To nap in their cribs

My girls are 14 weeks, and they sleep great, at night (for now). The last few nights I have been getting 8-10 hours out of them - down at 7-8 and up between 5 and 6:30a. The problem I am having, and have been trying to work on for the past couple of weeks, is getting them to take their naps in their crib(s). They have gotten into the habit of taking their morning nap, about 3 hours, in their swings. Their afternoon nap is usually on top of me. We got this way because I was trying to do anything to get some sleep, myself, early on. So.. now, when I put them in their crib, or cribs, for naps, they scream and cry. Sometimes, one, or both, of the them will fall asleep for a short time, wake back up screaming. They take turns falling asleep and screaming (somehow. they sleep through the other one screaming). I swaddle them, at night, and that is a whole different issue, so I have started swaddling them, for naps. I can't seem to get them to take a good nap in their room. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Janie

 

Janie, what I did was move whatever they liked sleeping in {for dd it was the bouncy, for ds it was the swing} into their room. I let them nap in the swing/bouncy in their room for a few days. Then I tried putting them in the crib. I did also swaddle them and I put a pillow in the crib to make it seem smaller. I don't they liked how big and alone they felt. They weren't rolling at this point so I wasn't concerned about it, plus I had a monitor. It did take them a few weeks to get used to it and their naps were shorter during this time, but it eventually went back to normal Do you have a mobile or crib toy in their cribs? That could help them out too. Good luck!

 

I basically started by letting them sleep in their bouncy/boppy etc and moved them to the crib after they were asleep. Now they sleep in their cribs without starting in anything else. I make sure room is dark and quiet so they know it is nap time. I don't think it really took until a couple of weeks ago (they are about 21 weeks I think)

 

QUOTE(TwinLove @ Jun 26 2008, 12:46 PM) [snapback]847341[/snapback]
Janie, what I did was move whatever they liked sleeping in {for dd it was the bouncy, for ds it was the swing} into their room. I let them nap in the swing/bouncy in their room for a few days. Then I tried putting them in the crib. I did also swaddle them and I put a pillow in the crib to make it seem smaller. I don't they liked how big and alone they felt. They weren't rolling at this point so I wasn't concerned about it, plus I had a monitor. It did take them a few weeks to get used to it and their naps were shorter during this time, but it eventually went back to normal Do you have a mobile or crib toy in their cribs? That could help them out too. Good luck!


The mobile seems to help, temporarily, but it is almost like they suddenly realize that things are not "right", and then they lose it, either together, or one at a time. I will try to move the swings into their room - it's going to be a tight fit, with two of them in there (HA), but it is definitely worth a try. My girls don't roll, but they somehow manage to travel. Thanks for the suggestion.
Janie

 

QUOTE(MommaK @ Jun 26 2008, 12:55 PM) [snapback]847362[/snapback]
I basically started by letting them sleep in their bouncy/boppy etc and moved them to the crib after they were asleep. Now they sleep in their cribs without starting in anything else. I make sure room is dark and quiet so they know it is nap time. I don't think it really took until a couple of weeks ago (they are about 21 weeks I think)


Good idea, I think that I may try both suggestions, hopefully something will work... Thanks,
Janie

 

I have the same exact problem. I was just searching online for tips.

 

QUOTE(lilly_&_hunter @ Jun 26 2008, 11:34 AM) [snapback]847591[/snapback]
I have the same exact problem. I was just searching online for tips.


Lily I too am having that issue! The girls mainly sleep in their bouncey's but lately I've been trying to transition them to the crib or pnp and it isnt going as planned. It's like what she said,as soon as i put them down they wake up and are like ok im on back now im gonna cry lol

I think I'm just going to have to suck it up and let them CIO. The thing about that is they wake one another up with the crying so I guess im screwed either way lol

 

i recommned the no cry sleep solution. it has lots of great tools for teaching your children to sleep well w/out having them cry as they learn.

best of luck!

 

My kiddos slept everywhere but their crib for the first three months except at night - swings, bouncy seats, me, any unoccupied space in the house. Then I noticed that they were essentially sleeping at the same time every day (about an hour and a half after they started eating). So I started watching for signs they were getting sleepy, but not yet out or overtired and starting putting them in their crib. One totally got it right way and zonked in the crib for 1-2 hours 3 times a day. After a week of varied luck with the other one (he's a sleep fighter anways) I swaddled him and put him down the same way we do at bedtime every night and he caught on by day 2. He even wakes up, looks around, and goes back to sleep just like he does during the night. After about a month I stopped swaddling him and it took him a little longer to get to sleep than ususal, but he still goes right out.

