Hi,
My 9 (almost 10) month old daughter just started sleeping in her crib. It took her a while to get used to her crib but now she is great... goes to sleep around 9 and sleeps until about 9 a.m. However, she absolutely will not sleep in her crib for her afternoon nap. She will cry, and cry and cry until almost 2 hours have passed and her nap time is over (our doctor said not to let her sleep past 4 p.m. in order to keep her nightly schedule). I tried the cry-it-out method (which is how we got her to sleep in her crib at night) but she cried for a straight week for almost 2 hours. I ended up just letting her sleep in our bed or on the couch but I'm so worried that she'll roll over so I end up stuck next to her until she gets up. Help! Any suggestions are appreciated. (P.S. We just moved here so I'm trying to be a little flexible with her b/c so much is going on with the move and we were visiting family for the holidays, etc...). Thanks so much!
We are reading the "No Cry Sleep Solution" and I think it would be so helpful to you - no crying it out and it works!
Hi R.. I am D. and I live in Farmington. I grew up here. I have an almost 2 year old and he hardly has ever slept in his crib. When he was your daughter's age I gave up and let him sleep in my bed during naps and at night. This is mainly b/c it doesn't bother my husband and I and I have never been able to let him cry. I wouldn't worry unless it is bothering you. My son finally started sleeping in his room in Sept when we turned his crib into a big boy bed.
Hi R.,
One idea may be to try and move back her bedtime to around 7PM so that she would wake up earlier in the day. I might try putting her to bed a half hour earlier for a few days until you reached the earlier time. It may take a few weeks. I suggest because, perhaps she just isn't tired enough in the afternoon since she sleeps in until 9? Just an idea. Is she taking a morning nap as well? I know it sounds contrary to what you may think, but for my daughter, I found that sleep encourages sleep. She's now 20 months old, and doesn't need the morning nap. But, when she did need it, I knew that if she had a good nap in the morning, she would have one in the afternoon as well. I think some babies get so overtired that they actually have trouble falling asleep. All are different, but this is what worked for me. I wish you all the best.
Does she take a morning nap in her crib? What time does she go down and get up? Is she cranky when you take her out for those 5 hours before she goes to bed? If not then I'd say she doesn't need that afternoon nap. She's getting a good solid 12 hour sleep at night which is great. Sometimes as they get older nap times need to be adjusted. Both of my daughters (now 9 and 6) stopped taking an afternoon nap by the time they were 1 because they wouldn't go to bed at a decent time. Actually they were both done with naps completely by the time they were 2. I preferred sleeping at night and not fighting with them for bed time over naps during the day. Now my son (14 months old) doesn't sleep as well as his sisters did. He doesn't always get an afternoon nap, but if he doesn't then he's very cranky by 6 or 7 at night. Every child is different though. If the afternoon nap isn't working for your daughter, then you might want to consider taking it out.
M.
Hi, R.,
Have you tried the pack-n-play? maybe putting it in your room first?
I know what it's like to go through the cry-it-out method--it's so hard!
My son is more picky about naps, too. Best of luck to you--know that we're all out here pulling for you and going through similar stuff!
Best,
L.
Will she sleep in your bed without you?
If so, they make things so the baby will not roll out of bed. You can get some of these at www.onestepahead.com.
Does she have a pack and play that she likes? She might sleep in that in your room or living room instead?
Only other thing, is maybe the smell of the couch or your bed it what she likes. You can wear a small blanket for a day and give her that to sleep with, and maybe then she will sleep in her crib. They make ones just for this reason, and are called silkies. You can get them at Babies R US and are made by Prince LionHeart.
GOOD LUCK!
What about a special sleeping bag and a pillow on the floor for nap? My daughters (all 3) refuse naps in there cribs. We set up the play room with sleeping mats and there special napping pillows. This way it doesn't feel like they are going to miss out on something, like they would if put away in there crib.
Mom of 3 girls and one one the way IN Auburn.
Hi R.,
Consider yourself lucky she is sleeping in her crib through the night and for 12 hours, wow! Kudos to you. I hope that does not change for you (but it probably will as they grow, teeth, etc.).
Nap time does not necessarily need to be in the crib. Have you thought of setting up a little bed on the floor, somewhere safe she can nap? Things seems to change constantly and she may eventually enjoy napping in her crib. Keeping trying different things. Do you have a tv monitor? This works well for us if our son naps on our bed. You can put a bedrail on your bed if necessary.
We ended up using the carseat because she seemed to really like her "bundle me". I think she just prefers blankets & warmth. So hopefully that will work until she's old enough for blankets - doc says 1 year. (She is 7 1/2 months now).
Hello R.,
Have you considered trying an alternative basinet-like set-up in your living room or den or spare room or whatever for naps? There are no 'rules' I believe where the baby sleeps for naps...as long as they are safe and secure. Your daughter may find the sounds of you bustling around doing house chores soothing. Also, you could try a 'white noise' approach. It worked for me as a young mom with twins (and an 18 mo. old...) I used an old alarm clock, the type you wind up and it tick tick ticks and when the alarm goes off it is a low buzz/humming sound. I'd put it in the room with the girls and their little selves would sort of shudder for a moment as they heard the alarm, and then they would listen, and then when it was over and there was a 'tick tick tick' sound, they would quiet down and 'boom!' they were out for the count! I only had to do that for a few days/nights before they didn't need it at all, as there 'biological clocks' took over. Very sweet. The sound acts as a soothing distractor. Good luck with this. Let me know if it works for you;) Be Peace, N.
