How are you doing with naptime?

Question

Let me start by saying naps have never been my girl’s forte! I do all the “textbook” things: white noise, blackout curtains, good temperature, watch wake windows, etc.
The only thing I struggle with is putting her down drowsy but awake. She just cries and cries and my heart breaks after like 10 mins. I end up just rocking her and putting her down which will last maybe 20 mins and then I have to hold her the rest of the nap or it will be way too short.
Just curious what you ladies do to get your little ones down and stay down! Any tips would be appreciated! 
Also, have any of you started sleep training yet? Which method have you tried?

Answer

I must say my daughter is not a good napper, she pretty much only naps in my arms. However, at our pediatrician's recommendation we sleep trained using the Ferber method (check and console at graduated intervals) for night sleep. It was absolutely life changing. She had been waking up 5+ times a night so I never got more than 1-2 hours of sleep at a time and I was wrecked. She now sleeps 7-7 with maybe 1 or 2 brief wake ups. My husband and I actually have some time together and I feel like a better mom because I'm not so exhausted. I plan to tackle naps next. You just have to figure out what works for you and your family, I hope you find something that works for y'all and helps!

Answer

Were doing gentle/attachment parenting so it’s alllllll the contact naps and no sleep training over here! Which I fully realize isn’t for everyone but I do want to remind you that holding your baby for naps/having your baby rely on you and need you for sleep is not a bad habit/crutch! You’re doing awesome 😊😊😊

Answer

During nap I cosleep with my baby ( i don’t sleep tho, i just lay there on my phone ) and I find that that to be the best way for her to sleep because she would wake up and look at me and go right back to sleep. At night she sleeps on the crib but we do the half opened crib that’s attached to our bed so she can see me and i can see her all the time. I also bring her to my bed sometimes when she is extra fussy but we have a king size bed so theres still plenty of room for the three of us.

Answer

I put my daughter down fully awake. She plays for a little & talks to herself, then rolls over & falls asleep. Sometimes she cries a little but it’s usually for less than a minute. We sleep trained using Ferber & it went fantastically. She never cries at all at bedtime anymore.

Answer

I have a tough time with the drowsy-but-not-out part, too! Especially if I’m nursing him beforehand...if I let him off too early, he wakes up hungry. If I let him pass out, then I failed at the initial goal. I am still learning and struggling, but I have had a little success playing with him about 10-15 min before it’s time to wind down. This way I can have some fun and his sleepy cues are very clear amongst the playing...if that makes sense. Usually if we can have a good giggle about something I know he is minutes from being sleepy. So far, each time he has shown a sleepy sign while playing, he doesn’t fight the nap during the nap routine (change of diaper, low lights, etc) at all. He is still a power-napper...only 30-45 min on avg...but that’s a whole other post! Good luck—you’re doing great! She won’t want to stay in your arms forever ❤️

Answer

My baby is a little meanie. Found out earlier this week that he’s a napping pro at daycare. Sleeps 30 minutes in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon there. At home he breaks that afternoon nap into 2 separate 30 minute naps. He also requires a pacifier, his special night-night blankie under his head, his stuffed koala on his face, and 3 souls to go to sleep at home 🙄 I am suspecting I might have an easier time if he napped in the same room as his brother; at daycare all the kids nap in the same room.

Answer

Our kiddo flips himself onto his stomach basically instantly now. We learned from daycare to rock his hips back and forth - he falls asleep and then we don’t have to move him and risk waking him up.

Answer

Pacifier, comforter, blanket toy anything to snuggle up to every time they sleep x

Answer

My baby girl sleeps 12-13 hours at night and then will nap about 2 hours after she’s up for 3 hours I just put her on her stomach for naps and she sleeps like a baby. I know they don’t recommend stomach sleeping but it works great for us 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

Every time I put my daughter down drowsy, she wakes up. I just rock her and lay her down when she’s asleep which makes her dependent on me but it’s what works to get her to sleep instead of fighting with her to get her to sleep over and over again lol

How are you doing with naptime?

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