Wind down

[mandyr]

Hello to all.  This is my first post.

I have been trying to get my 5mth old to takes naps without a prop.  Before now, I'd always breastfed her to sleep.  I've been trying to use the pu/pd method, which does work eventually.  However, my main problem is the winding down process.  She hates being swaddled, so I cannot use that.  I carry her into her room, draw the curtains and attempt to sit quietly in the hope that she'll relax.  Problem is, she hates being held still.  After a minute or two, she starts crying and wriggling.  Then, when I put her down in her cot, she will roll around, examining every inch of it, keeping herself awake until she gets fed up and starts crying.  That's when I begin the pu/pd process.

Am I doing something blatantly wrong?  Please can someone advise.

Best wishes to everyone.

Mandy

[Mom to M&M]

Can you post her overall routine? How long is she awake for, etc?

My DD wasn't swaddled after 6 weeks. At 5 months we used to go in her room for diaper change and sleep sack. Then I'd close the shades and we'd read a story with her sitting in her recliner chair. Then we'd cuddle and sing a lullaby - I'd hold her while standing. Then into crib and I'd turn on her Flutterby birds and kiss her and leave.

But five months can also be a tough time with developmental changes too!

[mandyr]

Thanks for replying.

She usually wakes up between 7.30 and 8am, then starts showing sleepy signs at around 10.30am.  She seems to grow tired after 2-2.5 hours awake.  Up until recently, she has needed to feed every 1.5 hours.  I know that this goes against EASY, but she has been happy and healthy on it.  Recently, I have managed to extent her feeds to 2 hours.  I tend to feed her when she wakes, then feed her again after 2 hours, change her nappy (to keep her awake), then put her in her cot.  I try to keep her awake a little longer before bedtime in the evening, and usually put her down around 8.30pm.

It's interesting that you mention the developmental changes.  She is a very active baby, always has been, and is close to crawling.  She also already has two teeth.  First one came through when she was just 4.5 months old.  Problem is, she refuses to sit still for more than a minute, so reading a story with her just won't work.  She does enjoy singing though, so I may try standing and holding her, singing in her ear.

Best wishes,

Mandy

[Mom to M&M]

2.5 hours awake is a lot of A time for a 5-month old in the morning. She may actually be overtired by then. I'd focus on setting a consistent wake time in the morning - perhaps wake her by 7:30 if not up already and then try for first nap at 9:45 latest. 8:30 pm is also pretty late of a bedtime for her age - she may do better with a bedtime of 7:30 or latest 8pm.

[mandyr]

Thanks.  I'll give it a try.

[summersusu]

I agree with Marisa Mom with the wind down.  When I started training my LO to sleep in the crib for naps we would close the curtain, change diaper, read a story while we rocked, turn on white noise, and put him down.
I think if you are consistant with the wind down, she will eventually stop fighting it.  
HTH

[Mom to M&M]

Yes, we still use white noise here. And the crib toy (in our case, Flutterby Dreams Soother) was key. I've heard the Ocean Wonders Aquarium is also good.