I dread naptime

Ok, so my girls are pretty much on a 3 hour nursing schedule now. Except for the last feed of the day, we pretty much do nurse, play, nap. Their play time is still very brief. When I see the first signs of sleepiness from one of them, I try to swaddle her up and start a little soothing process...singing, swaying, rocking, etc. Then I put the first baby down (in a swing or bouncy so I am close by) and swaddle the next girl up and start soothing...I have to stay close and rub the belly of or reinsert the paci of the first baby. This goes on for a good twenty to thirty minutes or longer. Once my Natalie doses off or is very sleepy, I can usually put her in the PnP in my bedroom (where she sleeps at night) and she'll take a decent nap (anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hrs depending on which nap). My Alyse though will usually pop back awake in 15 minutes (even if she fell asleep in the swing or bouncy) and I have to hold her to get her to have any sort of decent nap. Argh.

Is this normal? It is so exhausting! I am just wondering if you have any other suggestions or any thoughts for what I'm doing wrong!! I would eventually like both girls to be napping in their cribs, but we haven't made that transition yet. They still sleep at night in a PnP next to my bed at night...makes for easier night nursing sessions.

 

I remember my DD being that way. Thats when I started "trying" a nap routine with them. I read Healthy sleep habits, happy child by Dr. Weissbluth and took alot of his suggestions and it really transformed nap time!! Now they were NOT long nappers until 4-5 months but I was able to get somewhat of a routine going with them. At that age though it always changed daily depending on what time they got up etc etc etc. I also at 3.5 months transitioned them into their cribs for all sleep, at first it was HORRIBLE, but then they caught on. It hard at that age, they are not really old enough for CIO, however alittle doesnt hurt.

Gl to ya!! If you havent read that book its a good tool for sleep issues, and he actually is coming out with a version for twins on June 9th. That might be perfect timing for you.

 

It sounds like you have a good pre-nap routine down. I honestly would make that transition to their cribs sooner rather than later. Nothing says that you have to move them in there at nighttime until you are ready. It will be harder in the long run if they are reliant on you holding them or attending to their every need while they nap. It's okay to let them cry for a little bit before they fall asleep or during a sleep phase transition. It may take a couple of days to a week, but once they learn to sleep in their cribs, you will be much happier and so will they. Good luck!

 

I had mine in their cribs right from the word go. DD is very independent and is a good sleeper. She wasn´t when she was 2-3 months old and we always had to rock her to sleep for her naps. This never backfired. Today, I just put her down and rarely have to go to her. DS, however, was a terrible napper when he was small and would often take catnaps which isnt enough for a small baby. I started to comfort/soothe him when he was in his cot and this worked well. I still do it at times today. For nights, I find a bath helps them a lot. I used to bath them at 7pm, from the moment their umbilical cords fell off, and they used to sleep really well afterwards. When I changed their bath to a later time, they would always still sleep really well post-7pm. Maybe you could try a bath in the evenings? I used to do bath-bottle-bed. It worked like a charm. As for their day naps, hang in there. I remember your situation very well. It will pass and you will suddenly find you have free time!! GL!

 

Yes, I think its normal. At 3 months my kids slept anywhere and anytime. I took us awhile to develop a nice napping routine. Be consistent and it will come. :hug: We started napping them in their cribs at 4 months once the morning nap fell into place about 1.5 hours after they woke up in the morning.

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ May 2 2009, 06:14 PM) [snapback]1297672[/snapback]
Yes, I think its normal. At 3 months my kids slept anywhere and anytime. I took us awhile to develop a nice napping routine. Be consistent and it will come. :hug: We started napping them in their cribs at 4 months once the morning nap fell into place about 1.5 hours after they woke up in the morning.
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Mine are six months, but one takes LONG naps about 1 1/2 - 2 hours and the other sleeps 15 - 30 minutes. They are both sleeping about 11- 12 hours at night though. The one that takes short naps usually takes one longet nap about and hour in the am.

