Eight months old and no naps!

Rebekah - posted on 05/14/2009

Try wearing your baby out - literally. Take him out, stimulate him lots, then after a few hours, do some down time... stroller ride, car ride, rock in a chair while holding him, read a book, sing some songs while holding him, etc. This should help him sleep longer.

I know if my son wakes after 15 minutes, I don't go and get him and he'll scream for a little bit, but he'll go back out.

Teresa - posted on 05/14/2009

You're actually lucky! My 7.5 month old doesn't sleep throught the night and has very short naps. He barely gives me a break at all!

Danielle - posted on 05/14/2009

Thanks, I will keep a closer eye on key sleepy times now!  It makes sense that two shorts would make one longer nap.  Fingers crossed!

Quoting Ashley:

My little girl wasn't taking good naps for the first 6 months. I decided to start watching for each time she acted sleepy (which ended up being about 3-4 hours apart during the day), and I started laying her down then. Now, she's getting more scheduled (or maybe I'm finally learning HER schedule! haha!). She's taking two 45 min. naps a day and one 1 hour long nap!!! WAHOOOOO!!!
I would just watch your baby and try to put him down for naps as often as he needs, even if they're very short naps. I read in a magazine that if they take short naps, and you get them on a schedule of short naps, eventually two short naps will turn into one longer nap. It seems to have worked for us. Hope this helps!

Danielle - posted on 05/14/2009

Great idea, I'll give a try!  You're right on the only nice days apply though :)

Quoting Chelsea:

My boy does the same thing. He will go to sleep at 9pm and sleep till around 6 or 7 am. But it would be nice for him to have longer naps during the day. I found that if I roll him around in his stroller out on the deck, he will fall asleep and sleep longer. Unfortunately that only works on nice days.

Ashley - posted on 05/13/2009

My little girl wasn't taking good naps for the first 6 months. I decided to start watching for each time she acted sleepy (which ended up being about 3-4 hours apart during the day), and I started laying her down then. Now, she's getting more scheduled (or maybe I'm finally learning HER schedule! haha!). She's taking two 45 min. naps a day and one 1 hour long nap!!! WAHOOOOO!!!

I would just watch your baby and try to put him down for naps as often as he needs, even if they're very short naps. I read in a magazine that if they take short naps, and you get them on a schedule of short naps, eventually two short naps will turn into one longer nap. It seems to have worked for us. Hope this helps!

Chelsea - posted on 05/13/2009

My boy does the same thing. He will go to sleep at 9pm and sleep till around 6 or 7 am. But it would be nice for him to have longer naps during the day. I found that if I roll him around in his stroller out on the deck, he will fall asleep and sleep longer. Unfortunately that only works on nice days.

Karyie - posted on 05/13/2009

I do understand completely!! As someone wiser than me said, "This too shall pass>" :o)~

Danielle - posted on 05/13/2009

Ohhh....Sean has started THAT scream and it makes my skin crawl especially because most of the time he is just being dramatic!   I am very fortunate because he is usually great about settling himself down if he's feeling well, fed and dry.  He just doesn't stay asleep long and its frustrating when you get into a project or on a roll cleaning house, ya know?

Quoting Karyie:

My daughter does the same thing!! She swings back and forth between content and cranky, but then what 8 month old doesn't? When I need her to nap I can always fall back on a car ride but that trick only works if the car is moving. Sometimes the experts recommend a routine so they know it is time to nap. They also say that sometimes babies cry! :o) I put a toy in with her when she goes down for naps and pretty much let her fuss during naptimes. Unless she does that scream thing that is her new sound, then I go running!!

Danielle - posted on 05/13/2009

Oh he's a very good and happy baby.  I think at times its a bubble but I can't decide if he is officially teething or not either.  The gum is swollen and sometimes I think I can see some white and others not so much.    

Quoting Vicki:

Is he happy during the day or extremely tired and fussy?

Karyie - posted on 05/13/2009

My daughter does the same thing!! She swings back and forth between content and cranky, but then what 8 month old doesn't? When I need her to nap I can always fall back on a car ride but that trick only works if the car is moving. Sometimes the experts recommend a routine so they know it is time to nap. They also say that sometimes babies cry! :o) I put a toy in with her when she goes down for naps and pretty much let her fuss during naptimes. Unless she does that scream thing that is her new sound, then I go running!!

User - posted on 05/13/2009

Is he happy during the day or extremely tired and fussy?