Let's talk naptime routine

We decided to pull the babies out of daycare (too many reasons to go into here) and we are in the process of hiring a nanny (My husband and I work FT). Yay for more input on their care!!!!!

I remember when we were thinking about our care situation in the beginning, we almost laughed about getting a nanny! Before returning to work when they were 4.5 months old, I would be in tears at the end of the day because getting them down for naps on my own was SO difficult. I was hoping that our daycare could help us get it figured out...I chuckle at that thought now.

ANYWAY...babies are now 7 months old. We did a bit of sleep-training to get them to fall asleep on their own at night. Critical to that success was our consistency in bedtime routine (bath, nurse, book, kisses, bed, lights out, we leave). However, we never developed a nap routine...sure they are in their sleep sacks and there is white noise in the background, but nothing leading up to that other than us whisking them upstairs when they start to get sleepy.

The nanny candidate we are considering is totally up for getting the nap-thing figured out for us. I am looking for suggestions on good routines that you have in place that are doable on your own! DH and I still each take a baby and get it down for naps on the weekend. We nap them in separate rooms, but would love to get them together in the nursery.

Since we are going to jump head first into nap routines, I want to do it correctly the first time through (even if we are so behind now that they are 7 months old!). TIA for any input or suggestions!!

 

At 7 months old, mine went down about 2 hours after they woke up for the morning. At that age, they could self soothe to sleep for naps. So once I noticed them getting tired, I would just take them into the nursery, pull the shades, rock them a bit on my lap, and sometimes read a quick story. Then I would lay them down in their cribs and turn their crib soothers on.

I would follow the same routine for the afternoon nap. Then their 3rd catnap was in the swing or in the car most of the time until they gave it up.

GL with the nanny.

 

My LO's are only 4.5 months but I had trouble with naps too. I look for sleepy cues or watch the clock 1.5-2 hours max and we rock read a story (the sameone), white noice and off to nap. I read the same books for all naps so they will associate those books with nap time. I also use the white noise to associate sleep time, I use that at night too. Mine both are in the same room and they cry but they always fall asleep. GL, it can be so frustrating.

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ Feb 21 2009, 10:04 AM) [snapback]1199243[/snapback]
At 7 months old, mine went down about 2 hours after they woke up for the morning. At that age, they could self soothe to sleep for naps. So once I noticed them getting tired, I would just take them into the nursery

I would follow the same routine for the afternoon nap. Then their 3rd catnap was in the swing or in the car most of the time until they gave it up.


Same here. First nap was about 2 hours after they woke up. For nap time I simply brought them to their rooms, changed their diapers, and placed them in their cribs. I gave each baby a lovie and turned on the white noise machine and they went to sleep.

2nd nap was about 2 - 3 hours after they woke up from the 1st nap. 3rd nap was very short and was hit-or-miss.

 

I also learned to watch for them to get sleepy. My twins are 10 mths, so they watch a little tv. Durring the same show everyday we will have a snack at the beginning and then we rock and watch together, then it is off for a nap. It is the same time everyday. So, I would suggest to try to make it about the same time everyday.
~Sara

 

i take them to their rooms, change their diapers, wrap them in their miracle blankets (hands out), turn their white noise on & i cuddle them one at a time & sing "twinkle, twinkle, little star", then put them down & off i go. it's basically a shortened version of their bedtime routine & works well for us.

 

At 7 months when they started getting sleepy (around 1 1/2-2 hours after being awake), I'd (or DH) would change their diapers, give them a bottle, lay them down, turn on some soft music, and leave. Sometimes we used the swing, but by 8-9 months they were exclusively napping in their cribs. I think whatever you do, figure out a routine and stick to it for a few days for the babies to get used to it.

 

QUOTE(aimeethomp @ Feb 21 2009, 01:20 PM) [snapback]1199367[/snapback]
Same here. First nap was about 2 hours after they woke up. For nap time I simply brought them to their rooms, changed their diapers, and placed them in their cribs. I gave each baby a lovie and turned on the white noise machine and they went to sleep.

2nd nap was about 2 - 3 hours after they woke up from the 1st nap. 3rd nap was very short and was hit-or-miss.


Us, too. Lovies were a great recent addition and they really help. DS is still in a swaddle-me for naps, DD is just in a sleep sack. DS also has a crib mirror that he looks at as he falls asleep. Sometimes I sing "It's a Small World" if they are crabby about going to sleep (it gets them giggling) and then a quick shhhh shhhh shh shh shhh version of "Hush Little Baby" and I'm out of there! Gl with the new nanny!

 

Some book I read (either Baby Whisperer, or Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby)... mentioned having a good 30 min. winddown routine. I always felt that 30 min. was soooo long... but many of the ideas here are great!

We've been getting good naps from just a few months old, so I do what many of the others have said. Go into the nursery w/both babies, put the white noise on, give them new diapers, lay them on their backs in their own cribs, give them a couple of lovies... tucked into each arm and walk out.

I feel like I need to introduce a better type of winddown, so that grandparents can replicate it at their house when they babysit... I like the book and song idea.

 

We finally have the nap thing figured out (for now at least). Ours go down after being up for 2 hours (each interval of wakefulness). So they wake up at 6, down at 8, and so on. Sometimes they sleep 45minutes, and sometimes 2 hours (like DD today). They take three naps.

Our routine - we sing "Twinkle Twinkle" as we bring them into their room and put their sleep sacks on. DD sleeps in her crib in the nursery with the humidifier on (she's our poor napper), and DS sleeps in a pack and play in another room. They both sleep in their nursery at night.

We've seen naps improve greatly (especially for DS because DD would wake him up) since we've seperated them about a month ago. Good Luck.