|
|
 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | How did you ever get your stubborn baby to take a nap? My little girl is 6 months old now and just a month ago she stopped taking her naps and has decided to go on struck unless I nurse her, then she sleeps attached to me. I've tried to cry it out method for almost a month now and she's not budging. Any tips? |
|
| |
|
  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
 
Location: Florida.. | try another month and wear her out prior and make it a routine.. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1525
| I knew mine had to be tired so I would feed her and then put her in her crib with some toys and had her mobile on....and eventually she would play herself to sleep. |
|
| |
|
 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| My 2 month old just started this same thing a couple days ago, right after her first set of shots. At first I thought it was because she didn't feel so good after getting them, but now it looks like it's turning into a habit. I know she's young, but I don't want to get this habit started. No tips from me, just know that you have my sympathy! (You'd think I'd have some better advice considering this is my 3rd child!). |
|
| |
|
 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | MY SON HARDLY SLEPT UNLESS HE HAD TYLENOL OR IBUPROFEN FROM THE TIME HE WAS REALLY LITTLE, UNTIL HE HAD TUBES PUT IN AT 2! BE SURE YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH SOME UNDERLYING ISSUE. AT 6 MONTHS YOU COULD TRY A FEW SMALL BITES OF BB CEREAL, ARE YOU SWADDLING (YES I KNOW IT'S OLD SCHOOL BUT MINE STILL LOVE TO BE WRAPPED UP-THEY'RE 10 AND 13 YEARS OLD LOL)
PACIFIER/NURSING HELPS SETTLE THE STOMACH SO WONDERING IF SHE HAS A LOT OF GAS-IF SO WATCH YOUR DIET AND SEE IF YOU CAN HELP STRAIGHTEN HER OUT. BEING A MOM OF A NEWBORN IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE SO DO THINGS THAT MAKE BOTH OF YOU HAPPY ;0) EVEN IF THAT MEANS GOING TO A BOTTLE SO YOU CAN GAUGE HOW MUCH SHE'S EATING AND WHETHER SHE'S GETTING ENOUGH. OR ENCOURAGING A PACIFIER . |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2041
Location: home for the winter...what a dumb idea | May sound odd but my son was a monster ....until I took him to the chiropractor....best $50 I have ever spent.....it was very scary for me...I was so nervous...but after he worked on him for 20 min he final took a nap and slept through the night.....never had another problem... |
|
| |
|
| My daughter did the exact same thing to me. She had to be nursed to sleep for a long time. I couldn't handle the crying out method for very long so I would nurse her to sleep and then make her unlatch, lay with her for a few minutes until I knew she was good and asleep, and then I would sneak out of the room. It was the fastest and easiest way to get her to sleep. I figured 30 minutes of nursing her and getting her to sleep was better than an hour of screaming bloody murder.
About an hour or so before nap time, make sure she is full and tired. Also, if she is teething, sick, having a grumpy day, etc. keep in mind that it may be more difficult to get her to sleep without nursing for a while.
As she got older, I would set a timer and explain that when the timer went off, we were all done nursing and had to go to sleep. That worked good for us and I even used it to help us wean.
Hang in there. Just keep trying different methods until you find what works best for y'all. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1261
| I know that at the time your probably thinking of a hundred other things you need to be doing, BUT just hold your baby and nurse her! She's only little once and trust me it passes quickly. My son was the same way he only wanted to sleep on me and nurse to sleep from birth on. It's okay. It's developmentally and biologically normal and expected behavior! It's what babies have done since there have been babies! Sleeping alone off in a room by yourself is a construct of western society! It's a cultural expectation that doesn't fit with a babies needs.
People would tell me I was going to spoil him, he would never be independent, he will be in your bed forever etc. I have an education and degree in psychology and have worked in mental health including working with children for the last 5 years. I know that is culture speaking not science and actually the science says the opposite. My son who is not yet two is the most independent kid you could imagine, and at around 20 months be decided on his own it was time to sleep in his own bed.
I also very very much encourage you to look at the science of what "cry it out" does to your baby and her brain. There's a lot of research and brain scans show that it doesn't do what parents think it does. Parents think it teaches baby to self sooth when truthfully we know infants are not developmentally capable of soothing themselves and they actually just learn not to cry because no one cares and no one will come help you so it's a waste of energy but their brains still show the same exact stress response a crying baby does when left alone. If they were able to self sooth the brain scan wouldn't show a stress response. But don't take my word for it please read the science for yourself. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1261
| Just wanted to add that a baby carrier and the swing were a life saver as well at nap time. I could put my son in the moby or baby carrier and go about what I needed to and he would just pass right out, doing that and going for a walk really put him to sleep and got me some excercise too! |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 15
| Please read The 90- Minute Baby Sleep program!! My granddaughter didn't want to nap at like 3 months?? She is my daughters first born and both my girls slept well so I had no advice that worked. This program follows their natural sleep rhythms. Whatever time they wake up at 90 minutes later put them down for a nap. I remembered that my girls both wanted to sleep not long after getting up so we tried it and it works. Please read though cause there is lots of info to help you through the process. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | wishes4kissez - 2015-12-21 1:22 AM
I know that at the time your probably thinking of a hundred other things you need to be doing, BUT just hold your baby and nurse her! She's only little once and trust me it passes quickly. My son was the same way he only wanted to sleep on me and nurse to sleep from birth on. It's okay. It's developmentally and biologically normal and expected behavior! It's what babies have done since there have been babies! Sleeping alone off in a room by yourself is a construct of western society! It's a cultural expectation that doesn't fit with a babies needs.
