How to Get a Baby to Nap??

Try keeping her busy early in the day. Also it helps to be consistent, ie. always putting her down in her crib for naps at the same time each day.

Hi Eleanor:

It may be an overactiveness within her body due to a variety of things, i.e. too much sugar. Are you breast or bottle feeding? If breast, is your diet high in sugar? This would transfer into the breastmilk and affect baby. I would need more information to fully assist you.

Please feel free to consult with my office. We would be happy to assist you.

My best,
N.
Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
www.wholecreations.com/wombfull.html
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My son is 2 1/2 and he is still a challenge to get to nap. I have found that keeping him up and allowing him to be very active makes for a better nap. I also have a sound machine that makes for a constant sound in his room (we live in a small house with thin walls and he is a light sleeper). Changing any routine usually takes about 2 weeks so be prepared. My son is in daycare all week so I only have to do naps with him on the weekend however my daycare provider has told me she also has a hard time getting him down. I also keep the same schedule everyday... no matter where we are.

Sounds to me like she is ready for one nap per day, not two. Try a nap right after an early lunch so she is full and sleepy.

I know people will gasp, but I did CIO (cry it out) with both of my kids. If I knew they were exhausted and NEEDED a nap, I would use CIO. I'm sure someone will say not to use it, but that is what worked for our kids and they are perfectly healthy.

Good luck!

I agree on moving to one nap later in the day. I also put books in my son's crib - so even if he's not sleeping, he will sometimes sit and "read" his books in the crib (quiet time). He's is two now, a little older than your daughter, but have been doing this for a while now and its works.

Good luck.

Does she fuss when she is down but not sleeping? I had one of my three who liked being in her crib. So when it was time for her nap, I put her down and let her be awake or sleep. She was safe and happy and I got things done. Our moms had 'playpens' when we were little and it was exactly that - a crib they put us in to contain us and learn to play on our own so they could get thing done!

Hi, I had a similar problem until 2 weeks ago I tried something new and it's working WONDERFULLY. I give her naps in her stroller: I put her in the stroller, canopy all the way down, then I put a blanket over the canopy down to her feet so she is "cocooned" (like the womb?) and it blocks out most of the light though I can still see her through the window on top pf the canopy. Then I rock the stroller back and forth. It has been working SO great for me. She's been falling asleep in 5 minutes. I also put on a 'special' lullaby CD that my LO listens to only during nap time (a CD I tried out just for this). My LO took 2 hour and a half naps today!! Hope this works. Give it a try. Good luck. -pam ____@____.com

Don't give the first nap.. Keep him or her awake.. Until about 1 .. Then put down to sleep. I had the same thing.. My little girl would take two or three 15 - 20 minute naps.. I finally cut them all out kept her up till about 1 orr even 2.. And she would sleep maybe an hour.. But sometimes 2!!! Woo hoo. I was happy when it was 2.. Good luck

How or where do you put her to nap?
Some babies/kids simply do not nap well if on for road for example or in their stroller etc. My kids were/are like that. They will only nap at home, in their bed/crib.

Some babies also need absolutely no noise when they nap, or (for my son), I put on some white noise to drown out the house noises, even a toilet flushing.

Also, if you are not already, do the SAME pre-nap routine every single day. The regularity of it, helps the baby/child to get into the routine, daily.

Or, some babies cat nap... but not that that is enough for the baby.

Also, some babies toss/turn/make noises as they sleep or have intermittent "wakings" while they sleep.... BUT they are NOT fully awake... just in a drowsy state. So if you don't interfere in that, and perhaps just let her be... she may go back to sleep, on her own. So you can also try that. Not ALL "wakings" or noises as they sleep, requires us to wake them further or to get them. My son, would do that... but it was his "pattern" and then he'd fall back asleep. BUT, if he saw me or if I went to look at him... and he saw me, he'd just STAY awake, for example. This is not him crying/screaming.... just normal noises as he slept, or tossing and turning.

And, sometimes they need an actual "wind-down" time, before nap.... to key them down. OR, if the child is "over-tired"... the baby has a hard time falling asleep AND staying asleep too. Over-stimulation or over-tiredness, actually prevents them from getting a good nap/sleep at night.

For me, it can take about 1/2 hour PRE-nap... for my kids to wind-down before a nap. Then, they need to actually fall asleep... which can take time too.

What time does she nap? At this age, 2 naps is good. Here is a link: http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-chil...

Perhaps, adjusting the time of when you put her to nap?

All the best,
Susan