Nap advice please

JulieBannon · #1 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 13:49

i been trying to pay attention to Ellens naps and i dont think she has been getting enough. i read somewhere recently that i should be putting her in her cot for a long nap in the daytime.

i know she isnt getting enough nap as she keeps trying to nap 2 hours before bed which is a bit late and she only been getting 1hr 30 mins aprox during the day.

should i put her in ehr cot mid afternoon (say about 1 or 2)? would i dress her in sleepsuit and growbag like i normally do?

i normally just leave her in her chair and see when she tired but i need to get her napping sooner in the day than near betime.

any advice would be appreciated

thanks

kerri-anne · #2 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 13:58

I think where possible (i.e. when at home) it is good for LO to have a longish nap during the day, I know that Rosie is so much happier when she has done so. However, realistically if you are out & about it is not quite so easy!!

Not sure if this helps but if we are at home Rosie has a nap between 9 and 10am, for anything between 30 mins and hour & half. In the afternoon she'll nap around 1.30pm for anything between 45 mins and 2 hours. Both her naps are in her cot as she will not sleep anywhere else when at home. As she is fully clothed anyway I just lay her in the cot as she is.

I would try to put your LO down for a nap earlier in the afternoon and just see what happens. Put her in her cot and just leave her to it, if she's tired she'll sleep!!!

HTH xxxx

mummypig · #3 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 14:13

I would agree that a longer nap is better during the day. When Rhys was that age he would get up @7am and have a nap around 9:30 am for about one and a half hours and then another nap around 1:30 for about 1 hour, then bed @ 7-7:30pm. He still needs his nap now and he is over 2 years old. I think that he is more settled and sleeps better @ night when he has had his sleep. The only thing that it is a nightmare to stick to when out and about!!!!Good luck whatever you try.xx

noababy · #4 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 14:17

At that age Noa had a morning nap for an hour plus or so and another early afternoon nap for anywhere between 1-3 hours!

JulieBannon · #5 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 14:19

thanks guys, she normally naps where she is for no more than about 30 min rarely 1hour. today i gave her food at 12 with the intention of giving her milk at 1 but she fell asleep on me in between. so will pout her in her cot at 2 i think and see what happens.

i have started sticking to set meal times, bed times and get up times etc as other wise no 2 days were the same. i normally wait till she cries before feeding her but since i starting feeding at set times she has been drinking more milk, only an oz more but still good.

i read recently that sticking to a routine is good as they know whats going on.

on a related note should i consider introducing snacks? maybe after her naps which would make a mid morning and midafternoon?

kerri-anne · #6 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by JulieBannon

on a related note should i consider introducing snacks? maybe after her naps which would make a mid morning and midafternoon?

Do you think your LO is hungry between feeds/meals? She's still very young so I wouldn't worry about snacks just yet unless she's showing signs of hunger, and even then I'd be tempted to offer more milk/solids rather than snacks. That's just my opinion though, Rosie still doesn't have snacks so I'll be interested to read the replies you get xx

JulieBannon · #7 (**permalink**) 19-11-08, 16:57

no she doessnt seem hungy i just saw people talking about snacks and wondered thats all. will leave it untill she starts seeming hungry between meals.

on the nap fron i went out for a walk to get some air and stopped by a friend nearby. ellen was tired but wouldnt sleep so i came home (5mins) by the time i was home she wa alseep so i got her out of the pram and took her jacket off which woke her up so i put her in her cot wiht her eyes open and almost instantly she went to sleep so i have left her to it. if she sleeps longer than she normally would do in theliving room then this is the way to go. however i would rather not have to do it this way again.

tomorrow im going to put her in her cot shortly after her breakfast. i know she wants/needs a morning nap as she has onebefore 10 normally so i hope this will get her in the habit of napping better. i figure i will put her down after lunch too.

lets see how it goes

ty guys