The key for us was to get them down at the right time (before they are overtired) and follow a routine (light/no light, music/no music, say "goodnight" - I think what works is different for everyone, but as long as you do the same thing they figure out - just like sleeping at night - even if it takes them a couple of days to catch on). And that's my second nugget - don't give up just because it doesn't take the first day. For us persistance has been the key to just about every hurdle thus far.

 

QUOTE(lilly_&_hunter @ Jun 26 2008, 12:34 PM) [snapback]847591[/snapback]
I have the same exact problem. I was just searching online for tips.


UH me too!!!
Thanks for posting this Janie!!
I painted myself into a corner with letting them take all their naps on pillows on the couch. Today I was like 'here we go!!!!' (I wanted to take a shower...)
and put them in their cribs at their normal nap time. UMMMM. NIGHTMARE!!!! They cried SOOOOO loud for what seemed forever (not really). When I realized that they werent going to stop unless I took them out of their cribs I just went ahead & took my shower (w/ the monitor on low...watching the red lights go all the way to the very top!).
They cried the whole shower & wouldnt you know it....the minute I got out of the shower & checked the video monitor they were both asleep!!
So starting TODAY I will be putting them in their cribs for at least 1 nap per day & let them CIO if need be.
Their crib nap was only 20 minutes long, but it worked!!
I can only imagine what I would do if they took an hour long nap in their cribs....wooooohoooooooooo :banana:

 

DO you think they are too young to CIO? It looks like yours were born right before mine - March 19th. I will let them yell, but it they really get into crying, I go in. I have let them cry for 5 minutes, at a time (over and over), but it doesn't seem to get me anywhere. Mimi cried off and on for forty minutes, one day, and then never went to sleep.

Today, I let them take their first nap in their swings, as I knew they needed one good one. The second one, we tried the cribs. Keeley fell asleep relatively quickly, on her own, and then woke up and screamed 5 minutes later. Mimi played for a bit, then decided to scream. So.... we ended up taking a nap, all together, on the floor.... After repeated attempts to calm them. Keeley slept another 10 minutes, in her crib, somewhere in there.

 

QUOTE(happychck @ Jun 26 2008, 03:59 PM) [snapback]847763[/snapback]
i recommned the no cry sleep solution. it has lots of great tools for teaching your children to sleep well w/out having them cry as they learn.

best of luck!


I will check that out. They go down pretty easily, at night - the daytime is just rough.

 

QUOTE(beemer @ Jun 26 2008, 04:44 PM) [snapback]847862[/snapback]
My kiddos slept everywhere but their crib for the first three months except at night - swings, bouncy seats, me, any unoccupied space in the house. Then I noticed that they were essentially sleeping at the same time every day (about an hour and a half after they started eating). So I started watching for signs they were getting sleepy, but not yet out or overtired and starting putting them in their crib. One totally got it right way and zonked in the crib for 1-2 hours 3 times a day. After a week of varied luck with the other one (he's a sleep fighter anways) I swaddled him and put him down the same way we do at bedtime every night and he caught on by day 2. He even wakes up, looks around, and goes back to sleep just like he does during the night. After about a month I stopped swaddling him and it took him a little longer to get to sleep than ususal, but he still goes right out.

The key for us was to get them down at the right time (before they are overtired) and follow a routine (light/no light, music/no music, say "goodnight" - I think what works is different for everyone, but as long as you do the same thing they figure out - just like sleeping at night - even if it takes them a couple of days to catch on). And that's my second nugget - don't give up just because it doesn't take the first day. For us persistance has been the key to just about every hurdle thus far.


I have been working on this for the past couple of weeks, pretty much how you did - I just don't feel like I am getting anywhere. I haven't given up, but I feel like we have a little war going on, during the day. They are wearing me out. They are going to be in a home day care, in two months, so I would like to get them sleeping in their beds before that. Today, we slept on the floor of their room (I participated and held pacifiers!). We will see what tomorrow brings.
Thanks for the reply.
Janie

 

QUOTE(tamaras @ Jun 26 2008, 05:45 PM) [snapback]847955[/snapback]
UH me too!!!
Thanks for posting this Janie!!
I painted myself into a corner with letting them take all their naps on pillows on the couch. Today I was like 'here we go!!!!' (I wanted to take a shower...)
and put them in their cribs at their normal nap time. UMMMM. NIGHTMARE!!!! They cried SOOOOO loud for what seemed forever (not really). When I realized that they werent going to stop unless I took them out of their cribs I just went ahead & took my shower (w/ the monitor on low...watching the red lights go all the way to the very top!).
They cried the whole shower & wouldnt you know it....the minute I got out of the shower & checked the video monitor they were both asleep!!
So starting TODAY I will be putting them in their cribs for at least 1 nap per day & let them CIO if need be.
Their crib nap was only 20 minutes long, but it worked!!
I can only imagine what I would do if they took an hour long nap in their cribs....wooooohoooooooooo :banana:


