Please Tell Me...

How to 'put them down' for a nap. All I can do is hold/rock/bounce/pat/spank them. NOTHING else will do. No swing, no song, no prayer, NOTHING! What have I done?! Is there any hope at this point.

My boys are 3 months. Yes, I know I need to update the ticker, but every time I try to enter the BBCode I get an error message. I'm doing it the exact same way I did the other one but it's still being goofy. Or maybe I'm being goofy-don't know.

 

I just put my kids down and walk out.

They will fall asleep eventually.

 

They're probably going to turn a corner really soon. After 3 months, they get better at getting hands to mouth, which helps enormously with self-soothing. It's way too young to CIO, IMO. But yours are probably just on the verge of getting better at napping. I think by 4 months mine were much easier that way.

Hang in there and just do what you gotta do! It will get easier, I promise.

 

Either they fell asleep on the bottle or I walked them around until they were asleep and then put them in their crib for a nap at that age. They did not start going down mildly awake until about 4-5 months.

Rachel

 

We just recently started to try to nap the boys. My second child never napped unless we were riding in the car. It lasted for 14 months. Then he fell and injured himself. Since that time he started napping slowly. Ironic. I didn't want to repeat this scenario times 2! So we discovered Swaddle Me blankets for night-time. Then started putting them in the crib in their room in the Swaddle Me. I try once a day. Today they slept for 2 hrs, but that is the longest they have ever gone up there. I was a little unsure about swaddling them in the daytime too, but once we get into a nap habit, we can forego the swaddling and just put them down. They do however cat nap in their bouncy seats or swing, sometimes even the exersaucer. LOL
They still cry a little and fuss when we put them to nap, but I have to have some time for my older boys, since I homeschool. Not only that, they need to nap to grow properly. I know it's really hard. They will adapt to your new routine in time. BIG HUGS!!!

 

I know you barely have time to eat never mind read, but a quick glance through HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS HAPPY CHILD will answer all of your questions about naps. For us it's all timing (I learned everything I know from this book).

 

As far as your ticker goes, can you post the code in this thread that you are using? I will try to figure out if there is anything "extra" in it that is causing it not to work!

 

decide the things that you want to do as part of a naptime/bedtime routine. example: diaper, swaddle, song, kiss, lights out and stick with it. if they are used to sleeping in their swings it may take awhile to get used to sleeping in the crib.

mine goes like this and has since about 4mo: diaper, hug and kiss, put in crib, give soothie, say "night night babies" walk out the door and don't look back!!! sometimes they cry or fuss for awhile, but usually they just pass out.

In previous post you said your DD is barely sleeping in the swing anymore, when my DD started that and waking up at slightest noise I decided it was time to put them down in their crib for naps. once we got over the transition period, about a week for us, they started sleeping 2hr stretches during the day and even longer at night.


My big rule now is unless they are screaming I will not go in, I do peek in the door sometimes, but my door creaks and they have learned that means I am there and then they just cry more so I try to keep to the rule.

whatever you decide to do, make sure you feel comfortable w/ it and go w/ your instincts or you will not be able to stick w/ it and will end up feeling more frustrated.

 

I try to do the same thing every day with them, every nap. Doesn't always happen but we try. They get a fresh diaper, put in pacifier which they proceed to spit out 10 sec after I insert, give them their "lovey" blanket, turn on mobile and walk out the door. I got to basement or outside. 10 minutes later, I turn on monitor...I would say 95% of the time, they are asleep.

 

I just typed this great reply but it deleted so here goes again...

This is what we do

1. Swaddle with Miracle blanket leaving one arm out for hand sucking
2. Different rooms for naps (DS in his crib, DD in pack n play in room next door)
3. Put them down within 1 hour and a half from waking up or at the first signs of being tired, whichever comes first.
4. Don't be afraid of transitioning from swings to cribs...I don't think it ever goes as badly as we fear. I used swaddles and miracle blankets to make them feel as cozy in their cribs as their swings.
5. Do the same thing each time. I carry them upstairs, change, swaddle, turn on sound machines and go from there. The same way each time.
FINALLY - Find out what works for each kid. DS needs cuddled for a couple of minutes
I then place him in his crib and pat him on his back and leave. If he cries I let him go five minutes (unless he gets really mad) and then I go back in a pat his back or pick him up for a little soothing. I then put him down and leave again. If he cries this time I go back in after 10 mintues. He has always fallen asleep by 6 mintues into the 10 mintues so 11 mintues total with one soothing break.
For DD I have to lay her down immediatly following the swaddle and put the paci in her mouth and leave the room. I will re-insert a couple of times but now I am starting to just leave it up to her to find her hand to suck on. I do the same 5 minute 10 minute thing with her but it rarely works. She is pistol about fighting sleep.
BY THE WAY, this is not CIO but the ped said 5-10 minutes is fine and in my opinion it is helpful to teach them to soothe themselves just a bit. If they cannot do it in that amount of time then I they are not ready for it. That is just my opinion.

HTH
I had the same questions about a month and a half ago. DD and DS are 3.5 months now and getting in 5-6 hours of naps a day!

They are still crazy fussy at nighttime though !
Amy