Bottle before or after naps? Or both?

Jessica - posted on 02/12/2011

We've been fortunate enough to not have that issue. We cut out eating before bed at around 6 months, right around the time we started solids, and we haven't had an issue. He sleeps the whole night through and takes good naps, most of the time, and eats about 4-5 times a a day, including snacks.

Sooner or later, though, unless you want to be feeding your child before and after every nap or bed time, you need to wean them.

Good luck!

Carrie - posted on 11/20/2010

I do the same, When I was breastfeeding she woud fall asleep that way so I figure there is no difference.

Casey - posted on 11/19/2010

Hi Jessica,
My daughter was born 3/24/10 and we have encountered the same issue. Some times she even wakes the secound I put her in her crib or before I make it to the door. This week we started to push her night time bottle a little futher back and do some heavy playing and it seems to be working. The other night she didnt even make it through her bottle before she passed out. I wish you luck!!

Andrea - posted on 11/19/2010

I put my little one in a routine of diaper change, bottle, then nap pretty early on. At bedtime we add a couple of stories before her bottle but otherwise it's pretty much the same routine and it's one that's easy for someone else to do if we go out for an evening. When I lay her down she seems almost relieved to be in her bed. I don't necessarily think you need to do a bottle each time before your little one has a nap but I have heard from a few other moms that developing a routine before any sleep time has been the best thing in getting their little ones to learn to sleep easier. Once you start doing the routine, they just seem to start to get sleepy and wind themselves down because they know what's coming. I put her in a routine because we were having to rock her to sleep everytime. I started with the routine then I would put her in her crib awake (but relaxed and sleepy) and she would cry but I would leave her for 2 minutes, go in, rock her, calm her etc., then the next time leave her for 5 minutes, then 7, then 10, and so on. I've read that you're not supposed to touch them but that didn't work for us so I still picked her up and rocked her. The key was doing the same thing before the naps each time, then leaving her a bit longer each day before going in to settle her. It probably took a couple weeks for it to really kick in but now I put her down and she usually talks to herself for a bit and then goes to sleep on her own. I didn't like to let her cry it out for long either because she would get herself really worked up so I found leaving her for small increments of time worked much better. She still cried but not like when I tried letting her 'cry it out'.

Long post, sorry but I hope you find something that works for both of you. That's the most important thing in the end!

Monica - posted on 11/19/2010

my daughter is 8 months and nurses to sleep for nap and night time. - My first daughter was the same and when we switched her to a bottle it continued and we would give her a bottle before naps. This is completely normal.

Rachael - posted on 11/18/2010

I couldnt possibly do bottle for naps as E only has 2 bottles during the day and thats at 7am and 6.30pm before he goes to bed

He falls asleep for his naps in his swing by himself, about 3 times a day and he actualy fell asleep on the sofa next to OH which was so cute

Holly - posted on 11/16/2010

My son was born on 3/6/10 and has just recently struggled with naps during the day. Up until a few weeks ago he would get himself to sleep - I would just put him in his crib and he'd fall asleep. Recently, he has learned to pull up in his crib and then stands there and cries. He has a little tiny blanket that he holds on to while he sleeps that he's attached to and sometimes it falls over the side of the crib, which causes him to have a hard time falling asleep. Occasionlly, I will go into his room, pick up the blanket and give it to him. He lays down on his belly and holds the blanket, then I rub his back and stroke his hair/head softly. That usually calms him down enough to fall asleep. I tried pacifiers in the beginning but he would either not hold them in or chew on them. The tiny blanket really worked for him. It's about 3 inches by 5 inches and just big enough for him to use, but not too big so i don't worry about him with it.

Sheri - posted on 11/11/2010

If she doesn't want to nap 2 times a day maybe she doesn't need it my son who was born on 3/19/2010 if I'm home during the day he will nap at 9:30am after waking up at 8am and at 1pm or sometimes 2pm. I have a 2yr old daughter so at least twice a week I am out at playgroups during the mornings and he usually just has a short nap in his carseat and then a 2 to 3 hr nap in the afternoon when we get home. My 2yr old naps at 1pm everyday and still sleeps for at least 3hrs sometimes 4hrs which is nice cause it gives me time to get stuff done or just relax and enjoy the quiet.
I know its not recommended but what works for us is just propping the bottle up with a blanket and laying him down in his crib/bassinet.

Becky - posted on 11/11/2010

my LO has been having teh same issue.. he was born 3/30/10... i nurse him and rock him, then read him a story and then lay him in his crib so he can go to sleep on his own... if i were you.. i'd work on changing up the routine a bit so your daughter can learn to fall asleep on her own for bedtime... Micah was having a REALLY hard time for bedtime and falling asleep on his own and our pediatrician told us to just do it cold turkey... so that night, instead of rocking and nursing him to sleep.. i just nursed him an hour before bed.. then fed him his cereal, bath, night book (i read the same 2 minute book every night) , turn out the light, lay him in his crib and he's out within seconds... ever since, he's STARTING to fall asleep on his own a bit better for naps..
he still has a lot of trouble for second nap but first nap he does great....for second nap i do try to nurse him first as it seems to settle him down more... hope that helps

Kristen - posted on 11/11/2010

my daughter was born 3/10/2010 i have done that with my daugters naps from the get go i would reconmend it and make the bottles warm its like a warm meal for us our tummies are warm and full it makes us sleepy

Jaimee - posted on 11/11/2010

My son was born 3/27/2010, and I have had this same routine since then. What I do is feed him right after his naps...this works for me. After I feed him he feels energized and wants to play, so when it's time for a nap he's all worn out. I hope this helps...good luck!!

Rachael - posted on 11/11/2010

I dont know what to do about this, cos E currently sleeps in his swing for naps, but he is gettng too big for it, he goes to bed in his cot no bother but not for naps? Im not sure what to do when they swing is too small x

Katie - posted on 11/08/2010

And I can't let my son cry it out for too long cuz he gets really upset to were he can't calm himself down and to the point where its hard for me to calm him down

Katie - posted on 11/08/2010

Well if she is hungry then I wouldn't not give her a bottle. I know they say when they get to about 6 months they don't need to eat in the middle of the night that they should sleep through the night but if my baby wakes up in the middle of the night if he isn't feeling well I always give him a bottle lol

Jessica - posted on 11/08/2010

She still eats every 3 hours during the day, and only takes about 4 oz. each time, so by the time she's ready for a nap (2-3 hours after she awoke) then she's either hungry or I know she'll wake up soon hungry. I can't do the CIO, she gets so bad to the point where she is struggling to breathe if I let her cry for too long. Some days I rock her briefly and she'll go down for a morning nap no problem. I feel like I use 10 bottles a day too...and she has a solid lunch and dinner now. She is in the 75th percentile for weight and height also. I'll try rocking her longer before naps and see what happens. Thanks!

Katie - posted on 11/08/2010

My son was born 3/24/10 and if he is hungry before he goes down for a nap but usually I just put him down with no bottle. My son used to hate sleeping in his crib too but now he sleeps in it all the time.
Have you tried using the cry it out method?
Try rocking her then laying her down. (My son still loves to be rocked to sleep)