Daytime Naps

Updated on November 10, 2006
A.R. asks from Bellevue, NE
7 answers

I have three sons, two are now in school. My youngest is three months old and does not take naps during the day. With my other boys I have always let them set their own schedules and it worked out great. However, my three month old will fall asleep taking a bottle and wake up ten minutes later wanting more. When he is finished with the bottle he just wants to play. This leads to several cat naps throughout the day instead of two long naps. How do I get him to drink a full bottle at once when he never has before? How do I get him to take longer naps? He does sleep through the night amazingly!

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So What Happened?

My son is now taking a short nap in the morning and a longer one in the afternoon. After putting him in his crib and "letting him go" he learned fast that it was nap time. Thank you all for your help!

More Answers

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S.M.

answers from Indianapolis on

I went through the exact same thing with my daughter at 3 months. She was the biggest cat napper there ever was! I read a book called "Healthy Sleeping Habits: Happy Child" and I now have her on a wonderful nap schedule--3 times a day. We started at 4 months old and it's been 1 1/2 mo. now of her sleeping beautifully! I would recommend to read the book for ideas, my other thought is just put him in his bed for his naps and (although it breaks your heart) let him cry until he learns to self-sooth. This happens within 3 days. The book recommends that they don't stay awake in the morning (after waking up from sleeping through the night) any longer than 2 hours. So, my daughter gets up around 7/7:30 and she is always back in bed no later than 9. Then, they should sleep about an hour or so, when they wake up you again have no longer than 2 hours of wakefulness. So my daughter would be up at 10 and go back down no later than 12. Understand what I'm saying--it sounds so confusing I know!? I would read the book, try to get him on a napping schedule and eventually he will get used to it, it'll all fall in place. Good luck.

Oh--and a sound machine works wonders b/c they start associating that sound with sleep!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.Y.

answers from Davenport on

I gave my boys a spoon of baby cereal real runny. Also, I always had noise going on in the house so the slightest noise wouldn't wake them. Good Luck too you A.

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K.B.

answers from Lafayette on

It sounds like he is already too tired when taking his bottle. If he doesn't finish the bottle he's still going to be hungry. I would suggest giving the bottle a little earlier and keep him entertained throught most of the feeding. When it gets close to the end...let him wind down at that time and try falling asleep. It's worth a try. Goodluck!

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M.E.

answers from Lexington on

my daughter is like that...you may not be able to change him. my hubby can take a 20 min power napa nd be good to go for hours and my daughter is the same way. only once or twice a week with she take a long 1 or 2 hour nap. just count your blessings that he sleeps good at night.

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L.H.

answers from Des Moines on

Ditto to what Stacey M. said- I too have a 3 month old and "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" has been right on the money! I know everyone has different methods- we initially tried the Babywise approach but that did not work for us at all. My pedicatrician recommended "Healthy Sleep Habits..." and it is fantastic- really worth the read and I think it will really help your nap issue.

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J.M.

answers from Des Moines on

some kids are not long nappers. which that can suck for those of us that would prefer that. If he sleeps through the night, that is probably why he only does cat naps because he's fairly rested. You could try waking him up earlier in the morning or keeping him up a little later at night so his nighttime is shorter.

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L.L.

answers from Elkhart on

A.,
I am a new mom, and I have been working with my daughter about getting on a nap schedule and getting her down for a nap without to much trouble. I know with three kids money must be very tight, but I highly suggest getting or even borrowing "Good Night, Sleep Tight; The Sleep Lady's gentle guide to helping your child go to sleep, stay asleep, and wake up happy." It works with all ages, even with new borns! I know you probably don't have much time to read either, but it is broken down to your specific age group after you get past the first chapter. It has been helping me and my daughter greatly! I now can put her down for a nap and she only cries for five minutes or so. She is slowly working on developing healthy self soothing methods to help her relax and go to sleep on her own without me. I know that this book may not help solve all your problems, but I am sure it will help.
Best Wishes,
L. L

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