Help 7.5Mnth Won't Nap during the day

[Lucysmom]

Jessica - OK I don't hate you anymore!    Wow that is quite interesting that he is a great napper and has trouble at night.  Any idea why he wakes so much at night?   

[* Paula *]

Hi there,

Me again, once again thanks for the advice and kind words.

I am really looking forward to spending some time with him and trying to get him back on his routine - I feel like I am a woman on a mission.

Corrina - Yes he usually does only sleep for 45minutes to an hour - that is the reason why he is still on 3 naps a day - the shortness of the naps does not really bother me, as when he does have 3 naps a day - he is like a completely different baby.  Although once we do get back on track, I would like to try and get him to nap longer.  When we were overseas, he was a fantastic napper - like 1.5 hours at a time, and if you did not put him down for his naps, the whole house would know about it, but I am sure that had something to do with the altitude and the hot weather as we were in SA.

Thanks again for all your advice.  It is really appreciated.

Paula - Mum to Thomas 12 July 2005

[Colin Macs Mom]

I'm not trying to hijack this post, I swear!

Melissa, I know it is weird. He's very spirited so that makes sleeping a little harder anyhow, but he also has reflux that took quite a while to get under control. Things are great now, but since it took so long I think his wakings are purely habitual. Unfortunately PU/PD doesn't work at all, so that makes things a lot harder too. Sooooooo... it's taken a very long time to see improvement but I finally feel like we're getting there. Now when he wakes (most times) he just talks and doesn't escalate and he eventually gets himself back to sleep. We also weaned him off the one night feed he still was having, and that helped a lot too.

[* Paula *]

Hi All,

Just thought I would check in and let you all know how we are getting on  - I think that face explains it all.

I don't know where the problem is or what MIL is doing - but everytime I have put DS down for a nap he has gone to sleep.  Don't get me wrong, he has had a little wine here and there - which I ignored as he was not crying and the next thing I knew he was fast asleep.  It has been like this since I started re-introducing his routine on Saturday morning and everything has been fine.  DS is happy as he has been napping, and I am happy and I have a happy little chappy.

His naps have not been long enough - maybe an hour at the most, but that is the next problem that I am going to tackle. - One problem at a time.

DP told his mother that DS has been sleeping and that he does not know what they are doing wrong, and she went on the defensive saying - well he must just miss you then that is why he is not sleeping.

To be honest I think they are over stimulating him as they are constantly playing with him and don't give him time to wind down, and when they put him down and he has a little wine that is their cue to say OH HE DOES NOT WANT TO SLEEP and then carry on playing with him - hense the reason of me coming home to an overtierd and overstimulated baby.

I am going round tomorrow to try and re-introduce this routine to them - lets see how they take it and if they listen to me.

Wish me luck 

[corrina01]

Best of luck to you, and I am glad you have a happy little chappy again. 

[* Paula *]

Me again,

Think we might have overcome the 30 minute nap monster.

This morning DS went down for his am nap and I went in to check on him and he had rolled over onto his tummy to go to sleep - He ended up sleeping for an hour like that.  I have tried putting hinm down now for his pm nap on his belly and will see how long it is.

Will keep you posted.

[corrina01]

YAY glad you are on the way there 

[twoblacklabs]

Just wanted to let you know reading this post has made me feel sooo much better - we are in the same situation currently with my lil' Jack (8 mo old).

He just started boycotting naps - seemed to come out of nowhere.  I re-read some of Tracy's book and she says that around this age they need an adjustment in their nap schedule that may take a few weeks to work out.  Jack used to be a solid 3 nap a day (on the shorter side, like your lil guy) and was easy to put down.  Always went down in his crib without a fuss.  Then all of a sudden he started either completely refusing to nap in the crib or he would sleep but for no more than 15 minutes.

He is sleeping now, and its been about 15 minutes, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and typing very quietly! 

I have chalked it up to several things:
New teeth - just got two, and I think there are more coming
MAJOR changed in mobility - not crawling yet, but sooo close - and doing just about everything else to get around
He's realized there is fun stuff going on during non-nap time and doesn't want to miss anything
He is sometimes probably overtired/stimulated and we need to cool it a little bit, particularly around naptimes

Your post helped me see there are things I can do and I don't have to just give up and forget naps... he needs them, I know he needs them, and we are gonna keep working on it til we figure out what kind of nap schedule works for him now that he's changing so much.

Best of luck, and thanks for sharing!