Naps

I have noticed most people have set (or close to) nap times. I am wondering the best way to go about starting that. Is it best to watch them for a day or two and see when their nap times usually are (if there's a pattern) then go off of that?

Right now I let them sleep any where (mainly swing & bouncer) and any time they want between feedings. They are always awake and ready to go (ready to scream if you're not ready :laughing: ) for their feedings. When they were younger they would sleep in the bassinet on the pack n play in the living room, but they HATE that thing now. It's also been lowered cause of their weights. Would it make it easier if I started having them nap in their crib?

Right now their schedule is:
9am- feed
1pm- feed
5pm- feed
9pm- feed, then bath some nights followed by bed


I'm just looking for suggestions on how to start setting solid nap times. How many naps at this age (5months actual, 2.5 month adjusted)? How long? Etc etc etc!

 

It's almost time to establish set routines for their naps. I'd get them in their cribs too so they get use to them. We did what you're doing... lettting them dicate when they were hungry or tired. My one baby sitter asked what are you doing? You're gonna make yourself go nuts if you don't have routine... (She babysits for older twins so she does have experience in the situation!!). So, we started things slowly... start with the cribs. Get them use to sleeping in their cribs even if they cry it out a bit. Then start with the first midmorning nap around the same time frame each day. The book that I'm reading says to have them wake up between 6-7 am if they can, nap around 9 am for about an hour or two, then again around 1pm for an hour or two. And then if they need a nap around 3-5 pm for about an hour. Put them to bed between 6-8 pm. Of course things variy abit. But it's a good routine to start.... Good Luck!!!

 

Your babies are about 10 weeks old in actual age. I truly believe it's too early to "set" naps for them since they are not ready. Most kids' sleep requirements fall within a predictable range of hours based on their age, but each child is unique with distinct sleep needs. I think at your twins age, they should be getting about 16 hours of sleep in a 24h period.

Also, mine slept in their swings until they were 4 months adjusted and I did not make them nap in their cribs until then.

 

Mine are only about 2.5 months adjusted so I'm not exactly going to start the nap schedule right now. I just want to know how to go about it so when it comes I know what I'm doing. They DO follow a schedule when it comes to eating. They ALWAYS eat at 9am, 1pm, 5pm, & 9pm. I'm not sure if you're saying get them used to sleeping in their cribs for naps, but they have slept in their cribs for bedtime since 2 weeks after they came home (about 2 weeks old actual, but they hadn't even reached their due date). I've tried a few times to wake these guys up before 9am and they have no interest in being awake. I'm not going to complain either. I'm not a morning person What book are you reading??

Thanks! I wasn't going to start the naps right now, just wondering how to go about it. They get 12 hours of straight sleep during the night.. Our day has looked like this so far:

9am wake up/feed
9:30am-hang out in swing/bouncer
10am-noon nap
Noon-now (1pm) has been tummy/play mat time

So far today that means they've gotten their 12 hours last night and 2 hours during the day. Their morning "nap" does seem to the longest and the rest of the ones in the day are about 30mins-1hour.

 

First let me say that it's amazing that your babies sleep through the night. Mine started at close to 5 months adjusted. Before that they ate every 3-4 hours at night.

Here is how my "schedule" looked at about 4 months adjusted
7:00 AM - Wake Up
7:30 AM - Bottle 8oz
8:00 AM
8:30 AM - Nap
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
10:00 AM - Wake Up
10:30 AM
11:00 AM - Bottle 8oz
11:30 AM
12:00 PM - Nap
12:30 PM
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
2:00 PM - Wake Up
2:30 PM
3:00 PM - Bottle 8oz
3:30 PM - Nap
4:00 PM
4:30 PM - Wake Up
5:00 PM - Bottle 3oz
5:30 PM - Nap
6:00 PM - Wake Up
6:30 PM
7:00 PM - Bottle 8oz + Bed


Also check out BabyCenter's sample day schedules described by mothers of 3-4 months olds. Click HERE

Hope this helps.

 

At 2 1/2 months was about the time we transitioned our babies from their bassinet to their crib and they slept well in it at night but did not follow the same schedule for naps so we had them separated during the day. One would sleep in the crib and the other would sleep in our room in the bassinet (once they got too big for the bassinet we put the pack n play in there). We did not have a set schedule, rather we put them down for naps 1 1/2 - 2 hours after waking from the last nap. Any longer than that and they got overtired. We would watch them closely for eye rubbing or getting extra cuddly as these were their early signs of tiredness. As soon as they showed tiredness we would swaddle, paci, lullaby music and lay them down. Initially naps were only 30-45 minutes but lengthened as they got used to it. Over the course of the next month or two, this morphed into a decent 3 naps a day. I honestly would try to avoid having them be dependent on swings for naps after about 3 months because I have heard so many people who can't get away from the swings and bouncies as their babies get older. If they fall asleep in the swing, fine, but I wouldn't lay them down in the swing/bouncy for the sole purpose of naps after they are older than 3-4 months old.

 

While I dont have my schedule memorized anymore :lol: I can tell you that at 5 months actual (3 months adjusted) mine were taking a predictable morning nap about 1.5 hours after they woke in the morning and then cat napped the rest of the day. At 6 months they started giving me a predictable afternoon nap too with a cat nap at 4:45 ish. Then at 9 months, we dropped the cat nap and they were on 2 naps a day until about 15 months.

 

Wow - that's awesome that they sleep 12 hrs. straight at night! At about 3 months mine started napping in their cribs. It was an easy transition for us. Prior to that they napped in the bouncy seat, boppy on the couch, or a sling. At about 3 months they were taking 4 inconsistent naps a day. At about 6 months they did 3 naps a day, with the 3rd being a catnap. At 9 months or so they dropped the 3rd nap. Now we are on 2 naps a day.