Fighting the nap

[~Kiki]

Here is my 7 1/2 month old's schedule:

7:30 wake up breastfeed
8:30 solids (cereal & fruit)
10:00 nap
noon lunch (veggies and breastfeeding)
2:30 nap (we just can't get this nap down we've tried different times anywhere from 1 to 3:30, she just doesn't want to do it)
3:30 bf
4:30 solids (cereal & fruit)
7:00 bf then bed
10:00 dreamfeed

Any suggestions on the afternoon nap? Nobody's having any fun here in the afternoons. Grumpy baby = grumpy parents

[debo620]

how long is the morning nap?

[~Kiki]

The morning nap is an hour.

[debo620]

at your daughter's age, I wouldn't think that a 1hr morning nap would be too much but you could try pushing it to 10:15am and reducing it to 45min and then nap 2-3:30. If she is sleeping 12hrs at night, then probablly 2hrs of naps is good, so maybe 45min am and 1hr 20min pm.

[Layla]

Is she fighting it altogether or just taking a short nap? I had problems with Jasmine taking a 45min nap in the afternoon and I ended up doung w2s but she would fall asleep for it ok.

Layla

[~Kiki]

She is sleeping 12 hours a night, so I can't complain there. Getting her down for the afternoon nap is the issue. If she does go to sleep then it's a good 1 1/2 hour nap. It's just so odd, she goes down instantly and totally independent for her morning nap, but doesn't want anything to do with the afternoon nap. No matter what time we try.

[debo620]

I would personally try shortening the am nap to 40min since you are having a 12hr night, then longer nap at 2pm or so.

[~Kiki]

I would love for her to have her long nap in the afternoon and when she does actually fall asleep it is, it's just getting her to fall asleep. I've also noticed if I try to run an errand (before the 2nd nap) she will fall asleep 2 minutes before we get home and will really fight me. Is this common with others? The 2 minute nap convincing them they took their nap?

[Layla]

I find that even if I'm late in doing the wind down like 5 mins, she has a hard time going down. Mine is extremely sensitive and if she's not down at the same time for her naps then its either a really short nap or taking a long time to fall asleep.

I personally wouldn't cut the morning nap because she is not really taking a long nap, iykwim? 1 hr is not long enough to cut and if anything she might get overtired if you cut her morning nap (just my opinion thou  ). Yes, a 2min power nap can do that.... so if possible try to get home in enough time to give her a good wind down and lay her down when she is nice and sleepy. To be honest, I would bring the 2nd nap forward because if she is sleeping 1hr in the morning and is awake for 3.5 hrs before her 2nd nap, that might be a little too long of A time for her. Not all babies can manage the "average" awake times (which for her is around 3hrs) and I have only been able to get my lo on 3hrs A time at 8 1/2months. So I would offer the pm nap around 2pm, no later (so do your wind down 15mins before 2 and lay her down around 2pm).

hth
Layla

[*Natasha*]

Just wanted to say totally agree with Layla

[~Kiki]

I tried to get her down for her morning nap earlier and I fought her until her normal nap time. She once again continued to fight her afternoon nap until bedtime. So she went about 8 1/2 hours and didn't seem at all tired. I always hear people say their babies never slept. Is it true that maybe there are babies that just won't nap?

[Layla]

The morning nap is ok though, so continue to put her in the morning at the same time. Its the afternoon nap that I thought might need to be brought forward.When you say she fights you, what do you do when you put her down? Does she fall asleep with your help? Do you stay there until she is asleep? Does she cry or she is just playing?

I don't believe that babies never sleep. At 7 1/2 months, she most certainly needs to have at least 2 naps (both my girls had 3 naps at that age). If she was maybe 2ish, I would say that she might be growing out of naps but definitely not at such a young age.

What do you do for wind down?

[~Kiki]

I've tried multiple techniques. If I get her to fall asleep in my arms, then the second her head touches the crib she wakes up screaming. If I lay her down awake and hope for her to self sooth, she screams. I've tried pat/shh and pu/pd, both just get her VERY worked up and then there's no chance to get her to sleep.

[Layla]

I would cut out the rocking to sleep and other AP. Shh/pat might not work well as she is over 6 months & babies over 6 months can get irritated with that method. I would use pu/pd but if thats not working for you either, just leave her in the cot and soothe her in the cot. Pat or rub her back until she settles & then leave. If she's crying out again, come back and re-settle her but don't pick her up & don't rock her.

[AJs Mom]

I am not a nap moderator, so just count my post as a 'regular gal' giving her 2 bits...

I noticed that your first A time is 2.5 hours, but your second is 3.5 hours.  How about trying

E - 7:30 - wake - breakfast
A -
S - 10:00-11:00
Y

E - 11:30 - lunch
A -
S - 1:30 (but I'd start the wind down about 20 minutes earlier)
Y

I just now realised that you said that you've tried all the times from 1-3, so actually, maybe my 2 bits is nonsense.  LOL.  Hope something turns around and goes your way soon.

Sonja C