Sleeping in other places

[ills84]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about sleeping in other places. I seem to have a baby that only likes her cot. I know I shouldn't complain, but it makes going out hard and trips. She will only take short naps in the pram and only once has slept for over an hour in the car.

Is there a way to train them to sleep anywhere? I have been so focused on Sleep training in the cot that now I think that's the only place she will sleep. She is just 4 months old.

Any tips???

[jessmum46]

Just offering (((hugs))) - my DD has rarely slept anywhere but her cot since 4 months of age.  To be honest I just plan my day around her naps, and if there's something unavoidable that will interfere with nap time, I try to just make my peace with the fact she'll get OT that day and get back on track the day after.  Sleeping out and about is often difficult if you have a LO who sleeps well at home as they just aren't exhausted enough to do long naps when there's so much more interesting going on.  The only babies I know that do good naps out and about are those that have awful nights!  (Though I'm sure that's not true for every baby who sleeps well in the pushchair/car). 

In theory you probably could use the same methods that you did to help her sleep in the cot to teach her to sleep in the pram - you could try something like a snooze shade to block out light and visual stimulation?  It didn't work miracles for us but others swear by them. 

As they get older and can stay awake longer it does get easier to get out and about - now we're mainly on one nap we do something in the morning, come back home for lunch and nap time,then can go out again in the afternoon.

[creations]

My Lo was also very similar.  Slept great morning nap in the cot but only a CN in the car.  We had a regular CN in the car 4 to 6 days per week so he was used to *that* CN being in the car (and found that particular time very hard to do in his cot) but still wouldn't sleep in the pram (my mum had some limited success after a LOT of crying when it absolutely couldn't be avoided, and he did get a bit more used ot it but honestly it wasn't worth it if it could be avoided).  If it's really important to you then I would make it part of your daily routine (it's possible run a slightly irregular routine with a CN in the day rather than last thing before bed), otherwise like pp said plan the day around naps or be prepared for an OT day and catch up the following day.

I could never transfer from car to cot at that age either.  Now he is much older I can plan for his one nap to start in the car because he will transfer so long as it is within the first 30 mins of the nap.  This allows us to stay out a bit later occasionally rather than making sure we are home before nap time.  It does get easier when they are older.

[ills84]

Thanks for the advice.

She is getting better with sleeping at home, so I think I will try and plan things around her naps. It wouldn't be a problem if she fell asleep in my arms, but she just loves her cot and being left alone.

Oh well