I have a 13 month old son who, even as an infant, was not much of a napper. The first few months he would only nap in my arms. Then I was able to get him to sleep in my own bed if I slept next to him and crept out once he was asleep. Then once he was mobile, I had to stay and sleep with him which wasn't so bad because I was pretty tired myself. But now I am pregnant, due in January, and have tried to get my son to nap on his own in his crib. The result is a crying fit. I tried the cry it out method which worked great at bedtime when he was 6 months. But this time, during the afternoon, it hasn't worked. He can cry for an hour, at which point I get him out and feel terrible for what happened. He seems fine without the nap until about an hour or 2 before the bedtime routine, and acts overtired. He sleeps perfect through the night for 12 hours. Do i just forget the nap altogether? And if so, is 12 hours enough for him? My other major concern is that I will not get any break from attending to my son, while trying to care for a newborn. I don't have any friends or family around to help.
I had this problem and found that if I sat in a chair in the room and sang to him and then pretended to sleep myself in the chair it helped eventually although it did take a while. I still do this routine at 1 1/2 years old but only need to stay in the chair for about 10 minutes and then he is asleep and I sneak out.
And I think they definitely still need a nap at this age even if very high energy.
Hi E.,
13 months is too young not to need a nap, and please do not (as another poster suggested) put him in the crib with a bottle of milk or juice, for years mothers have been strongly cautioned not to put babies in the crib with a bottle due to booth decay.
You didn't mention your son's schedule - when he wakes up, when he goes to bed, when he naps. At a year, it's usually when most babies go from two naps to one nap a day, and I think the mistake some parents make is to just eliminate the morning nap and leave the afternoon nap as is ... but usually the afternoon nap really needs to be moved up earlier. I'd try putting him in before he gets overtired, cranky and disagreeable - an early lunch and then in for a nap by 12-1pm.
Good luck!
This sounds exactly like my son. He's almost 8 months old and he doesn't like to nap either, but is a great sleeper at night. He goes down at 7 and then wakes up around 6 or 7. I try putting him down earlier for his naps- around 9 in the morning and then 12:30 in the afternoon or 12 if he doesn't sleep in the morning. And then if he doesn't sleep during either one he usually falls asleep around 4 or so for 1/2 hour. But I usually have to breastfeed in my bed or put him in the stroller to get him to sleep during the day and only get 1/2 hour or an hour at the most. But some days I just need a break, so I put him in the crib and leave him there for a little while as long as he is not upset. Even if he just plays with his blanket for half an hour or so, it is still down time and he will understand that he needs to be there at that time of day.
I would not listen to those people who say to put on the TV- there should not even be a tv in a baby's room. The American Peds Assoc doesn't recommend any TV at all until age 2, and then it should be less than 1 hour a day. It will be a distraction that won't help him to sleep.
My son never responded to the cry-it-out. We tried Weisbluth and his theories are good but the method did not work for naps. He falls asleep on his own at night and that was easy for him to do starting at about 5 months- nights have never been a problem unless he is teething, and that is to be expected. Supposedly it works in a few days, but not with a stubborn kid. He would just cry and never fell asleep, and I couldn't bear to let him cry anymore so I gave up. I have heard that if you put blackout curtain in the bedroom, they will sleep better. I'm going to try this. And use the same routine in the day that you use at night. We turn out all the lights and close the curtains so he knows it's nap time. We also try to keep to his schedule as much as possible and put him to bed early when he gets off schedule. This seems to help him sleep more. Sorry I couldn't help more. We seem to have the same problem. Let me know if you come up with anything that helps.
You poor thing- you must be exhausted!! First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. And also, congratulations on your son being such a good night sleeper! 12 hours straight through the night is WONDERFUL, and so good for him. Nice work!
He does need to nap, though. Maybe only once a day, or maybe twice. (It sounds like he'd be ok with just an afternoon nap.) I know it sounds harsh, but I think he may need to cry it out in his crib. Maybe set a 45 minute time slot, and just put him down. Keep his room very dark and quiet. And he will probably throw a complete fit for a few days. But you need to rest! And when the new baby is here, you will have set the stage for your son to have at least a "quiet time."
