wake the baby. My daughter's father and step-mom did that with their baby and they can't even talk on the phone or clean the house when he naps cause it will wake him up!
Good luck and stay consistant!!
S.
Can you put him in a sling or backsack and let him sleep that way? At least if he gets long enough, he won't be cranky and you can still kind of free up your hands for a bit.
J.
Dear K.,
In Kindermusik class we learned that relaxation is a learned skill. Maybe he just needs more practice. Parenting is not easy, huh?
You can find out more about Kindermusik at www.kindermusikwithsherry.com
