Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

DS will be 5 months old on Saturday.

When DS was about 3 months I stated putting him down for one nap in his crib. He would do maybe an hour, occasionally a little more.

Then I got lazy this month and just let him do his nap in the swing. He will do 2.5-3 hours and on Wednesday he did almost 4 hours.

Today his swing was in the wash so I figured it was as good a time as any to try to start napping in the crib again. (I will say that he sleeps in his crib at night without any problems. We put him down awake and he STTN). He was fine for about 10 minutes, just looking at his mobile. Then he started to get fussy and then started to cry. I let him cry for about 10 minutes (it was an on and off cry) and he fell asleep.

He slept for 30ish minutes. woke up fussy, turned into a cry. Now I KNOW he needs to sleep more than that. I picked him up and he was a fussy mess, crying ect - he needs to sleep more.

His swing was done so I put it back and put him in it and he is now sleeping again.

I need to get him to nap in his crib (still not sure if I am going back to work yet and want him to be able to sleep other places). What do you suggest I do?

Should I keep putting him down in his crib to nap and let him cry and fall asleep and hope that his time napping will increase?

Should I put him in the swing and then transfer him to the crib?

something else?

TIA

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

we are in the same boat! jack still naps in the swing at almost 6 months. he will sleep 3 hours in the swing but not even 45 minutes in the crib for naps

he sleeps 12 hours at night in the crib, i dont get it im with you

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

maybe time for CIO for naps? i think thats the direction we are headed

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Posted by maymama

we are in the same boat! jack still naps in the swing at almost 6 months. he will sleep 3 hours in the swing but not even 45 minutes in the crib for naps

he sleeps 12 hours at night in the crib, i dont get it im with you

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

We had a hard time with that too - DS slept great through the night in his crib but would nap in his swing or very short naps in the crib. At daycare for a while she had him nap in the swing, but then she switched him. And his first day, she sent me a pic of him napping peacefully in his crib -and it was a good long one too.

No idea how she did it or why he was ok with it, but he just was and still is.

Still doesn't nap that great for us at home though.

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Posted by jgl

Posted by maymama

we are in the same boat! jack still naps in the swing at almost 6 months. he will sleep 3 hours in the swing but not even 45 minutes in the crib for naps

he sleeps 12 hours at night in the crib, i dont get it im with you

Your daycare lets him sleep in a swing right? I think I saw you write that once.. We are go to look over on saturday if we can afford for me to stay home until next school year, if not I will needto find daycare (maybe he can slep in a swing there).

I feel so bad for him to make him sleep in the crib for naps because he cant sleep long enough and he needs it.

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Posted by maymama

we are in the same boat! jack still naps in the swing at almost 6 months. he will sleep 3 hours in the swing but not even 45 minutes in the crib for naps

he sleeps 12 hours at night in the crib, i dont get it im with you

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Posted by ali120206

Posted by maymama

we are in the same boat! jack still naps in the swing at almost 6 months. he will sleep 3 hours in the swing but not even 45 minutes in the crib for naps

he sleeps 12 hours at night in the crib, i dont get it im with you

TJ was like this too. He'd nap in his swing and sleep at night in his crib (although he woke up frequently, he'd go for long clips).

Around 6 1/2 months, it just clicked and he started napping in his crib - and sleeping for an hour and a half at a clip. He wouldn't sleep in the swing anymore - he couldn't get comfy.

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Posted by maymama

Posted by jgl

Posted by maymama

we are in the same boat! jack still naps in the swing at almost 6 months. he will sleep 3 hours in the swing but not even 45 minutes in the crib for naps

he sleeps 12 hours at night in the crib, i dont get it im with you

Your daycare lets him sleep in a swing right? I think I saw you write that once.. We are go to look over on saturday if we can afford for me to stay home until next school year, if not I will needto find daycare (maybe he can slep in a swing there).

I feel so bad for him to make him sleep in the crib for naps because he cant sleep long enough and he needs it.

no, they dont. they let him fall asleep there and then transfer him. thats probably why he doesnt nap well at daycare (maybe 30-40 mins).

I guess im not helping that situation by letting him sleep in the swing at home. maybe its times to get tough and only do naps in the crib - CIO if necessary. i bet that will help the nap situation at daycare

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

we moved DD from swing to crib at 10 weeks or so. you just have to keep doing it. i think consistency is the key. eventually they get it.

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Ugh this is totally us as well. My girls NEVER napped in their swing, but this little guy will ONLY nap in it.

He'll sleep in the crip up to 4 hours at a time at night, but naps are pretty limited.

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

Message edited 10/29/2010 1:40:18 PM.

Re: Suggestions: Swing naps to Crib naps?

I transitioned DS at 3m, I just felt better about him sleeping in crib, because he started to turn to the side a lot.

I started by giving him a few naps with it turned off, and then the next nap was in the crib. He slept a little less for a few days, but got back to sleeping just fine in the crib.