Infant Napping

This is such a personal decision and don't think that any particular answer is right...so I will tell you what I did. To maintain sanity, I let the babies sleep wherever and whenever. My 3 little ones spent most of their first year in the baby swings or right next to me. They slept soundly...so I did too. This made me a happy camper.

I don't know if you are a first time Mom...but the biggest thing that I realized...don't do what you THINK you SHOULD be doing...do what is RIGHT for YOU. Only you know how much sleep you can handle without. Only you know how much support you have at home and around you.

There are Moms who swear by the "methods" of putting children to sleep. All 3 of mine co-slept with us until they were 2 years old.

I hope this helps a little.

N.

M.,
I would definately shoot for more "formal" nap times, as you put it. When our little one was tiny, I hated to hear her cry, and she quickley got in the habit of napping in our arms, and sleeping in the bed with us (and I mean, fall asleep nursing, and right up next to me). Once I had to go back to work, I had to tough it out with her one night (well, it took a few weeks to really get her transitioned where she wouldn't cry at all) and MAKE HER sleep on her own in her bassinette (we didn't move far!). At this point, she also had very erratic sleep times, and usually only slept because she was so overstimulated and worn out that she would almost pass out from exhaustion. Once we moved her at night, we then moved her during the days, too. We ALL got in a better routine, where her sleep and awake times were way more predictable, and she was overall a much much much more pleasant baby to be around. Not only was she getting more sound sleep, she knew when it was coming, and (still) happily looked forward to it. She's almost 2, and today when we were in the car on the way home, she said "Nap, momma, nap!" It provides a sense of routine, which babies thrive on, and a sense of security, which is a must. We respected her nap times and tried to be home (or at Gammy's) when those times rolled around, and we all did better. Not to say that they have to "run" the house, but let's be honest-- they do! I would try to move away from letting him fall asleep just anywhere, and put him down in his crib when he is good and drowsy, but not full on asleep. Everything I've read and heard (and this makes sense to me) says babies need to learn how to put themselves to sleep-- if they don't know, they depend on you, or the swing, or the car, or whatever to do it for them... so when they wake up, scared, and confused because they aren't sure how they got there, and want to go back to sleep, they don't know how to do it, so in you go, or the swing gets turned on, or a car ride around the block... you get the picture. To me, it's a gift to give them, the skill of good, comfortable sleep they initiate. You just have to be responsible for the where and when of it, and they take care of the how. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!
J.

You should definatly move him to the crib even if he wakes you and crys. He will fall back to sleep, you just have to remember not to run to him every time that he sheds a tear. Crying is actually good for babies.A rule of thunb, I always went in about every five to ten minutes just to peek in on them until they were one then after that I would wait about fifteen minutes, they learn that they do not need to be held 24/7 and you will be happy because your child will grow knowing that they do not run the show and that you are the parent in this show.

I found "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (Marc Weissbluth, MD) to be invaluable regarding sleep issues, esp. napping. He provides a lot of information about the importance of sleep (as a mother, I really didn't need to be convinced!), sleep problems, and typical sleep behaviors for various ages.

According to Weissbluth, a morning nap develops around 3-4 months. Before that, babies usually can be awake for about 1-2 hours before needing to sleep.

Good luck!

My son just turned two months and I am struggling with the same thing. I have read at least 5 sleep books looking for help and the best one I found was the Baby Whisperer - the website is babywhisperer.com. I think have tried it all when trying to get my son to nap consistently and in his crib, :)and so far, this is the only thing that works for him. Let me know if you want more details. Hope this helps.

L.

M. -

Lots of good advice for you from the others. I'll put my 2 cents in for ya. I'm a mom of 3 (6y, 2y, and 8m) my oldest was a sleep in your arms kid. If ever I tried to put him down once he was asleep he'd wake up. I have to tell you it was a big PAIN!! My middle one I would rock to sleep and put him down in his swing or on the couch w/a bedrail(his crib was in our room and my hubby sleeps duing the day). Eventually it was because I didn't want to climb stairs because I was preggo. With my littlest she is awsome she goes to sleep by herself and has since she was little...she doesn't even like to cuddle or be rocked....(sad because she's my last but okay for sleep purposes)just put her in her crib and she's out!!
This being said I firmly believe that every child is different and will need to be put down differently. My oldest was my hardest to get to sleep in his own bed and put himself to sleep bedtime and nap time were always battles, my middle didn't sleep through the night until 17m(ahhhhh!!!!)but would put himself to sleep everynight(just wake up 1/2 way through screaming!!)and goes down for a nap just fine, and my youngest slept through from 8 days old and takes 2 naps a day. Each of them have an extremly diff. personality and you have to decide what's right for your child and your circumstance!! What do you feel you need to do? What about your hubby does he have an opinion? It's very very important to include him in baby decisions!!! They are smarter than you think when it comes to babies!!!

Hope I was somewhat helpful....feel free to contact me!!

God Bless,

S.

