Why won't she nap?

Hi ladies - I need your tips on how to get a little one to nap! My girls are 10.5 weeks old and are good night sleepers (thank goodness!). They sleep in their crib from 7PM to 7AM with one dream feed at 10PM and a full feed at 2:30AM. But during the day, one barely naps. We've gotten her reflux under control with medication and we do angle her crib mattress and position her comfortably. She may not need as much sleep as her sister, but she does seem overly tired and I notice that she's much happier on the (rare) days that she sleeps more. She doesn't like to sleep in the bouncy, swing, or carseat. If she won't go down on her own, the only thing that works is for me to baby-wear her and take her on a walk. Any advice?

 

Do you swaddle her? Does she eat enough? If so, she may just need a little extra cuddling with you.
One of my boys was having a hard time with naps, too, so I helped him. I rocked him, I held him until he actually fell asleep then put him down. At least at that age.
And no, I did not spoil my son, he is now able to fall asleep on his own.

 

Ok, I will pay special attention to her hunger cues and I'll add more cuddle time. I do swaddle her. I have tried to rock her quietly in the nursery with the black out shades drawn, but she just seems a little wired, like she wants to play a lot. She was actually *really* active in utero, so I can't say this surprises me!! But I do want to make sure she gets some good rest.

 

Our active boy Daniel has alot less sleep during the day than Ethan. Like you they are great at sleeping at night. I have found that if I place Daniel in the cot, swaddled and with the mobile moving he will quietly watch for a while then he will drift off to sleep. They are on a school drop off schedule so they can't choose when to sleep really. If I place Ethan in the cot with him he won't settle. (They sleep together at night happily)He just seems to need less sleep. It's a personality thing I think. Everyone comments on his BIG searching eyes. He's quite happy just to rest even if he's not sleeping.

 

I found I had to put down DD before she was seeming tired...I followed the "no longer than 2 hours awake" from Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, for about a month...now she's starting to have longer naps and longer wake times, but for a while she never napped longer than an hour...

 

I have one of those too!!!!!! :grouphug:

It is sooo hard when one won't or can't settle.

Can't offer much new advice but you're not alone! :grouphug:

 

I second the "Healthy sleep habits happy child" Great book !!! Worth taking the time to read. I found my one daughter couldn't shut off her brain. I'd swaddle her and put her in a dark quiet corner but still she fought it. You just have to fight harder and know that she needs sleep. Try giving her a bath just before her nap. Start her first nap 2 hours after she wakes up. So time the bath to be finished by the end of that 2 hours. Eg. she wakes up at 7 ? then give her a bath at 8:30 and ready for a nap at 9 am. Time her next nap at 12:00 - 12:30.

In the early months like the pp mentioned I remember sitting on the couch holding them or in a infant carrier. I found myself on the couch at the same time everyday watching the same shows. It is about timing and starting to get them used to falling asleep at the same time everyday. In the beginning they might need some help on how to do that.

Hope that helped.


Heather

 

I took your advice, got the book, and have been paying A LOT of attention to her sleep cues (which used to confuse me b/c I thought they were her play cues. It's definitely helped.

OH I hope yours are getting better! It's so unsettling!

Yes, great book. I got the twins version. I also noticed that she naps GREAT in our room rather than in the crib with her sis. So, I've started sleeping with one of her blankets and then I place that in her crib during naps with the thought that our scent may calm her. But when all else fails, she naps in our room.

Thanks for all your advice. It takes a village.