Help with naps!

How do you get your twins down for their naps? I still have to rock each one to sleep and then put them down. My DH used to work from home so he could watch one while I put one down and now he travels a lot with work. THis morning they my DS had to cry in the pack and play while I put his sister down and when I got in the room he was at the top of the pack n play trying to crawl out of it! Ican't leave him in that anymore while I put his sister down. help please, any advise. THey are 11 months old.

 

Try to phase out the rocking by implementing another routine. What do you do at bedtime? We put the girls down for naps after breakfast and after afternoon snack. They know they'll lay down after to nap. Maybe sit and read a quiet story with both of them and then lay them down awake. There might be some crying, but maybe not. I'm sure others will have some advice for you too. GL and :hug:. Oh and welcome to TS and FY!

 

Ditto pps. Start a new routine in lieu of the rocking. Are the naps at scheduled times so they know what to expect?

Instead of rocking, how about quiet reading time for a few minutes and then down for a nap. Around 11 months old, I had to CIO for naps (and they had never been fussy about naps before that) because they would get up walk, cruise around, etc, in their cribs.

 

QUOTE(snoopytwins @ Oct 13 2008, 12:34 PM) [snapback]1024378[/snapback]
Ditto pps. Start a new routine in lieu of the rocking. Are the naps at scheduled times so they know what to expect?

Instead of rocking, how about quiet reading time for a few minutes and then down for a nap. Around 11 months old, I had to CIO for naps (and they had never been fussy about naps before that) because they would get up walk, cruise around, etc, in their cribs.



Thanks, they are CIO right now. I hate this, so hard to listen to. How long do I let them cry?

 

Assuming they are fed, dry, and sleepy I would let them cry for awhile. Mine usually stop crying after a couple of minutes and either fall asleep or play in their cribs. If they play, just leave them in there for their nap (around here its 45min-hour) and then if they are tired, you may want to sneak in another nap today. :hug: Its so hard.

 

I agree- as long as their needs are met- they're dry, not hungry then let them cry. They'll figure it out. I know how hard it is to listen to but they'll get the hang of it and you'll all be better off for it. Good luck and be consistent- if you decide that they're going to CIO- don't go in- that only makes it harder for all of you and will make them cry longer. I know there are modified versions of CIO, but what worked for us is just straight out CIO- I never went in unless I thought something might be up (fever, poopy diaper, etc), otherwise they've figured it out (and what they're figuring out is how to put themselves to sleep- not that their cries get ignored.) We've been doing this since they were 8 months old and now when I put them down for naps or for bedtime if they cry it's only for literally 10 seconds and then they put themselves to sleep. Good luck!

 

QUOTE(Jenn G @ Oct 13 2008, 03:20 PM) [snapback]1024678[/snapback]
I agree- as long as their needs are met- they're dry, not hungry then let them cry. They'll figure it out. I know how hard it is to listen to but they'll get the hang of it and you'll all be better off for it. Good luck and be consistent- if you decide that they're going to CIO- don't go in- that only makes it harder for all of you and will make them cry longer. I know there are modified versions of CIO, but what worked for us is just straight out CIO- I never went in unless I thought something might be up (fever, poopy diaper, etc), otherwise they've figured it out (and what they're figuring out is how to put themselves to sleep- not that their cries get ignored.) We've been doing this since they were 8 months old and now when I put them down for naps or for bedtime if they cry it's only for literally 10 seconds and then they put themselves to sleep. Good luck!


Thank you. We did cio for nightime about 2 months ago and it worked. I wish now we had just done both then. It seems worse for naps. How long did it take for naps?

 

i started reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and it took about a week solid for them to really get in the groove... mine were 12 1/2 months when i did this and I had previously been rocking them to sleep and going in their room at all hours of the night to put them back down...over and over and over... naps were the same... basically the book helped me "grow a pair" and not feel so guilty... it says that you are actually teaching them the skill of putting themselves to sleep, not just ignoring their needs... that hit home for me... some don't agree with what it says, but it worked for me... i even had to use the earplugs some nights... i know that sounds awful, and it wasn't easy, but so so so worth it now... once you get into a good solid routine, they will depend on it, and then so can you... good luck... i sympathize.. and i know it's not easy :hug:

 

QUOTE(kelichman @ Oct 14 2008, 02:19 PM) [snapback]1025919[/snapback]
Thank you. We did cio for nightime about 2 months ago and it worked. I wish now we had just done both then. It seems worse for naps. How long did it take for naps?


It took about the same time for naps- we actually started CIO with naps first then I found myself wishing we'd done the nighttime CIO when we did the naps... it's never perfect but it always works out! Good luck!