Naptime Routine

My son is 16 months now and I finally have a routine of sorts that seems to work whenever he's tired.

First of all, I know he's tired because he wants more attention from me. He'll start playing with something I have made him aware is off limits (ie the printer, cords). At that point, I tell him to play with his toys or he's going in the playpen. If he continues with the off limits item, I put him in his playpen and walk away. Then, incredibly, most of the time he'll just lay down and fall asleep.

I think kids do best when they are put down about 2 hours after they wake up in the morning (or less, if he's like my son!) and then again in the early afternoon. At 7 months, he may or may not need a 3rd nap. My son is 10 months old, and is only now just starting to lose that one.

Good naps are so crucial! I used to make the mistake of getting my son as soon as he made some noise. Now, I wait a few minutes. Even if he gets a little fussy, I wait it out if it's been less than an hour. At least 75% of the time, he'll go back to sleep!

Also, if you can, have him sleep in his crib for most of his naps. And make the room really dark. I keep my son's routine very similar to his nighttime routine, and he's become a star napper!

Because he's so young, the process might not be exactly the same as for my toddler, but it goes something like this: (for one nap per day)

Lunch, with warnings that nap is coming directly afterwards. Go straight from the table to the crib/bed. Sing a song or two, maybe read a story. (For a little transition time, with the baby IN THEIR ROOM.) Then I say goodnight, turn out the lights...and leave. Honestly, I'm DEATHLY silent until after she falls asleep, but I'm sure that will all change when her little bro is born next month!

That's what works for me. She needs warning, and consistancy. If she thinks I'm coming back to get her, then the nap is absolutely not going to happen. So, whatever you do, be firm. On a bad day, she might sit in her bed alternately singing, screaming, begging and calling me for up to an hour before she goes to sleep.

Good luck!!!!!

Dear R.,

I agree with what Hannah is saying and also would like to add is are you putting him down before a feeding or right after a feeding? Sometimes when a baby is due for a feeding they fall asleep maybe a half hour or so and then wake because they are hungry. I had a friend that was so schedule orientated that she wouldn't feed the baby a minute before he was due and he would fall asleep sometimes and then wake after fifteen minutes later hungry. I would always say feed him and maybe his little tummy would be full and he would sleep longer. Not sure if that is your case. Second, are you laying him down right after a feeding? Sometimes babies can get a gas pocket when put down right after a feeding and wake due to gas. Not sure if either is the case just putting it out there. Like Hannah said try every few hours and let him fuss for a few minutes he sounds overtired or he could have some gas. There is nothing wrong with letting a baby fuss sometimes they need to have their little voices heard it doesn't always mean there is something wrong. Good luck!!

for our naptime routine, we do similar to nighttime. I read him a story, sing a song, put him in his crib and turn on his mobile (which he loves!) he's usually asleep within 15 minutes. the only difference at nighttime is that he gets nursed first. i have read that the nap time routine should be like a mini nighttime routine. that's what we do and it works out well. and if he is having troubles sleepiing, i vaccum. the white noise helps to calm him and i get my house vacuumed. it's a win win!! hope that helps

Hi R.,
Often by the time a baby appears tired, they are overtired and mom/dad has missed the window of opportunity for a nap. I'd suggest settling your baby down for a nap before he appears tired. A not quite 7 month old baby will probably be ready for a nap 3 hours after waking in the morning, and 3 hours after waking from his first nap.
Good luck!

Your problem sounds so familiar to me--I have a son who resisted naps for so long!

Here's what I decided to do after realizing I just couldn't go on without naps (and neither could he)...

I try to do an abbreviated version of the bedtime routine. For bedtime, we read several books, then lights out, prayers and I sing "Jesus Loves Me" (he still nurses for the song part).

At naptime, I read fewer stories, then lights out, then I sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb." He doesn't nurse at naptime.

I was having trouble with him waking up once I'd put him down in his crib after singing at naptime. (He is drowsy but awake both at night and at naptime.) Then I realized, when I put him down at night, I whisper that I love him and will see him in the morning, and give him a kiss. So I started doing that at naptime too, except saying I'll see him when he wakes up from his nap. That totally did the trick! So try to stick as closely to the bedtime routine as possible. You can vary a little since it's naptime, and he'll know the difference, but try to keep those same comforting elements there so that he can learn to fall asleep just like he does at night. Good luck.

I have a nearly 6 month old daughter and was experiencing the same thing except I had trouble with her at night too. First I tried Dr. Ferber's method which addressed the night problem but the naps still weren't working. The best book in my opinion is Dr. Marc Weissbluth's Healthy Baby Health Sleep because he supports various parenting styles and really stresses the importance of watching for your child's sleepy signals (slowed activity, glazing over, yawn, eye rub) and putting the baby down immediately when you see them, not waiting until they are overtired or watching the clock for when you think nap time should be. He used a surfing analogy which I think is great, catching the sleep signs at just the right moment your baby will go down. If you don't catch them in time it takes longer and there is more fussing. I couldn't believe that my baby was showing sleepy signals every hour to two hours and I when I put her down she napped. I think she was seriously overtired and not getting her daytime sleep requirement which is really important. Now she is gleeful & alert during her wakeful periods and is sleeping like a champ. I can't recommend this book highly enough, it gave me my life back. I've also incorporated the Baby Whisperer's acronym (E.A.S.Y. eat, activity, sleep, you time) so that I am constantly reminded of the order of operations. It works! I hope you find this helpful.

W. B.