Help me with naps for my 5.5 month olds

Okay all here is the scoop. I have a little boy who will be 3 in Feb and my two girls who were born inJune. I am having a heck of a time with naps. I have read HSHHC and find that it isn't working. Our nightime routine is very consistent and they are in bed no later than 6:30 and sleep until somewhere between 4-6. They go to bed with no crying, are put down drowsy but awake and sail off into dreamland with no problem When I asked my ped about our nap issues, he asked if they slept at night, I told him yes and his response was,"Well wouldn't you rather have them sleeping at night?" I was so stunned I didn't pursue it. Night sleep and day sleep aren't mutually exclusive to my knowledge.
Here are my issues with the daytime:
I let them protest cry as recommended but they don't always fall asleep Then what??? I wind up with cranky babies who according to the book can't sleep during the period of wakefulness So, does this mean I get to have 2 crying clinging babies and try to parent my son until their next designated nap time?

One may fall asleep then the other cries and wakes the other...Then what???

Even if they do take a nap, they get sleepy by 11 or 11:30 and take a brief nap and then sleep around 1 or 2. The problem is one of the girls always wakes up around 2:30 (no idea why) but is still tired and crabby. Do I put her back to bed or what?

I think I may miss their window some days because I am trying to focus on everyone and miss the yawns, eye rubbing and suddenly am too late OR I assume that they must be tired because they have been up for a certain amount of time and then they don't fall asleep.

I do let them sleep as late as they like (which at the latest is 8 ) because they still are waking once a night and I am tired so like as much sleep as I can. Should I wake them at 7 to get a more consistent routine going in hopes that the routine will lead to more consistency?
Thanks! I am really struggling. I kept thinking things would be better by now and they aren't. Anyone that can help me make it better please respond!! Not sure if it matters but they are ebf- no solids yet.

 

This probably is no help, but I wanted to tell you that we had the same issues at 5.5 months. My girls' napped in swings until that point, then we went on vacation and naps were horrendous. We were at parents/in-laws so I would nurse one to sleep, then sneak away, while the other was being entertained by someone else, then repeat. Most times it didn't work, and we ended up going for a drive to get them to sleep some. They were cranky most of the time. Anyway, we got back just as they turned 6 months and we started doing HSHHC in earnest -- getting them up at 7, down 1 1/2 -2 hours later, if they cried through the whole nap, I'd keep them up for another two hours and repeat. (suprisingly, they weren't as crying and cranky during that time as I thought they would be) It was mostly awful -- for about two weeks. Now, I can about 90% of the time get a good morning nap with little to no crying and about 75% of the time get a second nap the same way. Third naps are iffy - if they wake up after 2, I don't put them down again unless they are really rubbing their eyes. They go to bed between 6 and 7 pm (start nursing somewhere close to 6 pm, in bed after they have relaxed and nursed for 15 minutes more -- that's just my thing, I like to know they have been topped off and snuggled, before I let them cry! (which they rarely do now, anyway, but I guess I like to make sure!)).

I have them in separate rooms - Maya, my harder to get to sleep, is in her crib so she always associates that with sleeping and Naomi, a little more easy going about sleep, is in a co-sleeper in the next bedroom. Sometimes they still wake each other up, but usually they don't, even if one is screaming.

I don't have another child, so I don't know how that plays into it. And mine are still waking 2+ times at night, so at least you are better in that way!

But, I think if you can just get through this month, things will get better.

:hug99:

Erica.

 

Erica- Thanks! It always helps to know you aren't alone! The hug is greatly appreciated. I really need it today!

 

Andie - I'm sending some :hug99: :hug99: your way too! I don't have much advice other than to tell you if you search the posts from several weeks ago, you will see there were a whole slew of posts about poor napping with babies in the 5 month old range. I dubbed it the 5 month old curse. Things are still sporadic for us (just over 6 months), but they are getting better all the time. Over the past week or so, the naps have become more consistent and longer. I have done nothing different, so I can only assume it's the age and they are ready for it.

Good Luck and Hang in There!
suzi

 

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time! :hug99:

Sounds like your pedi is really uninformed about infant sleep needs. Night & day sleep are essential to each other, NOT mutually exclusive! Babies who don't sleep enough during the day often start having trouble with night sleep because they're overtired.

I don't think I'd wake them early in the morning. I'll take every minute of sleep I can get from my babies!

What does a typical day look like for you? How long are they usually awake between naps?

Also, do you have any way of separating them for naps? By that age, I had to nap mine separately.

Also wanted to say it's not your fault if they don't sleep. You're doing your best to get them down at reasonable times and create good sleep conditions - the rest is up to them. FWIW, if one of mine skips a nap (it still happens occasionally), I try to get them through the next wake time as if they'd napped, then put them down at what the next nap time would be, or a little sooner.

Good luck! Hope it gets better soon. :hug99:

 

QUOTE(mctwins @ Dec 6 2007, 10:43 AM) [snapback]523214[/snapback]
Okay all here is the scoop. I have a little boy who will be 3 in Feb and my two girls who were born inJune. I am having a heck of a time with naps. I have read HSHHC and find that it isn't working. Our nightime routine is very consistent and they are in bed no later than 6:30 and sleep until somewhere between 4-6. They go to bed with no crying, are put down drowsy but awake and sail off into dreamland with no problem When I asked my ped about our nap issues, he asked if they slept at night, I told him yes and his response was,"Well wouldn't you rather have them sleeping at night?" I was so stunned I didn't pursue it. Night sleep and day sleep aren't mutually exclusive to my knowledge.
Here are my issues with the daytime:
I let them protest cry as recommended but they don't always fall asleep Then what??? I wind up with cranky babies who according to the book can't sleep during the period of wakefulness So, does this mean I get to have 2 crying clinging babies and try to parent my son until their next designated nap time?