He may surprise you, and fall asleep eventually after all. It may take a while, but it could happen! And when he's a little older, he can choose to nap or read quietly in bed. But you'll have the down time, which you'll need.
Good luck with the naps, and with the new baby in January!
My children aren't nappers either. Two girls 4 and 2. It's rough sometimes without the nap. I used to put them down at 8:30 and they would sleep through for 10-11 hours. Now that the winter is coming - I put them down at 7:30 (since it's dark) - they have no concept of time and they sleep 11-12 hours. I also try to go out and play during the day which really poops them out. Good Luck to you and don't stress over how much time you have - as a mother - it will work out. Did for me and will for you!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!!
Hi! It's me! I think putting him in his crib fpr an hour a day is needed, even if he doesnt sleep. Like one person said, the timing is important, maybe try earlier so he isnt cranky from feeling tired just yet. I would even try the TV like one person said. Claudia did that when hers were younger., she put all the kids ( she has three) in one room to lay down and watch TV for quiet time. The younger ones fell asleep, Madison didnt all the time but she stayed in there with them. Maybe some relaxing music playing for him in his crib would do the same thing. I hope you get some good suggestions. Good luck. Miss you , love you, K.
Where do you live? Someone could surely help from here! Sounds like DS #1 doesn't want a nap. Try moving bedtime up a little bit earlier. And remember, if he sleeps 12 hours, then you'll have at least 4 hours alone with your new baby (unless miraculously you're able to sleep 12 hours too) Good luck!
I also have a 13 month old and am pregnant with my second...due in early March. My son wasn't much of a napper either. I have two ideas for you. 1 - Try strolling him around the house with a pacifier in his mouth and spa/instrumental music playing. This usually requires 15 min of strolling but once he's asleep, my son will sleep for 1hr.
OR 2- I have been recently getting my son to sleep in his crib but I have to turn the music on, rock him in my arms for a few minutes and I give him a pacifier with a little bit of sugar on the end of it. I put him down in his crib with a stuffed animal and pat his back and he falls asleep within a few minutes. The sugar trick works! Good luck.
I don't agree with the "cry it out" method. Put him in his crib with a bottle of his favorite drink (milk or juice or water), whichever he likes best. Put on the TV to PBS, kids network, barney, sesame street, and the like, close the blinds so he's not distracted by the outdoors and leave the room, shut the door. Oh, and put some stuffed animals in his crib with him so he's not alone. He'll hopefully play, watch TV, drink and put himself to sleep and if he doesn't sleep that's fine too because he has wound down, he's not running around and you can do whatever knowing he's safe in his crib. If he doesn't fall asleep I would leave him there for an hour. Every child needs some quiet time as do you. That's what I do with my 15 month old twin boys. sometimes they fall asleep and sometimes not, but I always put them in for an hour.
Read the book Good Night SLeep Tight by Kim West. www.sleeplady.com I have twins and she was a life saver for me when they were younger and wouldnt sleep. I am happy to tell you they are 14 months old and take 2 naps a day and then sleep for 12 hours at night! There is hope!! I loved this book b/c it's realistic and supportive and teaches you the importance of sleep. Maybe your son isn't getting enough sleep and he's overtired?? Definately worth getting...and it's a short read! Even better :) Good luck
I agree with Hannah below, and I know what you're going through! Your son definitely needs a nap, and more than 50% of kids his age need 2 naps. My son will get only the lowest amount of sleep possible to function, but even at 21 months, that's still 13 hours. I used cry it out with him after trying EVERYTHING else and finally, within 2 nights, I got him to sleep at night. Naps were a different story. We soothed him completely down for naps until 16 months, when we couldn't do that anymore (he was 13 months when #2 was born and we were TIRED). I now lay both my children down after 3-5 minutes of dark quiet time together, and they soothe themselves to sleep for naps.
I used Weissbluth's book "healthy sleep habits, happy child" and aside from the early bedtime, he recommended setting a one hour nap limit. After a week of letting our son carry on in his crib IN THE DARK QUIET ROOM WITH NO TOYS, for one hour each nap, two naps a day, he finally gave in and started napping. You're right, with the two little ones, you're going to need the breaks big time! My husband and I don't have any help with the kids either, so I totally understand your situation. I wish you the best of luck and congratulations on your new baby!
