A Slippery Slope

[Mom2katiebug]

My DD has now broken her habit of only napping in her swing and will go down awake in her crib and put herself to sleep.  But, we are struggling with those darn naps (45 minutes is a long nap in our house these days!).  So, I think I'm sliding down a slippery slope:  When she is VERY tired and really needs the extra nap time, I've put her in her swing to get the second sleep cyle in.  I've done it twice now and she sleeps like a champ. BUT, I have spent 20-30 minutes trying to get her back to sleep before I resort to the swing.

So, help me figure this out - am I undoing all the efforts up till the point? 

I just feel like the naps will lengthen whenever she reaches that magical developmental milestone, and since we're giving it the good college try to get her back to sleep before using the swing, won't we know when that happens?  Or, am I just kidding myself?!?

[Luke-n-Me]

Casey,

I'm doing EASY with DC#2 now and I've honestly come to the conclusion that they will nap longer when they hit the developmental milestone.  I drove myself completely insane with DS (#1) and he just eventually started napping on his own, I knew it had nothing to do with my efforts.  As for DD, she's a much easier baby, but I'm still having the same issues with her-short naps, only by this time DS was napping well (she's 4 mos.) and she's getting better, but not quite there yet.  I fought the naps with her for 6/7 weeks and then just decided to roll with it.  When she gets up I let her fuss (not scream) for a few minutes and if she starts to get really upset, I just go get her up.  Lately, if she's had 2 short naps and can't get herself settled back down after the second nap, I get her up and hold her for the rest of the nap and we're all better off, she's happier and I didn't drive myself insane trying to get her back to sleep. 

IMHO, if they can put themselves to sleep initially, that's the biggest battle, they will eventually be able to soothe themselves back to sleep after that first sleep cycle.  Do what you need to to keep your sanity now, just be consistent in your efforts and it will get better!

[Colesmom]

Casey-First off-Congratulations!  I am sooo happy that you've got her settling in her crib for naps.  That is just wonderful!  Like I said before, my DS was 4.5 months before I started BW.  I does take time for then to learn to self soothe...after 3 months I believe, so your DD is doing really well going down awake and putting herself to sleep.  How is her A time again?  I apologize but I can't remember how long she is up before you put her down.  I think that before 4 months if they are up too long then they are too tired to make it past the 45 min. mark and jolt awake.

It will take time and patience but I think you're making great progress so hang in there, okay!