 

I would have them nap in their crib instead of the PnP. My babies didn't start napping until I moved them into the crib. It took a few more weeks before I was ready to have them sleeping at night in their crib, but they didn't have a problem sleeping in the PnP at night. I know there is a lot of moms who disagree, but I wouldn't rock them to sleep either. I would just set her down in a quiet place like the nursery, put on some soothing music, and then leave. Once they get used to putting themselves to sleep, life gets so much easier.

 

Wow, your Alyse sounds much like my Elise! She is such a cat-napper, and only on occasion takes a decent nap (more than 45 minutes). Corinne, on the other hand, sleeps in later in the morning, and takes longer naps. I have them on no schedule...other than trying to feed them at the same time (breastfeeding), but often one wakes and is ready to eat while the other wants to eat and then go to sleep. I hate to force them onto the same schedule, as they may have different needs, and my older daughter's schedule varies each day, which changes the babies' schedule. I think I am going to resolve myself to going with the flow for the next few months, as I need them to be flexible due to my older child. As long as their fed, happy, and rested, I guess I shouldn't stress about what's happening at what time, right? That would make my life easier, anyway! I'm just looking ahead to one year, when they'll (hopefully) reliably take one afternoon nap!

Adrianna

 

Structured naps always really stressed me out until I just let the boys set their own nap schedule. Now when they get sleepy, I just let them sleep wherever they are for however long they want, but wake them if it goes more than 30 mins past feeding time. It works well for us and much less stress for me. If they miss a nap I don't stress it. I know it breaks some "rules" but for me it's very liberating.

 

QUOTE(Adrianna @ May 4 2009, 03:13 PM) [snapback]1300104[/snapback]
Wow, your Alyse sounds much like my Elise! She is such a cat-napper, and only on occasion takes a decent nap (more than 45 minutes). Corinne, on the other hand, sleeps in later in the morning, and takes longer naps. I have them on no schedule...other than trying to feed them at the same time (breastfeeding), but often one wakes and is ready to eat while the other wants to eat and then go to sleep. I hate to force them onto the same schedule, as they may have different needs, and my older daughter's schedule varies each day, which changes the babies' schedule. I think I am going to resolve myself to going with the flow for the next few months, as I need them to be flexible due to my older child. As long as their fed, happy, and rested, I guess I shouldn't stress about what's happening at what time, right? That would make my life easier, anyway! I'm just looking ahead to one year, when they'll (hopefully) reliably take one afternoon nap!

Adrianna



Thanks! I've pretty much resolved myself to going with the flow too. They just get so cranky when they aren't well rested!! I do keep them on the same nursing schedule - I do breastfeed them at the same time. Naptimes just wear me out! I do remember my son starting to nap better around the 9 month mark, but he didn't go down to one nap until he was two! It is hard to get my girls on any sortof schedule with big brother's schedule too!

 

QUOTE(carlaj23 @ May 5 2009, 03:33 PM) [snapback]1301504[/snapback]
Thanks! I've pretty much resolved myself to going with the flow too. They just get so cranky when they aren't well rested!! I do keep them on the same nursing schedule - I do breastfeed them at the same time. Naptimes just wear me out! I do remember my son starting to nap better around the 9 month mark, but he didn't go down to one nap until he was two! It is hard to get my girls on any sortof schedule with big brother's schedule too!



Yes, I find myself much less stressed out if I just follow the babies' cues as to when we need to feed/sleep/play/snuggle rather than the clock, even if it changes daily, as it often does, but at least I feel as though I am meeting their needs. It seems futile to me to fight with them for an hour to take a nap because "it's time!" I do try to nurse them at the same time the majority of the time, otherwise that's all I'd do all day, but every once in a while one just fell asleep and the other is ready to eat (Elise is two pounds smaller and sometimes needs to eat more frequently than Corinne). Keeping them flexible is key, too, to allowing my older daughter to continue her activities (preschool, playgroup, gymnastics, etc.). I think I am okay with it, but sometimes feel like I am "supposed" to have them on a more regimented schedule, even though realistically, I don't think that would work for our family right now.