Daytime napping

My littles ones don't sleep much during the day..
Maybe a couple of minutes here & there.

How do I get them to take longer naps during the day?

Right now as I'm typing this, they have just fallen asleep in their bouncers. I am reluctant to put them in their cribs as I know without a doubt they will wake up as soon as I put them in there.

Also, they don't sleep through the night. Last night they went to bed around 8:30pm & dd woke up around 3am & ds around 5:30am. They were fully awake from 6am till they took a 10 min nap around 10am.
I know that I need to work in a sleeping routine, one that suits us all..but don't want to go the CIO method.

all suggestions would be helpful!

 

You don't have to do CIO to get good sleep!

I might try an earlier bedtime. Not STTN is not a problem - it's normal to need night feedings even up to 9 months. But babies do need a lot of night sleep. I'd try gradually moving bedtime to 7 or even 6.

As far as daytime sleep, try not to let them stay awake for more than 2 hrs at a time, possibly even more like 1-1.5. So if they wake up at 6, try putting them down at 7:30.

A consistent nap routine helps. For us, it's change diapers, put on sleep sacks, read a book, cuddle, sing "Row row row your boat," then down - but of course whatever suits your babies is best. That way, they get used to the sequence and can kind of get mentally prepared for sleep.

Hope you can get some sleep out of these little ones soon! They need it - and I'm sure you do too.

 

What worked for me was putting them down for naps at the same times every day. I started right around 5-5.5 months and it fell into place between 6 and 7 months. I think consistency is a big thing.

 

QUOTE(MichelleL @ Nov 14 2007, 05:12 PM) [snapback]496017[/snapback]
What worked for me was putting them down for naps at the same times every day. I started right around 5-5.5 months and it fell into place between 6 and 7 months. I think consistency is a big thing.

Same here, and also our naps were a disaster until they started sleeping through. After that they fell into place fairly easily.

 

Here's a suggestion for you - your babies are probably not sleeping well at night because they're overtired from not getting good daytime sleep. I think you should consider an early bedtime (between 6 and 7) after a consistent evening routine (i.e. bath, massage, pajamas, feeding, snuggle, swaddle/sleep sac, paci, then bed in dark, warm (but not too warm) room with white noise machine going). In the morning, try putting them down for their first nap about an hour after they wake for the day, maybe 90 minutes. Look for signs of tiredness (a yawn, lull in activity, etc.) and get them to bed exactly when they need it). They'd probably be up no more than 2 hours between naps. Facilitate daytime sleep through swaddling or pacis and keep their sleep space comfortable - cozy crib in dark room. You'll probably have to put your life on hold for 2 weeks to get into a good groove (no outings, no walks when the babies are a little tired to avoid stroller sleep, etc.) but it'll be worth it in a long run.

 

I wish I had advice. I don't, just wanted to give you a hug!

Mine are not great nappers, and I don't know what to do about it. They sleep great through the night (7-630am), but just don't like to nap. They go down for between 30 mins to 1hr ... and trust me, 1 hour is a treat. It's not the norm.

I have decided to separate them at nap time though. And yesterday my son slept from 8-10am, and 1245pm-3pm! It was amazing. His sister slept for 30 minutes each time. I think she ended up waking him up a lot. So maybe one is waking the other, and it might help to separate. We put a PNP in our spare room, and the other goes in his crib.

Good luck! This nap thing is tough!

 

you are lucky they slept from 8- 3 am mine don't even do that. You will work it out though Good Luck!

 

We got our naptime routine perfected around 4 months. I read HSHHC and followed the guidelines. I put them down around 7pm (after baths and a BIG bottle). They do wake up during the night but when they get up at 6am for the day, I change their diapers, get them dressed, turn on Playhouse Disney, feed them a bottle and then put them down (usually about an hour or an hour and a half after they wake). During the day, I never let them be awake for more than 2 hours and then I put them down for a nap. They nap 3 times a day and usually for about an hour and half to 2 hours.

My guys now nap without a fuss. I tried CIO but it didn't work. I bought them the crib music players and they LOVE them - and I put them in separate rooms with their own noise machines. If they cry, I go in, put in a pacifier and hold my hand to the side of their face until they close their eyes and then I sneak out.

You have to work on it... it doesn't come naturally. Once you start teaching them the routine, everything will fall into place. Be patient and don't give up. It's a learning process for all of you.

Good luck!

 

Denise, consistency is key. At 5 months we were starting to get them into their cribs for naps. I also used black out curtains and a noisemaker to help them sleep. They have taken 2 hours naps ever since. I put them down around the same time every day, I remember it was 9:30 and then again at 1:30. It worked out eventually. But again routine and consistency is key! Good luck!

 

I just wanted to add that although it works wonders when you're consistent and truly dedicated (and patient) with getting your kids into a good napping groove, some babies just aren't great nappers and you can only do so much. I spent MONTHS stressing about Evan's short naps and trying every trick in the book to extend them. I felt like I was doing sometime really wrong and that he was suffering as a result of his short naps. But he sleeps 12 hours every night and is cheerful all day long despite his short naps so I have given up worrying too much. I try my best...that's all I can. You too!

 

Hi (mum of James and Matthew 28.11.04)

Routine is essential and persistance.My boys started their routine from birth and have been great sleepers from 3 months since weput them in "grobags" or sleeping sacks.I'm australian and am getting familiar with the terminology! Anyway I found that listening to their "Cries" ie the tone etc and length of them was important. I also ensured they slept and woke at the same time. It sounds harsh, but they got used to it and tried not to let them get too overtired or over stimulated. Mine also would often lie in their cot and talk to themselves. I put them to sleep in their cot /crib for all of their sleeps. Do your best and try to rest when they do.

 

Any luck this week?