Good for you! I know that I was doing absolutely anything to get a little sleep, at the beginning. I knew that I was going to have to break some habits later ,but.... Hope your day went well.
Janie

 

QUOTE(jungleX2 @ Jun 27 2008, 03:09 PM) [snapback]849928[/snapback]
Good for you! I know that I was doing absolutely anything to get a little sleep, at the beginning. I knew that I was going to have to break some habits later ,but.... Hope your day went well.
Janie


Yeah, I never really factored in breaking habits when I was in survival mode!! Now I am having to retrain myself & them!

So now we are on day 2 of napping in cribs (for their 1 pm nap)!!!
I let Chloe fall asleep on the pillow I fed her on, then brought her upstairs to her crib & she briefly woke up, but went back to sleep & slept for almost 40 minutes!! YAY.
Came back downstairs & got Sydney & brought her up to her crib & laid her down then went to clean up my bedroom & put clothes away. Sydney NEVER fell asleep but just played in her crib quietly (trying to roll over) for a half an hour! YAY. Quiet time in the crib is better than nothing I guess!
So that is my plan for now ~ to just bring them up there around 1 pm every day for a 'nap' or quiet time if they wont sleep

 

We took most of month #4 to perfect naps in the crib and not the bouncy. Even then I think it was a little easier for us since they didn't need the motion of the swing. I mostly remember going back and forth to the cribs a million times. I let them fuss it out, but I usually put a stop to crying if it continued for more than 5 minutes. Even when they did start to nap it was never at the same time. They would get so overtired they would fall asleep at the bottle and then wake up two minutes later seemingly full of energy.
After the whole ordeal I saw a hint about starting with one nap (whichever you think would be easiest) and get them used to that nap in the crib and then to change the others. In hindsight that's what I would have done.
The biggest hint I can pass along is to get the whole family on board. DH didn't see what I was trying to do and he would constantly let them sleep in the bouncies. The in-laws weren't very supportive either yet they now brag about how well their grandchildren sleep. I have to take some of the blame as well. I used to let one sleep with me on the sofa if I thought he would disturb his brother in the bedroom. Keep at it. It took some people a week or two - it took me a month, but it was worth every frustrated minute.

 

QUOTE(tamaras @ Jun 27 2008, 06:11 PM) [snapback]850011[/snapback]
Yeah, I never really factored in breaking habits when I was in survival mode!! Now I am having to retrain myself & them!

So now we are on day 2 of napping in cribs (for their 1 pm nap)!!!
I let Chloe fall asleep on the pillow I fed her on, then brought her upstairs to her crib & she briefly woke up, but went back to sleep & slept for almost 40 minutes!! YAY.
Came back downstairs & got Sydney & brought her up to her crib & laid her down then went to clean up my bedroom & put clothes away. Sydney NEVER fell asleep but just played in her crib quietly (trying to roll over) for a half an hour! YAY. Quiet time in the crib is better than nothing I guess!
So that is my plan for now ~ to just bring them up there around 1 pm every day for a 'nap' or quiet time if they wont sleep


That is kind of like my plan - work on one nap, at a time. Good luck, let me know how they do.

 

QUOTE(pgmummy @ Jun 27 2008, 06:20 PM) [snapback]850020[/snapback]
We took most of month #4 to perfect naps in the crib and not the bouncy. Even then I think it was a little easier for us since they didn't need the motion of the swing. I mostly remember going back and forth to the cribs a million times. I let them fuss it out, but I usually put a stop to crying if it continued for more than 5 minutes. Even when they did start to nap it was never at the same time. They would get so overtired they would fall asleep at the bottle and then wake up two minutes later seemingly full of energy.
After the whole ordeal I saw a hint about starting with one nap (whichever you think would be easiest) and get them used to that nap in the crib and then to change the others. In hindsight that's what I would have done.
The biggest hint I can pass along is to get the whole family on board. DH didn't see what I was trying to do and he would constantly let them sleep in the bouncies. The in-laws weren't very supportive either yet they now brag about how well their grandchildren sleep. I have to take some of the blame as well. I used to let one sleep with me on the sofa if I thought he would disturb his brother in the bedroom. Keep at it. It took some people a week or two - it took me a month, but it was worth every frustrated minute.


I have been letting them take their morning nap, in their swings, and saving the battle for the afternoon.. They are definitely doing the falling asleep on the bottle thing - so frustrating.