My 17 month old will not nap in his crib. The only place that he will sleep in the couch, and he will sleep for 2-3 hrs. At night there is no problem with him going down on his own. What can I do, to get him to nap again in his crib. (for more then 30 min)
sorry for the delay in "what happened" we moved him to a toddler bed after he starting climbing out of his crib and now he naps and goes to bed at night with out a problem, it took a few weeks but everything worked out. He occasionally gets out of his bed in the night from a dream or something.but it all worked out in the end
J. -
My son did the same thing - he saw his dad nap on the couch and he wants to be just like his dad!! It only lasted a few weeks,until I told my husband he needed to nap in bed!
I would not worry about to be honest with you, if there is no danger to him.
Chris
I really would just let him sleep on the couch. He needs his sleep and you need a break. It seems as if it is more work and time spent trying to get him to nap in his crib. You need to think about what is more important, the location or the quantity. Good luck!
Hi J., is it a problem for you him napng on the couch? peronally I feel if that's where he will get the best nap, then let him nap there, unless there is sone reason why you don't want that. some totlers relate the crib to bed time, when mine were little sometimes they naped in their playpen or on a blanket on the living room rug. If you don't want him to nap on the couch, maybe you can let him fall asleep there, and then gently move him to his crib. J.
Hello J., well first, is it really a problem with him sleeping on the couch? I'd let him sleep where ever if that's going to get him a good nap. Second...I'd just keep putting him in his crib at nap time everyday and eventually it will get longer and longer. You just have to be consistant with the routine and don't give in, even if he has to cry for awhile. He'll get the message that the crib is where the sleeping time happens. If he falls asleep on the couch move him to the crib. Nothing much else you can really do but be consistant. Best of luck! Oh and the toddler bed is a great idea! He'd probably like feeling like a big boy. Both my kids were out of the crib before 18 months
Keep him on the couch! I personally don't have any crib experience so I can't give advice there but it seems if he is taking such great naps on the couch, just leave him there. My kids napped in their swings, car seat, stroller, baby carrier, whereever they were when they fell asleep (as long as it was safe) they stayed.
Hi J.,
Where is it written that he isn't allowed to nap on the couch? It's not like this will be a habit for life because he'll probably stop napping in the day eventually anyway (unless he's like Bumstead in the comics). He may just feel like if he goes in his room he'll miss something. Just let him sleep on the couch and don't try to tiptoe around him. If he gets used to sleeping when there is noise and activity he'll have an easier time sleeping when he's older.
V.
Hi J.
I went thru the same thing with one of my daughters. I just decided one day to pick my battle and let her sleep in the living room on the couch. I figured she needed the sleep, and I needed the break (her twin never had a problem and slept in their bedroom during the same time). I thought "How long will this go on?" then one day she didn't feel well, and instead of walking in to the couch, she walked into her room and promptly slept 2 hours! She never turned back. Now my girls are almost 6 and don't nap anymore, but back then...wow. Did I need a break! So don't sweat it, he will not do this forever. In the meantime, enjoy the peace and quiet! I was forced to sit and read as we lived in a REALLY small house and anything I did was too noisy. Good luck! Thank your lucky stars he is napping at least!
Sometimes... that is just the way it is. IF your child is napping fine on the couch... then perhaps, just let him.
Pad the flooring around him so that he can't get hurt.
Some kids just don't like the crib. But if he is sleeping fine at night in the crib, and goes down on his own, that is great!
I guess, with napping, he prefers something else. My daughter was the same way... as she got older, she did not like to nap in her bed....thus, I "let" her choose where she wanted to nap. This was a compromise I allowed...because it was this way that she would take a nap. Otherwise, she would not and it was a battle. This way, it was MUCH more peaceful, and she kept to her nap routine. To my happiness.
Let him be...if it's not harming him, and he's safe from falls... he'll probably get a better nap this way.
Children go through lots of different phases and preferences. It may change one day, or not. Each child is different. Sometimes... it is us, who try to force something on them, and it does not work. In this case, your son is in his way "telling" you what works for him... and this is how he naps the best. You are very lucky he even naps! Many don't or it is a battle. Main thing is to keep your sleep/nap routine for him which seems to be working! :)
My son is now 22 months old, and still take 2 naps a day, and sleeps fine at night, in his crib. But as he got older...what I did was pad the crib mattress with some fluffy blankets underneath the fitted sheet, to make it softer. ALSO, at this age, I gave my son a pillow to sleep with. AND he likes to have stuffed animals in the crib with him. (he is the type that LOVES stuffed animals to cuddle with). Of course, they are all kid safe stuffed animals without any buttons that can come off etc.
I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy it while you can... at least he is napping still at his age. The couch is fine. I've seen many different ways and places that babies nap... some not so safe or healthy for the baby. Your son, on the couch and you there for him is fine, to me.
Take care,
~Susan
Hi Jenny, I had the same problem as you. My 2 oldest, now 4 and 2, didn't like to take their naps in their cribs. Could not get them to go down to save a life. They love the cushions on the couch and so they go. They both, thank goodness, still take naps everyday, at least an hour nap on the couches. I am not going to fight it. It gives me a free hour or so with the baby and they wake up feeling refreshed. However they did get used to sleeping on the couch and would not sleep in their beds at night. So we did all the bedtime activities and they would go lay on the couch and go to sleep, no tv. Then we would put them in their beds once they were sound asleep. It took about a week for them to start going to their beds by themselves and no more couch. My mom once told me to choose my battles with them. For me, it's not a big thing to have them take naps on the couch. It saves my sanity and my hair!
Or move the couch to his room... put a bedrail under the cushions and (voila!) you have a private mini-crib.
the crib may be too hard for him. I finally figured out that that was why my daughter wouldn't sleep in it.
otherwise,is there any reason to not let him sleep on the couch? I would be glad he is still taking naps. My daughter, 14 months, keeps trying to phase hers out...
good luck
R.
Hi Jenna:
If your son is still willing to take naps at 17 months old, you should consider yourself fortunate. Heck,if he wanted to nap in the tub I'd let him.The main thing here, is hes getting what he considers needed rest.Most toddlers his age, are far to active and keyed up to nap.The best to you J.
I wonder if you always sleep in the same place? I think it is great that your child can sleep soundly in different locations. What is your concern about him sleeping in his crib? Does he sleep bettter in there?
My children have always slept better on the couch for naps too, funny little people they are!!If it is not dangerous for him to be there, I would not worry about it and let him sleep there. Maybe it is time to think of a toddler bed for him? When each of my children got out of the crib, they slept much better!!
Good luck!!
I can't figure out what your problem is. Let him sleep on the couch.
