Problems with a 5 Month Old Napping.

Hi K. -

It could be teething, and if it is, you may want to offer your son comfort by rubbing some Baby Orajel on his gums and giving him a cold teething toy to chew on when you lay him down for a nap.

You mentioned that your son watches TV...he could be too over-stimulated to take a nap. When my son was this age, I noticed that if he was over-stimulated either by the TV or his surroundings (too many visitors or too much noise), he'd have a hard time settling down for a nap. I'd try cutting down on the TV time and maybe letting him play in a super saucer or with some other interactive toys. Super saucers are great for building leg strength, by the way. I'm convinced that both my children started walking between 9 - 10 months because they spent time in their super saucers.

Regarding nap times, what eventually worked for both my kids was to feed them, put them in their super saucers for some play time, give them warm baths, and then put on their lullaby CD. It got to the point where as soon as I started up that CD, they would nod off in no time and nap for a couple hours straight. To this day, both kids konk out to the lullaby CD, and I have to confess, so do I. Everyday, we sleep for a couple of hours after lunch...in my culture, we value siesta time VERY much.

Take heart, as babies get older, their little bodies will put out so much energy because they're growing at such a fast rate that they simply can't help but take naps. During this time, you'll have to manage not letting your son sleep TOO long. Imagine that! :)

Keep us posted. Blessings to you and yours.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi K.,
I can understand your frustration. Naps are very important for little ones and it takes a few months to set their schedule. Sounds like things are good except for your problem with naps. I would suggest leaving him in his crib for longer than 10-15 minutes. Let him cry it out for 20-30 minutes. ( I know its hard but it doesn't hurt them) and if after 30 minutes he still hasn't gone to sleep go in there (don't pick him up) and let him know its ok and he needs to take a nap and try again. It could have something to do with his teething but if he is not waking at night then I would probably say no. My only experience is I'm also a first time mom with a 2 1/2 year old girl! Hope this helps.

my advice is to wake him at 7 am no matter what and then 3 hours later put him down. my son at 5 months used to last 3 hours awake. try that, leave him awake for 3 hours and then put him down. so if he wakes up at 7, put him down at 10 for a nap, then he wakes at 11 and put him down at 2 pm. hope this works

I have the same problem with my 15 week old son. I have to shut all of the blinds and eliminate any distractions. I makethe room as dark as possible and rock him to sleep! I don't know if it's because of teething. I know that my son is more concerned with what is going onaround him and doesn't want to miss anything. Good Luck!
L.

It's been awhile for me. But if he used to remain satisfied for longer periods after a bottle & nap & now he doesn't, I remember having that problem with my first son & the doctor suggested add rice cereal to his formula. I would raise all these questions with your sons pediatrician at his next check-up. For teething I used to give him a cool teething ring. Kept plenty of back ups in the frig. And a small dose of infant acetaminophen.
Good Luck!
S. G

I have a similar problem and looking for answers.

He's probably ready for solid foods.... and DEFINITELY more physical activity. As the previous person said: No tv, more exersaucer, etc.

Floor play, take stroller walks, and a bath could help as well.

Check www.babycenter.com for some great tips on activities!! :)

Have you tried rocking or slinging him? The TV could be too stimulating, babies under 2 aren't supposed to watch TV according to the AAP... just a tip. :)

hey sweety yes i think theeting is part of the problem if not all of it. Maybe give him a small! amont of pain relever it will help him go to sleep. You should leave him in his crib so he knows were he is to sleep. He might still cry butit will (or should) get better. Hope i helped u out

