CIO and Nap Time

So before I get to my question, I must say how proud I am of DD! After much debating and discussing, DH and I decided that at 6 months DD was ready. And she did great! She gives me between 10-12 hours a night (now if I can get that to be 7-7 or 7-6 instead of 6-5 that would be super!)

However, she is completely resisting nap time. She will nap on me in the morning once in awhile, very rarely in the crib, but generally she catnaps and then screams her head off when I try to get her to take a longer nap. IMO she needs a nap-rubbing her eyes, whining, fussing. She is resistant and will take the screaming to a full hour until I pick her up.

How do I go about getting her to nap? Generally she goes to bed between 6-7 and wakes between 5-6. If she goes down in the AM, it is between 7-8 for an hour and that is it for the day. Do I let her cry and then give up if she makes it to that hour? Can I let her nap with me in the morning or should I really get her in the crib? I love napping with her and if I can, I would like to keep the morning nap with me. Also, what time should I aim to get her down for a second nap? Is there are rule of thumb? She is 6.5 months old. TIA!

Re: CIO and Nap Time

Wow so she is up from 8 for the day? DD was like that, being that she needs an early nap...I would just try to keep her busy and hold off snuggling until she is very tired, like try to stretch until 8am..then let her CIO then..IMO I think she is holding out until you pick her up because she needs to be nap trained to sleep in the crib. Whenever DD didn't nap in her crib, if it was in the car or stroller or on me, it would take me days to get her to nap in the crib again, so I gave up nap snuggle time I felt it was more important that she nap in the crib..being that kids generally nap until 3 it would be early for her to give up napping!

Re: CIO and Nap Time

Posted by karanthony

Wow so she is up from 8 for the day? DD was like that, being that she needs an early nap...I would just try to keep her busy and hold off snuggling until she is very tired, like try to stretch until 8am..then let her CIO then..IMO I think she is holding out until you pick her up because she needs to be nap trained to sleep in the crib. Whenever DD didn't nap in her crib, if it was in the car or stroller or on me, it would take me days to get her to nap in the crib again, so I gave up nap snuggle time I felt it was more important that she nap in the crib..being that kids generally nap until 3 it would be early for her to give up napping!

Re: CIO and Nap Time

I'm confused Michelle. So she is napping every morning for about an hour, and then not going down for an afternoon nap?

Ezra never napped for more than an hour at a time either. Some DC just won't take long naps. I would aim for 2pm for the second one.

Message edited 9/21/2010 9:33:41 PM.

Re: CIO and Nap Time

Re: CIO and Nap Time

she definitely needs to nap more!

she needs at least 2 naps right now... maybe 3.

A) I would try to make her bedtime later... I think that will help so she's not up as early.

B) You have to CIO for naps! I know you already know that... and I know it stinks to lose that cuddle time, but you have to do it! You have to be consistent with where she sleeps so that she learns to fall asleep on her own

C) She needs 2 naps for sure. Try to put her down 2.5-3 hours after she wakes up. Let her CIO. Give it an hour. If she doesn't fall asleep, take her out and try again for the next nap. It will take a while! Maybe even a week.... and it's torture. But soon it will be much MUCH better!!!!

Loey's schedule:

7:30 - wake up
10:30 - nap
12:30 - up
3:30 - nap
5:30 - up
8:30 - bedtime

Re: CIO and Nap Time

Re: CIO and Nap Time

I became very rigid with his nap routine for a while so that I could get a good routine going. Maybe if you are consistent with putting her in the crib at the same time every day it could help

Re: CIO and Nap Time

Thanks everyone. I am going to give this a shot. I imagine all naps must be in the crib, no swing, bouncy seat, rocker, car seat, you get the idea, correct?

Re: CIO and Nap Time

This is exactly how my daughter, 5months in a few days, was/is (she is still a work in progress.) I got the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and have been using it for a week and I already see changes. Basically babies should be getting @ least 2-3 good naps a day. The book says that a 30 nap doesn't even really count b/c it isn't enough time for the brain to develop (since babies build up brain power in their sleep). He suggests not getting your baby up until 7am, so I think the first thing you need to do it definitely consider a later bedtime (that will be easier when she naps better). Then have about 2-2.5 hours awake time and watch her sleepy cues (rubbing eyes, less play) and then create a nap routine...read a book, sing, rock etc. DD schedule (on a good day) is
7am awake
9am nap
1pm nap
3pm nap
Sometimes she sleeps for 1 hour, sometimes 2, again, she is still a work in progress!!

I have tried CIO with her for naps but she cried for an hour straight each time, now I try the pick up put down method. It is hard, and I need to be more disciplined with it. BUT when she gets her naps during the day she sleeps SOOOOOOOOOO much better at night. Good luck!!!

Re: CIO and Nap Time

Posted by SweetApril

This is exactly how my daughter, 5months in a few days, was/is (she is still a work in progress.) I got the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and have been using it for a week and I already see changes. Basically babies should be getting @ least 2-3 good naps a day. The book says that a 30 nap doesn't even really count b/c it isn't enough time for the brain to develop (since babies build up brain power in their sleep). He suggests not getting your baby up until 7am, so I think the first thing you need to do it definitely consider a later bedtime (that will be easier when she naps better). Then have about 2-2.5 hours awake time and watch her sleepy cues (rubbing eyes, less play) and then create a nap routine...read a book, sing, rock etc. DD schedule (on a good day) is
7am awake
9am nap
1pm nap
3pm nap
Sometimes she sleeps for 1 hour, sometimes 2, again, she is still a work in progress!!

I have tried CIO with her for naps but she cried for an hour straight each time, now I try the pick up put down method. It is hard, and I need to be more disciplined with it. BUT when she gets her naps during the day she sleeps SOOOOOOOOOO much better at night. Good luck!!!

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According to the book, naps should never be in a stroller or carseat, as it's just not "good" sleep. The biggest messgae I pulled from the book is that following their sleep schedule is most important rather than making them follow our wake schedule.

I love the Healthy Sleep habits book and found it to work well- and it sucked being chained to the house for naps...... but I was so happy I did because at least I knew my kids were getting proper sleep. It's such a short period of time in the grand scheme of things and even though it's an inconvenience, you are really doing them a valuable favor by helping them learn to sleep well. Thats not to say I didn;t interrupt theit nap schedule for special things like parties and visits with family, etc.

My older DD has ALWAYS been an early riser and no matter WHAT time I made her bedtime, she was up between 5-6 for the day. At 6 months she was down for the night at 6pm like Sienna. Try moving her bedtime later and see if that works, but don't be too disappointed if it doesn;t work. At 3 my DD is finally going down at 7:30 and waking at about 7.

For naps, the book recommends 1 hour in the bed. If after an hour she is still crying to be let out, then get her. If she's not crying after an hour, but still awake, leave her until she starts crying.

That's awesome that she goes so long overnight- none of mine did that at 5 months. But you are right- she needs longer naps during the day!

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I agree with the others about Healthy Sleep Habits. She is likely over tired but you need to get her into a sleep routine for naps.

DS would wake up at
7 am
9 am nap for an hour
1 pm nap for an hour
and at that age took another nap at 330 or 4 for an hour (maybe less).

I would put her in the crib and get her used to self soothing. That is a really good way to create good sleep habits.

I agree with Michelle, Liam was never a long napper either. He always napped for about an hour. It is only now that he is down to one nap at 15 months that he naps for 2 hours or sometimes more.