sample wind-down to naps routine?

[lilsweetie]

Hi there,
I think I might be overstimulating my son (5mo) before he goes down for naps. He used to fall asleep so easily at naptime but the past 2 days all of a sudden he's really refusing to go down. I have not changed anything though. During A time, We usually sit in the swing, do tummy time, read or take a walk. When am i supposed to start winding down for a nap? 15 minutes before sleep time or when I see the first yawn? Sometimes he yawns after only 1 hour of being awake, though.

Could any of you please give me some ideas or sample wind down routines before naps? Bedtime routine is no problem and he falls asleep easily.

Thanks! Tianne

[lawnseed]

Hi:)

For my LO I see a yawn and then keep a close eye for other signs of tiredness, as she also yawns before I think she's been awake for long enough. I tend to start wind down around 15 mins before she usually gets tired (just by picking her up and rocking her) and then keep an eye out for other signs. For Eden, eye rubbing is her classic, and I try to get to the cot before she gets to that stage. Once in her room I change her into her grobag, rock her for a short while and then sit quietly with her dummy. Once she's starts burrowing into me I pop her in her cot without her dummy. It's basically a shortened bedtime routine.

If he's only just started fighting them though, and is having good naps coul it be that he is not ready for his nap yet?

maybe post his routine and other mums with babes of a similar age could comment:)

HTH

Lorna x

[Bryony]

Hi there

I start my wind-down routine about 10-15 mins before I think Katie will need to be asleep, or at the first sign of tiredness if that happens first. Usually though she doesn't show much in the way of tired signs so I do tend to go by the clock a bit.

Our wind-down routine:

- 5 mins or so of walking around the house with her on my hip, talking gently (usually while I tidy up a bit with my other hand  )

- walk into her room singing Twinkle Twinkle little star
- shut the blinds saying "bye bye sun" a few times in the same way each time - I am hoping this will become like a cue word
- put on our nap time music (white noise CD)
- sit on the bed and sing Twinkle Twinkle little star once more
- into sleeping bag
- kiss her good sleep
- into the cot
- put on the lullaby and say "see you later, have a lovely sleep"
- leave the room

It seems to work... 

... although problems with settling are often due to having to big or too small A times - might these need tweaking?

Bryony