Can anyone help?? Advice needed! x

sarahdavid · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-08, 17:56

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone can offer any magic advice!!!!
I have a 9 month old who sleeps like an angel by night, goes down at 7pm without a problem and sleeps through til about 7.30am..........however.......
He is a little devil at napping during the day, he really really does need his naps and he will sleep well but only if he is cuddled in and as soon as you put him down his eyes will pop open and he will either cry because he is still tired or not go back when he needs sleep.
He used to sleep fine in the day and in his cot and to be honest I dont know where it all went wrong but its a complete no no now and he will only nap in our arms.

So, I was after some magic potion from you to get him into a sleep routine in his cot, I have a few days off work now so am trying to put him in his cot at his usual naptimes when he is tired but he is having none of it, I know I have to persevere because it wont happen overnight but do you have any tricks I could try while I am giving it a go.

Its lovely having lots of cuddles when he sleeps but obviously means I dont get anything done around the house and the childminder (who is family) is not too pleased with having to sit down cuddling him to sleep 2 0r 3 times a day.

Sorry I've waffled a bit, please let me know your thoughts, at least he sleeps at night I suppose, I'm very lucky for that xx

isabellasmum · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-08, 18:04

It sounds like you're doing all the right things hon. When I put Isabella down for a nap she always has her grobag on, blackout blind shut and needs her dummy and comforter. If I forget any of the above she get's quite cross. If you're already doing what he's used to for her bedtime routine I'm not sure what to suggest other than making sure he's not too overtired as I always think once they go past a certain point it's a nightmare getting them down.

Hope he sorts it out and gets napping!

Ellie H · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-08, 19:02

I used to have to cuddle Ethan to sleep for naps and at night time 'til he was well over 1 year old. I just think he liked the comfort of being close to me but it was totally exhausting.

I eventually decided enough was enough and put him down awake one night and we haven't looked back since. When I take him up for naps in the afternoon I leave him a book and a toy in his cot, so he'll play for 20mins then grab his dodo (dummy) and his bear and send himself to sleep.

Could he just be going through a clingy phase, or is he teething/got a cold?

There isn't a magic solution other than perseverance I'm afraid!

Hope he gets back into the swing of things for you really soon!

((((Hugs))))

xxxxxxxxxxxx

sarahdavid · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-08, 19:45

Thankyou both for your replys, I kind of thought it was going to be down to plain old perserverance!

He's been like it for the past few months and I think like you Ellie, he just likes the comfort and warmth, he goes down awake at night and is asleep within minutes so he should hopefully get the hang of it in the day soon,

Issabellasmum, I haven't tried putting him in his grobag for the daytime naps so I'll give that a go tomorrow,

Thanks ladies, i'll let you know how we get on xx

JulieBannon · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-08, 12:14

was just reading this and was wondering about ellie's naps. she naps midmoring and mid afternoon, i cant think straight right now but i think thats it. but i dont do anything or prempt it. i just leave her in her chair till she gets grumpy then give her a dummy aand she usually goes to slepp bt not always.

should i be putting her in her cot at certain times or in her growbag etc? cos some days she gets over tired

thanks for any advice

Nickit · #6 (**permalink**) 12-11-08, 13:44

Hi Julie,
I think you have to do what works for you. Most babies at about Ellie's age will have 2-3 naps a day. I think that at that age Isabelle was napping in the morning (about 9.00-9.30ish), at lunch (about 12.30ish) and she sometimes had a catnap in the afternoon (about 4.00ish).

Isabelle was a s*d to settle for daytime naps so I introduced a routine and worked hard at getting her to settle in her cot, on her own. The advice I was given around then was that it was good to let them have at least their long nap (usually the lunchtime one) in their cot. I used to put Isabelle in her sleeping bag and have a 'mini' night routine to help her realise that it was sleep time.

But, like I said, I'm sure that routine wouldn't work for everyone; it was just I was getting exhausted having to hold her every time she needed to sleep, only to have her wake after half an hour if I put her in her cot.

HTH

sarahdavid · #7 (**permalink**) 18-12-08, 12:16

Hi All, I posted this a while ago but thought I would let you all know how we are getting on.

I must be honest, I got so stressed with Finn screaming whenever I put him down I gave up, but have recently tried again and at last.......it works.

I put him in his cot around 9am when he begins to get tired, do the same as his bedtime routine. I do spend the first half hour going in and out to him as he stands up and chucks his dummy over the side....I think to get my attention....but he wont settle to sleep in day without it, but when I go in I simply lie him down say night night and walk out, he then falls asleep for about 2 hours which is great, as I can actually get some things done instead of having a sleeping baby in my arms for an hour 2 or 3 times a day. he then goes down again for hour to hour half in afternoon after lunch.

Next challenge is getting him to do the same in a travel cot at the childminders when I'm in work!! hehe!

Thanks for the advice girls, perserverence is the main ingredient to this one! xx

rachaelmae · #8 (**permalink**) 18-12-08, 21:18

yay glad things have improved

xx

Debbiemeep · #9 (**permalink**) 18-12-08, 23:49

Matthew still won't take his nap in his cotbed, he has always slept in his buggy in the kitchen. No problems with bedtime at night, its just during the day he prefers the buggy. I think he likes the security of being strapped in and cosy with his blanket tucked round him. It also means that as long as I have the buggy with me, he will sleep in it anywhere when its naptime.

He's really too big to sleep in it now though as his legs dangle and I worry he'll get pins and needles but he's happy so I'm not bothering to try and change it when it works, as it'll likely not be long before he doesn't want a nap at all.

Glad you're getting there, its great to have a baby-free hour when they sleep just to keep you sane