what about naps?

[kabbiatti]

I have a five month old daughter that will not nap in the afternoon. I am so lucky, she sleeps 10-12 hours a night but only cat naps in the morning and refuses to sleep after 12:00 even though she is exhausted and cranky. I have run out of ideas but can't handle how grumpy she is in the afternoon. I am willing to try anything. Thanks, Kirsten

[Hgrove]

Some friends of mine swear by "The Contented Little Baby Book" which prescribes a strict routine.  You may be willing to give it a try which may involve changing the bedtime or getting up routine (I have not read the book myself so I can't be more speific).

[spudqueen]

I always found that a drive in the car worked.................

[spudqueen]

.........Or a walk in a pram

[kick3m0n]

you may well have tried it, but I swear by a walk in the pram.  My wee guy's napped  in his pram since he was born, and now even at 19mnths old, drifts off to sleep within 5 mins of us setting out.  I leave his pram outside our back door, and get peace for 2h, bless him.

You're right to be a bit concerned though - cos while 10 - 12 hours a night is great, a baby of that age should be getting around 14-15h a day as I recall, and your wee babe must be exhausted by bed time.  That said, you do get some babies that just need less sleep, thought her afternoon crankiness would suggest otherwise.  Have you spoken to your health visitor? Ours was a gem, and had loads of good suggestions.  Good luck. x

[mittmotts]

I agree that bubbas of this age should get more sleep, my little one is now 1 and he has just dropped his afternoon nap, but i used to put him in his bed at the same sort of time every day and by about 4 or 5 mnths he was having a nap in the morning for about hour and half and an hour nap in the afternoon plus 11 hours at night. 

Babies like routine (most babies anyway) it makes them feel secure.  You say that your baby naps in the morning, could it be that she is getting a bit too much in the morning???? 

I agree with the car and pushchair on a short term basis, but they need to fall asleep on there own otherwise you will need to prompt them, unless you are happy to do that!!!

[Solarjunkie]

My son would not sleep if he could sit up, but if he was harnessed in his pram & therefore had to lie down, he was asleep in a couple of minutes. So what started as a safety measure turned out to very useful!

 

[Otrere]

I have never been one for using the car or pushchair as something to make my daughter (now 2 1/2) go to sleep. I think it just gets them into the habit of expecting to have to be in the car or the pushchair to fall asleep and its something they need to do on their own.

Why don't you just try putting her in her cot in the afternoon, shut the curtains etc. and let her cry for a bit and then go back after a few minutes and settle her (don't make eye contact or talk to her) and then leave the room - and go back a few minutes later if need be ("controlled crying" technique if you agree with it - I know some people don't).

But I think if you put her into bed in a darkened room at the same time each day (both morning and afternoon) should get her into the habit of realising that its naptime - it might take a few days but don't give up x

Good luck

[nrmatth]

both of my kids had CD's playing classical music that repeated all night on a low volume. now whenever they hear their music they conk right out. they get it at night and during naps. plus it's great to send when they're in a strange place. And as a suggestion, when they were especially cranky and wouldn't relax to listen, I just turned it up to drown them out and they stopped to listen because it was noisier than they were and rocked them a little till they got it out of their system. then i'd turn it down when they layed down. If all these suggestion don't work you might have to resort to just giving her quite time to collect her thoughts and de-stress, even if she doesn't sleep. My son was big on going in his crib just to talk to the ceiling and cry all his frustrations out. His crib became his quite place even if he wasn't sleeping. babies get overstimulated even after a few hours and since they can't communicate through words, they cry. sometimes you have to let them get it out. Just make sure you know the difference between an "I need something from you" and "I need to de-stress" cry.

[dmsjps]

Please don't take this the wrong way Kirsten, but if your baby sleeps all through the night, then I don't see how you can grumble that she won't have a siesta. Would you prefer that she did and then woke up during the night? I wouldn't.

I too was very lucky with my children: my son slept through from 2 weeks of age and my daughter from 4 weeks. I panicked like mad, but the health visitor said, 'Well what's your problem? They won't sleep through if they're not contented and happy.' My two were both on the go all day, but I didn't mind because I got a full night's sleep. As long as you get that, you can handle anything. Perhaps like my daughter, yours has a very low boredom threshold, which in someone so young can lead to grumpiness, in which case you could take her to mums & toddlers or take her out to see something interesting. It doesn't have to cost money, just a change of scenery at the park or see the ducks on the canal, whatever. It will also give you a release and help to stop you feeling so pressured.

Enjoy your time with her while she's so young, because once it's gone, it's never coming back.

Good luck.

[jackyc]

I also have a 5 month old daughter and she will not sleep during the day unless she is out in her pram or in the car, the second i take her inside the home she is wide awake again. But although i am not helping you much i would appreciate your suggestions as how you get her to sleep for 10 - 12 hours a night, most evenings my little one has about 6 - 7 at the most.