S. R

Hi K.,
I have been lucky with my little guy, he has always slept well... until the teething!
First I think it's important for you to do what works for you. I wanted to say that if your child finds watching a baby program or video interesting (and you have some time to do what you need do it- everything in moderation.) Of course I am not any kind of expert, just a mom doing what feels right.
I noticed that Logan (now 16 months) needed extra cuddling and sometimes I had to rock him to sleep.. while you can't force sleep, I am sure you know best when your child is tired.
You mentioned that he wakes up when you get out of the car, if the motion is soothing- have you tried letting him nap in a vibrating bouncer (our fisher price ocean wonders was a miracle) or letting him nap in a swing (the fisher price cradle swing was amazing too) I know babies shouldn't spend a lot of time in these devices, but if he's getting lots of tummy time it should be ok to rest there if that's the only way he will sleep. Again not an expert, but this worked for me.
Now that Logan is older and his molars bother him, he likes to cuddle and rock. Also try the orajel and motrin (ask your dr about the right dose!!!) they may take some of the sting out.
One last thought is that if he is getting overstimulated by whatever may be going on- he might need to cry it out. Babies don't have a lot of coping tools and they need to blow off steam, it's so hard to do but it may work. Best of luck to you!

C.

I don't think it has so much to do with teething as it does getting older and needing less sleep. Perhaps he is settling into a schedule that suits him. Also, all children are different. If he is now teething, he will soon be trying to sit up, crawl etc. Just part of growing up :-)
I have 3 children, 13, 6 and 9 months. My 9 month old is down to 1 2-hr nap a day.

Is he on solid food yet? My daughter didn't really start napping well until she was on solid food. But she was colicky, so that may have had something to do with it. Even now, at 8mos old, she only takes two 40min naps - and sometimes she only takes one nap. As long as he's sleeping good at night, I wouldn't worry about it. He'll sleep when he's tired.

My daughter will be a year old in 2 weeks and has never napped! She takes 2 naps a day each 30 minutes long. All the other mom's I know say their babies nap for hours and that mine should too, but that's not the case. I think I'm needing the break more than she is because after 30 minutes of sleep she is up and ready to go again! I'd like to say it's teething, however she doesn't have 1 tooth yet! Good Luck I hope your son will grow out of this!

Kristie,
The doctor should agree that when a baby teeths the swelling will put pressure on the ears causing a great dicomfort. Also all babies have their routine that suites them. My children were not sleepers. My oldest would stay up until 10:30, 11:00 in the night and I had to work. The doctor said that was all he needed to go one was 8 hours of sleep. He is still very healthy.
Keep him awake in the morning and maybe he'll nap in the afternoon.

Try placing some baby orajel on his gums first of all for the teething. As for the naps, maybe you need to try the swing. It worked for my boy (he's 9 months now). I found that if my son stayed awake for longer than 3 hrs he became very overtired and overstimulated that it became harder to get him down for a nap. Perhaps give him the bottle while listening to some classical music and as he is drifting off to sleep, place him in the crib with a few pacifiers to choose and suck and he will hopefully drift off to sleep. Good luck! It can be frustrating, but your baby needs all the sleep he can get. And so do you, mom! :)

Dear K.,
There always seems to be something to worry about as a mother. Sleep was a huge deal with my son. I forget when a child is biologically ready for a morning nap but I think your son is getting there. I actually think your son is taking his first nap when he goes back to sleep in the morning. I followed a book called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." I swear this book was a lifesaver. The author explains brain development and needs for sleep based on age. And when to start "sleep training". It is not cruel at all. It worked for us. It helps prevent problems and how to deal with them as your son gets older. Because it's always something...colic, teething, separation anxiety, starting to be mobile, walking, etc. Those teething tablets (Humphreys or Hylands) are great. All of those homeopatbhic tablets work for colic, teething, calming, etc and they are harmless.
Good luck!!
K.

K.,
This is normal. I have 4 children and they all went through this. It's a tough age and your baby is changeing every day. It sounds like the afternoon naps are gone and you have to readjust your schedule now. You can't force naps. It was nice while it lasted. It use to be the time that I got my stuff done during the day. This is really the toughest time because at this age it's hard to entertain them and you will start feeling as if he is growing out of your hip ;) I does get easier as time goes on, just keep that in the back of your mind. This too will pass.
Good luck,
J.