Wont nap anywhere but cot

[H mummy]

Hello Im new and have been working hard with my 5 month old to get napping sorted!  We have been doing sshh pat and pick up/put down and he will now nap in his cot for about 30 mins to sometimes 2hrs!  He is generally ok at night times.

A huge problem we have now is that he will not sleep anywhere but in his cot.  When he starts to show he is tired only the cot will do.  This is fine if we are home but when I am out for the day he will end up screaming for upto 3 hours if he doesnt sleep.  For example, I went to a shopping centre for the day and hoped he would drop off in his pram when he was tired but he didnt and just screamed the whole way round.  Rocking him doesnt help, nothing helped at all.  He just thrased about and got into a right state!

We wont sleep in the carseat without crying for about half an hour before hand either.

I am now finding that I am not going out as much as I cant cope with it all!

Any tips on helping him to nap anywhere other than his cot?

[*Becky*]

We are in exactly the same situation with our 8.5 month DS. Today we went to visit a friend and had to time the entire visit around his naps. My lo is touchy with a bit of spirited so finds it very hard to wind down unless in a dark room etc. He is very nosey!!!
I am going to see what suggestions there are as it is quite stressful. Not every trip can be timed around a 3 hour A time!
becky x

[lizzieHarrold]

Hi there

Welcome!! You will find lots of great advice on here!  Certainly saved my sanity on more than one occassion..

My first baby was like this, what I did was each day I would take her for a walk at catnap time.  For me, this 30/45 min nap was almost the least important of the day as it was intentionally the shortest.  So I would walk for around an hour or so, allowing for time for her to get off to sleep.  It took a few days, but she got used to being in the pushchair and would drop off.

I also found that she preferred to sleep sitting up rather than having the chair in the laid back position (my son is the same).  I think they both disliked not being to see what was going on fully.  

Certainly both my two would conform to things once I kept on doing it for long enough!!  

My son absolutely hates the car seat (4.5 months old) I try my best to time my trips with his nap times so he is very tired already and doesnt fight me so much on sleeping in it!

Hope this helps and let us know how you get on.

Take care

Lizzie xx

[opsmummy]

Hi

I have exactly the same problem. My DS will put himself to sleep and sleep for up to 2 hours in his cot. If we are out he will drift off but maybe only for 30 minutes. By the time i get home I have a very over tired baby and i have to work hard to get him to sleep. It really makes me think twice about going out. Hate to see him over tired and stressed out because of missing naps.

Becky

[lizzieHarrold]

I know what you mean.  I sometimes try and give my ds a nap in his cot in the morning before I head out.  I know then that even though he cat naps in his pram he has had one good nap in his cot that day and eventually it will be bed time...

It gets very confusing doesnt it!!

x