Napping Routines

Michele - posted on 10/25/2009

Kairi is 9 months old and she has 2 nappies a day.

She wakes up at 8-9 , she stays up and plays for 2 or 3 hours then we put her in her crib when shes awake and give her a bubbie/bink and her teddy bear (she cant sleep without a stuffed animal to hold on to), then when she gets up she stays up for another 3 or 4 hours and her daddy puts her down for an afternoon nap b/c I'm usually at work by this time. Sometimes I wish she would sleep in my arms b/c I miss it so much she was such a little cuddle bug when she was a newborn! but for the most part I'm glad she falls asleep on her own!

Kelly - posted on 10/24/2009

My little man has just turned 9 months and he has 2 sleeps a day.

Wakes at around 6.30am.

Goes to bed awake at 8.30am.

Wakes at approx 10.00am.

Goes back to bed awake at 1.30pm.

Wakes at approx 3.30pm.

Goes back to bed at 7pm - 7.30pm.

Each time he gets put down to sleep awake with his comfort rug and teddy - No dummy. He normally chats to himself for anywhere from a minute to about 15 mins before falling asleep. I made sure I put him to bed before falling asleep from when he was about 2 months old. It was very hard to resist cuddling him to sleep but it seems to have paid off now.

Kathryn - posted on 10/23/2009

I have a daughter 3 yrs and a son 9mths. My son has just started putting himself to sleep with me in the room but no contact. He has changed from not going to sleep without me cuddling him to only staying awake if I try rocking him, but this is only in the past week. I am of the opinion that they will do everything when they are ready to and not before and if you try to push them it will only stress everyone out. My philosophy certainly worked with my 3 year old as she is the best sleeper I know and we have had very little problems putting her down to sleep. I also think a regular sleep time routine helps.

Nicola - posted on 10/20/2009

My baby sleeps about 3 times a day. I put him down for his nap awake. He usually sleeps for about half an hour. Jack used to have to be sound asleep before I put him down but started putting him down at about 6 and half months because he was getting to heavy. I suggest putting her down awake she will probably cry but if you persist she will eventually give in and it gets easier every time you do it

Cindy - posted on 10/19/2009

Things I notice why my baby could easily nap in day time and not nite time are:
1) the temperature - the temperature between day n nite are different so try to maintain the same warm cozy environment in the bedroom.

2) over tired - when the baby is too crancky it is hard for them to fall asleep, you need to soothe / calm them first... humming / singing them lullaby could help.

3) too active before bed - not much playing before bed but a gentle massage and a short chat with them is nice and comfortable.

4) hungry - if possible, let them have a bottle before putting them to bed so that they do not have to wake up to fill up their empty stomach.

Louise - posted on 10/15/2009

my daughter has two naps a day, one for an hour about 2 1/2 hours after she gets up. and the second after lunch for 1 1/2 hours. she settles herself but sometimews it can take awhile especially since she has learnt to stand holding the side of the cot. but my son was a very poor sleeper and still would not settle himself by 11 months, eventually i had to just let him cry it out and after a few nights he started to sleep by himself. i know a lot of mums dont like letting their child cry it out, and it was very hard to stop myself from comforting him, but it did have fast results.

Kayla - posted on 10/10/2009

My son goes down foe 2 naps a day. Each one varies from 45 mins to 3 hours. I put him down awake, right after he drinks a 6oz bottle of milk. If he screams loudly for over 15 mins I take him out and let him show more signs of tiredness. Mostly he will fuss for 5 or 10 mins and then go to sleep. Night time is a totally diffrent story though, you would think cause he falls asleep so good at nap time he would at night, but it's so difficult for me at night with him. Good luck. Let me know if you find a solution.

Rebecca - posted on 10/10/2009

My daughter is 9 months old and she takes 2 naps a day. The first one lasts about an hour (approximately 2 hrs after morning wake up). The second one follows soon after lunch and that one lasts 2-3 hours. I always put her down awake and she has learned how to put herself to sleep. It was hard at first, because she would get upset when we put her in bed, but it didn't take long and she could soothe herself. It's so much easier now that she can do that! Good luck!

Trisha - posted on 10/09/2009

My daughter, Kaitlyn, will be 9 months this coming Tuesday...
Naps and Bedtime have been difficult lately. She's not letting us put her down awake anymore... she screams! Her doc says to let her cry for 5 min, and if she's still crying to go in and console her in 30 sec. Then leave again, without ever picking her up. If she is still crying, then wait for 10 min. After 10, go in and console her in 30 sec, then leave again without picking her up. He said to continue that adding 5 minutes each time until she goes to sleep on her own.
Recently it hasn't been working for us. Don't know why.
But yes, she still needs 3 naps/day. Sometimes 2 works, it just depends. She usually sleeps between 45 min - 2 hrs 25 min.
This screaming thing has gotten so horrible. I hate doing it, but I've seen it work for her in the past. Recently it's just not working.
Good luck with Hailey! :)

Holly - posted on 10/06/2009

I hope to read some suggestions too!! Caitlin needs to be sleeping before I can put her down for naps. She sleeps anywhere from 30-90 minutes twice a day.