4 month old will not nap in bed.. only on me...

[kiras_mommy]

Hi there. I have a wonderful 4 month old daughter (on 2-4-6) and she is a great sleeper at night in her own bed but during day light hours she REFUSES to sleep in her bed. She will only nap if I hold her. I don't mind this to a point, but I think (well know) she would be better off if she took naps in her bed. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to help...

Thanks...

[Harvey and Theos Mam]

Hi there, i take it she wakes the minute you put her down.

I only started b/w with my 1st son when he was 4 months old and started with the daytime naps. This is what i did...

Put him into his bed and pat/ssshhh until he was asleep (takes forever) and after a few days he would go to sleep sooner. Then i stopped pat/sshh and just rested my hand on his back, until gradually it wasn't there, but i was still in the room ready for when he woke to put him back to sleep. Then day by day, i gradually moved further away from his cot and then outside the door.
I would go up and wait outside his door just before 20mins as he normally stirred around this time and at 45 mins so i could get him off before he woke up fully.
Obviously some days were harder than others but persistence did overcome resistence. hope this helps.

[Meg's Mom]

Unfortunately i didn't start BW until my LO was 4mos either and she took all naps previouly in her swing or pack in play, but mainly swing.
We did our wind down - Swaddle tight, carry dc around the house for few minutes, take to room, dim the lights, pull the blind (dc needs complete darkness), rock for a few minutes and then lie her down in bed.  If she can't settle I would shh/pat until almost asleep.  I knew i could leave she gave a great big sigh :-).

I hope this helps.  Keep in mind that your baby will fight you. dc will also regress. both are normal - it will take time for him to learn the new way to sleep.