8 mo. old standing up in crib instead of napping

Teresa - posted on 02/04/2009 ( 10 moms have responded )

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My 8 mo. old has learned how to pull himself up to standing in his crib. Lately, after our nap routine (nursing, rocking, reading/singing) I lay him in his crib in a drowsy state like I normally do, but right away he wakes to a very alert state, crawls to the edge and climbs up. Then, he starts "talking," bouncing, and eventually crying at varying degrees of intensity - he hasn't figured out how to get down even though we've been practicing during the day, and even if he did lay back down somehow, he's so alert and upset at that point that he wouldn't fall back asleep anyway. I've tried going back in and laying him back down and giving him a pacifier but that only makes him furious. I've tried taking him out of the crib and going through the soothing process again - sometimes it works on the 1st or 2nd try, sometimes not at all and we just end up skipping the nap altogether. By doing what I'm doing, am I going to mess up all the work I've done to get him to nap in his crib without crying? Or am I doing fine and is this just a developmental phase that will pass? Any advice from moms who have gone through this would be SO encouraging right now. :-)

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Hali - posted on 02/04/2009

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ok here goes I am a mother of 3 girls I had morning, noon , and night, the best way to put a child down for a nap is simple while you are rocking him or her to get them tired you should put a little blankie on the side of there face right by the area he is resting on when you put the child down make sure the blankie goes with them it usually gives them the feeling that you are still with them...and when you finally put  him down surround him with pillows this also give him the feeling of someone near him... good luck it worked for all 3 of my girls...

Leigha - posted on 02/04/2009

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It's a developmental phase. He has learned something new and he's doing it frequently. Once he learns to sit back down that will be the next fun step and he will do that a lot to. I have a 5 1/2 year old daughter and she did the same thing. She would actually take one hand away and cry until we sat her back down, like she was halfway there, but not brave enough to loosen the other hand yet. You just wait til he learns to walk... you are in for a real treat! Your doing great... Good Luck!

Kristin - posted on 02/04/2009

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I have a 12 month old and I can say that he's a very fast learner. I would put him down like you have alway done and if he gets up he gets up. The crib is a pretty safe place to fall. He'll fall asleep when he's ready. That's what I say. It's hard expecially if he starts crying and you have to listen to it. But you need a break as well. Trust me I know that. Well good luck. I hope something helps.

Vickie - posted on 02/04/2009

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My oldest has NEVER napped during the day and is up with the sun !!! Although,,, I would put teddy bears in his crib and put him there for 30 minutes every afternoon ...  He would play until I came to get him ... I did that until he was walking (which was 8 months) ...



My second child,,, decided at 10 months that nap time wasn't necessay for him anymore ...  We even noticed  that he was happier when he didn't nap ... He was always very cranky when he woke up from his naps but once we cut them,,, he was in a good mood all day !!!



And my daughter napped until she was 18 months !!!



My take on it was as long as they're in a good mood,,, that was fine with me ... It all depends on what you want to do !!! I have friends that don't want their little ones to go without a nap so they can have their mommy time !!!

Beth - posted on 02/04/2009

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yeah i would just put him back in there. my son is 13 months and sometime does the same thing. I lay him back down and let him cry it out sometimes take him out depending on whats going on. You see i babysit another baby during the day and she naps in his room so if hes doing that while she is in there then i take him out and try again in 20 minutes and for the most part it works

Aimee - posted on 02/04/2009

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My son is in the habit of sitting up during nap time and even during the night ..how long does this phase last ?

Meghan - posted on 02/04/2009

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awww I totally remember that stage with my son! It was really annoying especially when he was terrified to let go and sit/ lay back down. All I can remember is it will pass shortly and he will be able to get down by himself soon enough. I used to go in and gently push his fingers off the side so he would fall down to a sitting position, he then got used to the fact it wasnt a huge fall. and eventually would do it himself. I also started letting him cry it out and after a few nights he was putting himself to sleep and sleeping thru the night. My son is now 21 months and has been sleeping great since. I ask him now before bed " is it sleepy time?" and he says " sure " everytime! He gets his blanky and baba and walks into his room, my friends get kick out of it. Start early before they get smarter then you! I promise if you let him cry it out it will only last a few days if your consistent..

Sarah - posted on 02/04/2009

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ah dont worry too much ! there is no right or wrong answer, i have 4 kids my eldest napped no problems until 3. middle two didnt nap after 6 - 8 months old and my youngest is now 7 months old and sleeps for england,i found it help ful to have a quiet time in the afternoons, if they napped they did and if they didnt they at least we all had 5 mins,but it int good for either of you to get stressed out, im sure your doing just great !!

Colleen - posted on 02/04/2009

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I think it is just a developmental stage that will pass.  I went through this with my son (now 10 months) a few months ago.  At the time it seemed like an eternity that it went on, but then it passed, and now I hardly remember it!  Now, he has new "developmental stages" that keep him up at nap time - like walking in his crib!  I just try to stick to the same routine and be as consistent as possible.  Good luck - I wish there were simple answers to sleep questions! 

Kristina - posted on 02/04/2009

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I have an 8 month old that is doing exactly the same thing at the moment, I find her really funny as she stands up but cant get back down and gets very frustrated with her self, My eldest daughter also did this and it passed but you need to be firm and keep lieing him back down so he realises it is nap time and you not giving in even if you take him out give cuddle then put back down. Children learn very quickly how to play up and how to play us so if he things he can scream loud enough you will give in he will always do that. x x x