Ever heard "Don't wake a sleeping baby"? He's only 3 months old. My advice let him sleep where falls asleep. If it's in your arms then I would put him down in his crib. You don't need to hold him while he naps. When he gets older then you can work on a regular nap schedule, but at this age sleep is sporadic. You'll drive yourself crazy if you try and follow a schedule. He'll eventually get where you'll start to notice a trend/schedule. That's when you can start working on more formal nap time. Just enjoy the time he's asleep and worry about where later. Good Luck.

my daughter was always very reluctant to take naps...still is. you can try watching for his sleepy cues and then lay him in his bed, but if he happens to fall asleep some where else i'd jsut leave him alone. if my daughter fell asleep some where other than her crib and i tried to move ehr she'd wake up and not go back to sleep and then be very grumpy. as long as he seems getting an adequate amount of sleep during the day and it's not infereing with hsi mood or causing trouble with night time sleep...i don't think it matters where he naps during the day. if he starts acting like he doesn't want to sleep inhis crib at night, then you might have to start putiing him bed for naps. it is a good idea to try putting him down before he actually falls asleep so it's easier for you when they get older. i started laying my daughter down at night still awake but groggy. some times she'd fuss and i'd have to go in rock/soothe her, but most of the time she'd just play in her crib till she dozed off. once we got that night/night routine down we started doing it with naps too. she is now 21 months old and most of the time i can just put her in bed and she'll doze off jsut fine.

Hi M.!

I have 5 children 11,8,7,5,&2. The best advise I can give is read the Baby Whisperer. She has GREAT advise on how to establish a routine (not necessarily a schedule) that will help your baby learn what to expect and help you keep your sanity. I strongly recommend a formal nap time because that is MAMA time. All kids can learn this (and for older ones it becomes their quiet time to play in their rooms when they outgrow nap) although the length and frequency may vary. As to where to nap? I recommend it usually be the same place, but vary it on occasion. I had 1 child who would only sleep in the crib! As to moving a sleeping child, use your judgement: what are you trying to accomplish? Sleeping in the crib? Is it one of those days and you just need a few minutes of quiet? Hope this helps some.

In my opinion let him sleep where he is. If you get him on too ridgid of a schedule it will make it harder for you to deviate from that if you want to go visiting or something during his nap time. By all means make a routine for bedtime but I think naps can be more flexible. My daughter just turned 1 yr and i still let her nap whenever she wants. Sometines she will fall asleep on her own whereever she is or sometimes I hold her but bedtime is between 8:00 and 9:00 (just depends on how tired she looks) and she gets put in her crib while still awake and I walk out of the room. She falls asleep all on her own and (cross my fingers) I don't hear another peep out of her the entire night.

I've had so much sucess by following most of the ideas in Good Night Sleep Tight by Kim West that I recommend it every time friends have sleep questions.
Kim says not to let kids fall asleep where they are, in car seats or swings. She recommends putting them in their crib while drowsy but still awake. They will learn to fall asleep there and will then more easily learn to settle themselves when waking at night due to normal sleep patterns.

Let him sleep where he is. My son just turned 5 months old and if he falls asleep in my arms I put him in his crib. If he falls alseep in his bouncer I just let him be. Just make sure the transfer is gentle and keep your hand on him for a minute so he feels your still there. Once he settles then remove your hand. I find this works really well and my son seems to rest better once he's in his crib. Don't feel you need to rush him into his crib or set up a formal schedule. He's still too little to know the difference. Also, NEVER let your baby cry for too long. There will be plenty of time to establish who's boss. At this age they are WAY too young to understand your the boss anyway. They are crying for a reason. Even if they just need comfort. You can NOT spoil a baby by holding them more than they NEED to be held. This is determined by the baby not the parent. If you ignore your baby they will grow up feeling insecure that you may not be there for them when they need you. Go with what you're comfortable with but just know your baby needs all your love and attention right now. With your help he will learn how to self soothe himself to sleep in his crib. I do agree that if you see your baby starting to get tired go ahead and put him in his crib. Turn on the mobile and he'll probably fall asleep on his own. Good luck!

Hi M.!
I have 3 kids ages 8, 5, and 2. I have been there! I found that putting the kids down in their crib helps them to know that it is nap time. I placed them there when it is time for nap, even if they are not sleepy at the onset. This helps with the sleep transition later when they are older. That way, everytime they go to the crib, they know it is time for a nap. Create a routine prior to nap which will help signify what comes next. For example, I would do puzzles, then read a story, then nap. I noticed that my kids fell into the routine. Whatever you decide, I have found that routines really help kids. Take care and I hope I helped a bit.

My doc, dr pappas at NKY pediatrics, he says if possible with your lifestyle, to not put a baby in any schedules until between 4 and 6 months, except obviously having them understand day and night, I am waiting till 6 months. Besides that they tend to put themselves in their own pattern. I think it is fine to let him fall asleep wherever and then put him in the crib.

If your son is only 3 months old he needs at least two naps a day. Most babies at that age are sleeping about 15 hours a day. Your son probably has formed his on routine. People will tell you that you should lay your baby in their bed and let them learn how to fall asleep on their own. I was a mom that rocked her kids to sleep every night. I am a working mom and my children went to home daycare. My caregiver would lay my children down in a crib and they went to sleep on their own, but they knew my routine was to rock them which I enjoyed very much. I guess it is the bonding we needed from not being together all day. Babies need to be held and if you have the time rocking works well for putting them to sleep.