nap question

how early do you put them in their cribs to relax before their 'actual' naptime?

ETA - OMGOSH!
I just laid them down about 30 mins before their normal naptime and one LO soothed himself, no rocking needed. i rubbed the other LO's head until he fell asleep!!!! could the 2-3-4 schedule not work for us since they need to go down at 930 as opposed to 10 or could this just be a one time thing?

ETA - again, lol
the one LO that needed his head rubbed just woke up again. i went back in, turned him on his side and rubbed his head again. i hope this self-soothing thing begins to work!

 

Not at all early. LOL. I just dump them in their cribs, say night night, and leave. Sometimes they talk for 10-15 minutes and then go to sleep, but I never built in decompressing time. I just considered the nap "time" to be the time that I put them in their cribs.

 

i just had to go back in again bc he woke up screaming at the top of his lungs.
i turned him to his side, rubbed his head until he was calm and then left. im watching him in the camera; he still rubbing his eyes but not going to sleep.

do i go back in and try and soothe him WITHOUT having to pick him up its just soooo easy to get him to sleep when rocking him!

 

Is he crying? If he's not crying, don't go in. That was my rule for a long time - until not crying starting to include conversations where DS said, "No Anna, poop is yucky!" Even if you aren't doing CIO, if he started to cry/fuss, I'd give him at least 5 minutes to try to work it out - set a timer. If not crying, just let him be. He's rubbing his eyes. He's working it out. He's doing exactly what he needs to do - figuring out how to get to sleep without being rocked. He's got to learn that just like any other skill. Be strong!

 

thank you!! he initially screamed! i went in, turned him on his side and got him to calm down. now he is back over on his back and he is looking up at the camera and playing with his lovey. he's still tired, though. UGH...does this ever get easy, lol! the only light in my tunnel is that his brother is fine!
now hes pumping his legs, rubbing his eyes and is not asleep yet.

 

It does get easier. My DS was not a natural sleeper, and now he sleeps like a champ - no complaints, no wake ups, no crying really ever. He is actually starting to want to go to bed, which is wild. You'll get there!

Do you have one of those aquarium or rainforest soothers that can attach to the crib? Those were great for fixating DS into slumber. Or a ceiling fan. Something to distract him into sleep.

 

i have a fan
if i put it on will he fall asleep you think? there is music playing and a humidifier going right now. hes just staring at the camera rubbing his eyes.

ok now hes staring at the ceiling fan.

 

You are making me laugh. Staring at the ceiling fan is good. Hopefully it will lull him to sleep.

 

BE STRONG! Stay out unless he needs you for a dirty diaper, stuck burp or if he's hungry.

 

It's pretty rare for it to work in one day, so just keep going with what you are doing. Don't go back in unless he's crying, and then don't pick him up just lay him down, pat or rub him for a few seconds and then walk back out.

 

ok i will attempt all of this again for nap #2 in a little while.
i am thinking that putting them down 30 minutes before i usually rock them and put them down worked the best today. the one LO took about 5 mins and he was out like a light. the other LO (the one who needed his head rubbed 10 times) hahahaha it worked. so i am hoping that if i keep to it he'll fall asleep on his own.

 

omg. they are all over the place right now. i laid them down and one is log rolling in his crib and the other is babbling away.