One may fall asleep then the other cries and wakes the other...Then what???

Even if they do take a nap, they get sleepy by 11 or 11:30 and take a brief nap and then sleep around 1 or 2. The problem is one of the girls always wakes up around 2:30 (no idea why) but is still tired and crabby. Do I put her back to bed or what?

I think I may miss their window some days because I am trying to focus on everyone and miss the yawns, eye rubbing and suddenly am too late OR I assume that they must be tired because they have been up for a certain amount of time and then they don't fall asleep.

I do let them sleep as late as they like (which at the latest is 8 ) because they still are waking once a night and I am tired so like as much sleep as I can. Should I wake them at 7 to get a more consistent routine going in hopes that the routine will lead to more consistency?
Thanks! I am really struggling. I kept thinking things would be better by now and they aren't. Anyone that can help me make it better please respond!! Not sure if it matters but they are ebf- no solids yet.


Just a few suggestions we utilize...

#1. Dark curtains. Make the room dark.
#2. White noise. We use air purifiers.
#3. Put them down for the nap before they get too cranky and worked up.
#4. Make sure the temperature is comfy. Mine like it slightly cool.
#5. Split them up if they sleep in the same crib.
#6. This is considered a no no but we sleep ours on their tummys. Mine hate sleeping on their backs.
#7. Try a lavender sleepytime lotion massage before the nap.

 

QUOTE(nervousnewdad @ Dec 6 2007, 04:21 PM) [snapback]523698[/snapback]
Just a few suggestions we utilize...

#1. Dark curtains. Make the room dark. Hmmm I have considered this will improvise with sheets tomorrow
#2. White noise. We use air purifiers. Check
#3. Put them down for the nap before they get too cranky and worked up.Check
#4. Make sure the temperature is comfy. Mine like it slightly cool. Check
#5. Split them up if they sleep in the same crib. I am thinking of trying different rooms tomorrow
#6. This is considered a no no but we sleep ours on their tummys. Mine hate sleeping on their backs. both my girls now roll to their bellies for sleep. I thought it was going to be a savior but now Evie just keeps getting stuck causing further problems!!
#7. Try a lavender sleepytime lotion massage before the nap. LOVE THAT STUFF and may try it on the one giving me the hardest time the other has eczema

Thanks for more wonderful ideas! Keep them coming!

 

-I would maybe seperate them for naps for a while, that way you can deal with each of thier issues seperatly and then if you so choose can put them back together (I kept mine seperated for naps but they CAN nap together, its just a much shorter nap).
-Ditto the white noise and darkening shades!
-Start a consistent routine: wake at set time EVERY day, go to bed at settime (or earlier if they need it) and nap by the clock (pick 1-1.5hrs after waking in am, then 1.5-2hrs after being awake for 2nd, and the same for the 3rd nap), this will take a while but they will adapt and most babies LOVE routine!!
-Use the 1hr rule, don't go in before an hr (mine only cried for 1hr once and then slept great)
-if they cry for a lot of the nap or are still tired shortly after waking then I tend to say put them right back down, you will only need to do this during the training part and that overtiredness should go away.

HTH, I did sleep training for naps at 4 months and have not had a nap issue since :icon_biggrin:

 

I don't have any suggestions, but I feel your pain! Mine are the same way. Our napping is all over the place. But they sleep 12.5 hours at night, so I try not to complain and just hope that someday, SOMEDAY, they will take something like consistent naps and sleep longer than 30 minutes at a time.

I heard somewhere that it's easier to implement a nap schedule once 3-meal-a-day-solids are established, so I am looking forward to that time with hope!

 

QUOTE(excitedk @ Dec 6 2007, 08:30 PM) [snapback]524025[/snapback]
-Use the 1hr rule, don't go in before an hr (mine only cried for 1hr once and then slept great) If only that were true of my Evie. She will cry for an hour daily. We have been trying HSHHC for a while now and it simply isn't working. I just put them down after being awake only an hour, in different rooms, with windows darkened and I am hoping it is a wonderful nap but I hear Evie screaming her head off!!!!
-if they cry for a lot of the nap or are still tired shortly after waking then I tend to say put them right back down, you will only need to do this during the training part and that overtiredness should go away.

HTH, I did sleep training for naps at 4 months and have not had a nap issue since :icon_biggrin: My son was like this-very easy to sleep train and is now an amazing sleeper. The girls are beyond challenging especially b/c I feel like I am not doing things all that different than I did with him!

Thanks all! Keep your ideas coming!!

 

Now what???
Evie cried for 50 minutes...was quiet for 15 and started screaming again...I let her go another 15 minutes and then gave up. What should I have done?

I just put them both down at 11. Not sure how this will turn out but am so overwhelmed I just want to cry. Should I have kept them up until 12 or 1 as HSHSC suggests? I had two crabby babies and my toddler so rocking and swaying for 2 more hours wasn't an option. What now???