how long do you wait for them to fall asleep on their own?

[{{{Angela}}}]

DD is in her room for her first nap of the day.  I put her down really sleepy, but she "woke" up and it's been about 20 minutes and she is in there talking, whining a bit, squealing.... not really crying so I haven't gone in.  How long do I wait if she doesn't cry?  Will she eventually fall asleep on her own if she doesn't cry?  What if she just doesn't nap?  I know she is tired, she's been yawning and as of now it's been 2h15min since she woke up...

[Jennerific]

don't have any answers for you b/c i've been wondering the same things myself... hopefully you'll get some answers that will help me as well

[{{{Angela}}}]

Okay well I just went in, it's been 30 minutes and I shhh'ed her a bit and all she started smiling and talking to me, so I left.  Sheeesh!    She's still not sleeping!!

[Jennerific]

isn't that frustratingly sweet? its so hard not to smile back when they see you and start grinning. ahh babies

[{{{Angela}}}]

I still don't know if I should leave her b/c she ends up not sleeping and getting OT.

yes, it's very cute when she's all chatty with me and I just want her to sleep.

[~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~]

DD is in her room for her first nap of the day.  I put her down really sleepy, but she "woke" up and it's been about 20 minutes and she is in there talking, whining a bit, squealing.... not really crying so I haven't gone in.  How long do I wait if she doesn't cry?  Will she eventually fall asleep on her own if she doesn't cry?  What if she just doesn't nap?  I know she is tired, she's been yawning and as of now it's been 2h15min since she woke up...

OK - if she is just chatting you can leave her...she will either fall asleep on her own or start crying for you.  I have left ds alone chatting for 45 minutes and he has fallen asleep.  I know it isn't easy just listening to her but she will call for you if she needs you.

If she just doesn't nap, get her up and watch closely for tired signs and do your winddown routine all over again.

It also could be that she has been awake too long and is now OT and having a hard time settling.  Try putting her down when you *think* she is going to be tire, before you get the yawn.  Sometimes by the time my ds yawns, it is already too late.

[{{{Angela}}}]

Hi, I'm back again.   DD has been in her room in bed for about an hour, but not sleeping...I can hear her over the monitor sucking on her hands and occasionally gagging on her fingers (she's not yet mastered the thumb sucking technique).  Do I intervene?  I bet she is OT now, since it's been so long...but she hasn't cried at all.

[*Nicola*]

Angela, is it near feed time? 

Personally, I would get her up now, feed her, have some very low key A time and then put her right down again.  The last thing you want is for her to fall asleep over feed time and you have to wake her.

Just my opinion!

[Love being a mommy]

I agree with Nicola.  If my LO is OT and refusing to nap (which is becoming more and more frequently, grrr), often he just needs a feed or a top-up to relax him.  We spend some time rocking (usually about 5 min) and talking softly, and then he is more "ready" to go down.  Hope that helps!

[{{{Angela}}}]

thanks Nicola and Love being a mommy   That does help - although what happens if she falls asleep during the feed?  should I wake her to put her down awake?  I've been using feeding as a prop so I need to get away from that...

[*Nicola*]

Depends how brave you are Angela 

Seriously, you want to really avoid her becoming OT so you could either rouse her gently from sleep and put her down drowsy but awake or you could put her down sleeping and concentrate on the next nap instead.

It's morning here so I know I am bit late, but how did it go?