For the last 3 days, DD won't take her 3rd nap. She'll cry for 30 min. and then I get her up. And most of the time it's hysterical crying. She's been napping better for Nap #1 and 2, 1.5 hrs. for each of those naps. I put her down when she starts getting tired (rubbing her eyes). I don't know what to do because she is miserable to be around if she doesn't get this nap. By bedtime, she's so overtired it's hard for her to fall asleep. I don't know if my timing is off or something. I don't think I can move up her bedtime. My LO's already go to bed at 6 or 6:30 p.m. I'm also worried about the time change. Won't this make it works because they will be so tired and it will only be 5 p.m.? DS does take the 3rd nap, although it's only 30-45 min. long. Wake - 6 am Nap #1 - 7:30 - 9:00 am Nap #2 - 11:30 am - 1:00 p.m. Nap #3 - 3:30 p.m. Do you think I am putting her down too early or too late? She seems tired at 3:30, but still won't take the nap. Should I drop her 3rd nap?
Will they stay awake any longer after the first nap, so that the 2nd nap would be a bit later? Maybe then she wouldn't be so cranky by bedtime & could drop the 3rd nap if she isn't taking it anyway. Otherwise, I would just keep trying, maybe it's just a phase she's going through & she will pick the 3rd nap back up if you keep putting her in there. :hug:
I totally understand. There are days that Jonathan will not take the third nap. I look at it this way, its our time for one-on-one. However, the third nap for us is only 30-45 minutes long. I just dont sweat it, if he gets tired around bedtime...I give him a long bath and massage to help him stretch out the time and it works great! I wonder if your baby is ready to get rid of the third nap and go to bed a little early. Keep your chin up.... Jenn
hmm that's a hard one. She is probably in between taking the third nap and dropping it. I would say if she is rubbing her eyes and usually puts herself to sleep and is crying when you put her in there hysterical than maybe you are waiting too long. My son Keegan that puts himself to sleep only gets worked up and won't when he is either too tired or not tired enough. I would try moving it up a half hour or pushing it back a half hour and see if either works, but I wouldn't keep her up more than 4 hour past the 2nd nap. If not try stetching the time for the second nap. My guys teetered on the third nap they dropped it for two weeks, took it for two week and now finally dropped it for good and I just got them to do the 3 hour stretch to the second nap. Today it worked, but tomorrow who knows lol. 2 1 1/2 hour naps sound really good so she may not need the third nap and may just need to get used to dropping it. Wish I could help I, I hate the guessing game.
Just a few weeks ago (at 6 months) we switched the nap routine completely, and it's going really well. I got the idea from friends whose similar-aged kids were taking 'marathon' naps compared to mine!! I felt like I spent SOOO much time trying to get them asleep/down for naps....all day long....ugh. So we went from TWO morning naps and TWO afternoon naps (~30-45 mins each), and consolidated them into just ONE a.m. and ONE p.m. nap (~1-2 hrs each!). At first they were both pretty cranky while I kept them awake playing, going for walks, etc but after just a few days it was clear that this works really well for both my DS and DD. So roughly we do: 6/6:30 wake 9:30/10 nap 2:30/3 nap 7 start bedtime routine...usually asleep by 7:30 Their bedtime seems a little later than most people seem to do, but it works for us. Also, that way they get their last bottle at 7 or 7:30, which I tell myself helps them sleep longer, but we're still waiting for them to STTN! At the same time we started putting them in their cribs for naps, instead of letting them sleep wherever (swings, bouncy seats, etc.) I started by letting them fall asleep on our big bed while doing bottles, stories, etc. for naps and then transnferring them into their cribs once asleep (but still letting them fall asleep 'assisted' for bedtime, by being held, rocked, etc) but in the last week or so we started putting them in their cribs awake - but sleepy - for naps AND bedtime, and have even done CIO successfully 2 nights in a row now! Last night they cried for 20 minutes, and tonight was just 12. Hope that helps!
i think i would try pushing the nap times back a bit, maybe the first nap starting at 8-8:15 and then the second nap starting 3 hours after they wake from the first nap. that would pretty much be the 2-3-4 schedule and i have found that it works great for us most of the time. mine dropped the third nap around 7.5-8 months, so yours might be ready. mine also did the hysterical crying the whole time they were supposed to be taking the third nap and i just couldn't put them through it and adjusting to 2 naps did the trick.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! Today I tried keeping up DD a little longer in between naps. She got really overtired before the first nap and her naps were shorter. She is taking her 3rd nap right now, after 30 min. of crying. DS is not taking his 3rd nap, though! I'm not sure where to go from here. I feel like I either need to put DD down earlier or later for that 3rd nap.
Sorry to say this, but because you have fraternal twins, they may not be ready to do things at the same time. Meaning, your girl still needs three naps where your boy, not-so-much. It is a little easier to sleep train ID twins. My really good friend had to separate her b/g twins because they interferred with their sleep. And her boy transitioned to two naps much faster than the girl. Just a suggestion, Jenn
