Okay, I know I have posted about this before, but, what would you do? Jack and Lily take great naps throughout the (finally!), however, it never fails that around 6pm they start fussing/screaming. Their last nap usually ends around 5pm but I cannot get them to go back down at 6. We start bedtime routing at 7:30 with sponge bath/bath, swaddle/bottle, fall asleep screaming in our arms, bed. It is like they are inconsolable at this time. They are upset before we start, the sponge bath calms them down and they almost look happy, and the moment their bedtime onesies go on they are screaming again. DD screams until you set her down in her crib, she hates to be held when she is tired. DS just acts like he is not tired but he is, exhausted. They have both been sleeping through from 8:30 to about 6 or 7 about everyother night. Unfortunately, they seem to take turns doing this with one waking up around 3 or 4 every other night. Any ideas? I guess maybe this is just how they are - before bed screamers. Amy
If they're screaming really loud at 6 pm my guess is they're overtired and their bedtime is too late. I would drop the last nap and move their bed time to 6/6.30 pm. Why bother keeping them up when they're not happy. And surprisingly, mine actually sleep better when they're in bed early. My oldest was easily sleeping 6 pm until 7 am at 4 months of age. And the twins have no trouble sleeping 11-12 hours straight either. The last 2 days their afternoon naps were short, so they went to bed at 6 pm and they woke up around the same time. My twins have been on a 2 nap schedule since 4 months (9 am and 1 pm). They wake at 3 pm, and are in bed at 6.30 pm (used to be 6.00 pm). ETA: My oldest is still in bed at 7.00/7.15 pm and she wakes at 3 pm from her nap (and occassionally skips when she doesn't fall asleep at school).
Maybe you need to adjust their nap times so that their last nap ends at 4-ish, then they can go to bed at 6-6:30-ish. Good luck, before bed screamers are no fun!
Not sure how old your LO's are but my girls STILL take a 20 minute cat nap from about 6:15 to 6:35 every night. Either on my lap or in their swings. It makes our evenings so much nicer. They sleep from 8:30 to 5:30am and get two naps..10:00 to 12:00pm and 2:00 to 3:30pm. Good Luck!
i have no advice for you but wanted to say my guys do just about the same thing - so I know how you feel!!!!!
Mine do the same. I have no advice except to say I know how you feel. Mine won't even take good naps. I mean they won't take a nap at all most of the time. Maybe 10min here or there but never lay down and take a nap. So mines problem is they are over tired. Like you said good during bath but after that it takes them forever to go to sleep. Good luck Missy
If you have a chance read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and I am convinced that after reading you'll agree that they most likely need to go to bed earlier, now that they're getting older and sleep less during the day and need more during the night. Honestly it doesn't have to be like this. My twins started to do the same at 2 months ... I immediately moved their bed time earlier and it has been a life saver for our entire family.
Like PP suggested, I would try to put them to bed earlier, and skip or move up that last nap (easier said than done, I know! They tend to nap when they nap...). We start bedtime routine at 6 p.m., they are asleep by 6:30/7 and sleep through the night. Mine still only stay awake for about 2 hours at a time, so they are still on 3 naps a day at 7 months.
