Trouble Getting 5 Month Old to Nap in Crib

ok, i am not going to say i know what i am talking about, but i do have two children, although they are harder to take care of now back then it was a breeze, sometimes you just have to let them cry. If you pick them up again and put them back in the swing it will just tell them it's ok I will do it your way. And let me tell you i really wish i was have started my oldest that way. He's 6 now and unfortunutly is very it's my way or the highway now. Just try to leave him there, checking on him every 10 minutes or so until he's asleep. It worked for my second child and he is way better behaved at 4 than my other age 6.

I am a big believer in CIO, but I just don't think CIO works for naps. If my kids would cry for 20-30 minutes at night at least they would sleep all night. But for a nap, it seemed like they spent as much time crying as they did sleeping and they were never refreshed from a nap that they cried for.

I am a big believer in routine though. If I were you I would establish a nap routine. He may not seem sleepy at the same time everyday, but his sleep patterns will adjust to the schedule in a few days or a week. I just learned this recently, but in the evening, if you keep a consistent bedtime, your blood pressure actually drops in expectation of sleep. If you keep a consistent bedtime it will be easier for you to go to sleep at that time every day. If your bedtime is inconsistent by more than an hour or so your body can't tell when it is time to go to sleep resulting in a tougher bedtime.
I know this is true for adults, but I don't think it is a big leap for kids. My kids nap at the same time everyday, and they usually don't fuss (my toddler fusses now, but he doesn't really need a nap anymore)

I feel like it can take about 3-5 months for a pattern in sleep to develop for a newborn. But you are right at the time when you can start guiding him to a good schedule. That is what your daycare will do for him. They can get a kid on a schedule in a week.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule. This too shall pass. Even if you did nothing it would probably get better on it's own because he is getting to be the right age for a consistent schedule.

Good Luck!

A soother helped get my daughter to nap in her crib. I had a Baby Einstein aquarium soother but I don't think they sell it anymore. I found this one on BabiesRUs.com: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3605675 . Also, start a nap time routine. Maybe read a few books in a quiet place? That way he'll know it's time to sleep.

Take it from me, I know how hard it is to let your baby cry it out. But you HAVE to!! I have twin identical girls, they are 10 months old now. My husband started breaking them of napping in the swings when they were just about 6 months old. It was very hard for me to let them cry in the nursery in their cribs, but I learned that you just have to do it. He will get used to sleeping in the crib, trust me! You just have to put him in there and let him fuss it out. He will soon realize that you aren't going to put him in the swing all the time to get him to take a nap. You have to break him of the swing as soon as you can. I thought it was so mean what my husband was doing to my daughters, but it really was a good thing!! Good luck :)