Help!

Holly - posted on 11/07/2008

Try keeping him outside as much as possible during the day. Maybe for a walk or just in stroller as you do yard work or something. The fresh air will do wonders.

Also, try turning him around in his crib. Facing the opposit way as normal. I always out my son down to sleep while he's awake, but I put on classical music. ( not one of my favorites) but I bought him an ipod w/ a docking station that stays in his room. Always works well for me.

Angie - posted on 11/07/2008

Unfortunately kids show their true colors from the moment they are born. My older daughter barely slept during the day. It was so hard for me since at the time I was a first time mother. I had to put her in the swing during the day so that I can get stuff done around the house...like actually take a shower. Sorry no real good advice here. She also used to take small cat naps during the day but slept long stretches at night. I tried lavendar baby oil, warm baths, etc... but she just wouldn't sleep for longer than 20 minutes in the day time. When she got a little older she would take a nap for an hour but that's all I got out from her. She stopped taking naps all together at 15 months old. She's now 3 years and a half and will stay up forever if she has to. She's just the type of child that does not want to miss what's going on. She's very active and I have to keep her busy with different activities throughout the day, thank God for preschool!

Stephanie - posted on 11/07/2008

Your more recent update reminds me of what someone told me, "The more they sleep, the more they sleep!" They should sleep about 10-11 hours at night (with feedings, if necessary), and another several hours a day. The more tired the baby, the harder it is to get to sleep. My baby sleeps well at night, but we have a really tough time with naps. I try to get her into her crib, but she wakes up early and cranky. If she naps on me, it's at least an hour long, so we work with that!

Tanya - posted on 11/06/2008

My daughter is 6 months now, for the first 3 months it was hell. I didn't move out of my chair. She would not nap unless I held her and I thought that that was how it would be forever if I did it. But against my better judgement I did it and she napped (I sat in a chair most of the day) but I needed her to nap because she did sleep way better at night, once we got just over the 3 months things started to change. It was all of a sudden I could put her down in her own crib and she would actually sleep for a few hours. Unfortunately all the advise I have for you is to do what you can for now, but everything is a stage. This stage will soon be over and a new one will begin.

Jennifer - posted on 11/06/2008

we had the same problem and a friend of mine suggested flipping him over on his stomach when we put him in his crib to nap. i was hesitant to try it because it went against everything we'd been told but i was desperate! it worked.. our baby will now nap for 1 - 2 hours when placed on his stomach.

DD - posted on 11/06/2008

Rachel, about sleeping on the belly. You know, most babies have tummy troubles to start...because they are still developing. Well, when we have a stomach ache, the last position we want to be in is flat on our back. This new back sleeping stinks because they do sleep so much better on their tummies. We were all put on our tummies to sleep because back then they thought if you put them on their back, they'd choke. I will not put my baby on his tummy because of the SIDS, (unless he's carefully watched) but I know in my heart life would be so much easier and he would be such a happy sleeper if I would. *sigh*

Kris - posted on 11/06/2008

Give him a Johnson & Johnson Bedtime bath, and swaddle him, that ALWAYS worked for me, rock him a little and he should be out like a light, and if not then at least he should be less fussy

DD - posted on 11/06/2008

My first son never slept..I mean never. I finally brought him to bed with me and we co slept and everyone in the house was happier. I'm not suggesting this, as everyone has different views on co sleeping...you have to do what's right for your family. BUT, I did want to mention that the more sleep my son got, the better he slept. It was a vicious cycle, and what it boiled down to was he was over tired. Poor thing, we were in his face constantly when he was awake over stimulating him to death (we know this now after watching videos..all the signs were there, we were just missing them) Anyway, I read Babywise (hated it) and finally the No cry sleep solution. (Loved it) For about a week, I let him sleep however he would sleep (swing, on my chest) whatever it took to get him on a schedule..then we worked on moving that time to his bed. It took a while, but finally after a very rigid schedule he was good to go! He was taking 2 2hour naps a day and sleeping most of the night. Good luck! This will pass and you'll barely remember these days.

Jennifer - posted on 11/06/2008

Swaddling helps so much...nice and tight! My son is still swaddled at 4 months. He wakes himself up too easily when he startles. I also have had to hold him for many an afternoon nap. It's good cuddle time! :)

Mara - posted on 11/05/2008

Will he sleep in a swing? That's the only way my 8-week old will nap...

Rachel - posted on 11/05/2008

Putting them on their belly during the day definitely prolongs the nap. I put my daughter on the couch on a blanket and she will sleep for an hour or more. I know they are not supposed to sleep on their tummy but I keep an eye on her and she seems so much better off for the deeper sleep during the day. It also helps her to sleep longer through the night. I noticed that days she gets better naps she will sleep through the night, but days where we are out and about more she will wake up once through the night before going back to sleep.

Lana - posted on 11/05/2008

Well, as soon as I post that, go figure, he takes a 2.5 hour nap 2 times during the day yesterday! THEN, he slept in his bed from 7:30 PM - 3:30 AM ate 7 oz really fast and went back to sleep and slept until 8:00 AM! He's so much happier! I also allowed him to sleep on me during one one of the naps yesterday, and he did sleep more peacfully than I have ever seen. I have to wonder if him sleeping in his crib is helping. He was always very restless in his pack n play. HUMMMMM... Lets hope he keeps it up!

Melissa - posted on 11/04/2008

My son is the same way. During the day since I am awake I put him on his belly and he will sleep for a few hours! It is the only way he will sleep during the day but will sleep on his back all night. I keep him in his pack and play and wheel it around with me so I can always keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't hurt himself! I don't get a nap but at least I get some stuff done around the house and have a few hours to myself (if my toddler is sleeping too)

Amy - posted on 11/04/2008

My baby is also 3 months old and has just started sleeping well. I found that she really needs to be swaddled in order to sleep - day or night. During the day, I just wrap her in a blanket (not a complete swaddle) but I keep her near me so that I can keep an eye on her. She will fuss for a minute and then fall right to sleep. But if she gets overtired, all bets are off and she is very fussy. She needs a short nap (1/2 hour or more) every 2 hours during the day and it doesn't interrupt her night (she sleeps 7-4:30 then eats and back to sleep until 7ish). She sleeps worse at night if she doesn't get her naps. All babies are different, but it took me 3 months to figure out how to get her to nap. Also, i find walks help put her to sleep. I hope this helps.

Elizabeth - posted on 11/03/2008

My baby is the same way! I have found that if I just let her sleep on me for her afternoon nap, she gets a longer nap, and has a better night. I think it's bad advice, but it's so much better than her screaming out of shear exhaustion all day! I don't know, I am glad that someone else has the same problem, sorry. I feel your pain. Everyone I talk to says, "Be thankful she sleeps good at night." And I am, but she seems miserable during the day!! Hope this helps, maybe someone else has better advice for both of us....