People would tell me I was going to spoil him, he would never be independent, he will be in your bed forever etc. I have an education and degree in psychology and have worked in mental health including working with children for the last 5 years. I know that is culture speaking not science and actually the science says the opposite. My son who is not yet two is the most independent kid you could imagine, and at around 20 months be decided on his own it was time to sleep in his own bed.
I also very very much encourage you to look at the science of what "cry it out" does to your baby and her brain. There's a lot of research and brain scans show that it doesn't do what parents think it does. Parents think it teaches baby to self sooth when truthfully we know infants are not developmentally capable of soothing themselves and they actually just learn not to cry because no one cares and no one will come help you so it's a waste of energy but their brains still show the same exact stress response a crying baby does when left alone. If they were able to self sooth the brain scan wouldn't show a stress response. But don't take my word for it please read the science for yourself.
^^^ THIS
 |
|
| |
|
Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1841
| lots of good advice here. my daughter just turned 1 last year and wow what a ride. newborn stage was torture for me. But it will pas just take a day at a time or even a half a day lol
Make sure she isn't teething or have gas. My daughter used to throw up alot when I was nursing. I had issues there. I was pumping and bottle feeding the first week, The bottle really gives you a break. I stopped nursing at 4-5 months but if you can go longer, go for it. She was happier on formula.
will she take a pacifier? maybe try a little formula
does she already have a silky security blanket? that helps
also could be a growth spurt. there were several times throughout 12 months that my daughter got "off track" with naps I think due to growth spurts and teeth coming in. Make sure you have a pretty solid routine and she should start to get the hang of what's happening.
I only let my girl cry it out for a little bit, if i knew nothing else was wrong. I would leave the room, if she she cried then i'd go in and pat her tell her time for a nap and lay her down and leave again. several times. then after 3-4 times I didn't go back in there. I recommend reading baby whisperer books if you can!
now most of the time i can put her in her crib while she's awake and she will eventually go to sleep on her own. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | My little one is a self soother but she does fight sleep. When she fights sleep I sit her on my lap and play with her until she gets really really really fussy and absolutely nothing satisfies her. Then she gets her paci, blanket, and Raffie (Her stuffed giraffe) and she goes right to sleep in my bed. She pulls her blanket over her head, rolls onto her side to hugs her Raffie and then grunts herself to sleep. She is 4 months. I go in later and uncover her face and she usually stays asleep until I wake her. I don't let her sleep any longer than about two hours unless I get busy cleaning.
She also enjoys her swing that goes from side to side instead of forward and backwards. I think I bought it used for $35. It's the best thing I've ever bought! |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 838
Location: Georgia | wishes4kissez - 2015-12-21 2:22 AM
I know that at the time your probably thinking of a hundred other things you need to be doing, BUT just hold your baby and nurse her! She's only little once and trust me it passes quickly. My son was the same way he only wanted to sleep on me and nurse to sleep from birth on. It's okay. It's developmentally and biologically normal and expected behavior! It's what babies have done since there have been babies! Sleeping alone off in a room by yourself is a construct of western society! It's a cultural expectation that doesn't fit with a babies needs.
People would tell me I was going to spoil him, he would never be independent, he will be in your bed forever etc. I have an education and degree in psychology and have worked in mental health including working with children for the last 5 years. I know that is culture speaking not science and actually the science says the opposite. My son who is not yet two is the most independent kid you could imagine, and at around 20 months be decided on his own it was time to sleep in his own bed.
I also very very much encourage you to look at the science of what "cry it out" does to your baby and her brain. There's a lot of research and brain scans show that it doesn't do what parents think it does. Parents think it teaches baby to self sooth when truthfully we know infants are not developmentally capable of soothing themselves and they actually just learn not to cry because no one cares and no one will come help you so it's a waste of energy but their brains still show the same exact stress response a crying baby does when left alone. If they were able to self sooth the brain scan wouldn't show a stress response. But don't take my word for it please read the science for yourself.
I have to agree with this. My oldest son, now 4 and thriving in Pre-K, also wouldn't nap until I nursed him to sleep and/or held him until he sacked out. Yes it was inconvenient at times when I needed to be cooking supper, cleaning, or doing laundry, but they are only small once. Enjoy the mommy time with them. My youngest, 19 months, is the same. Thankfully we're past the nursing/bottle stage, but he will not fall asleep on his own unless he's snuggled up with me.
For me it's such a gratifying feeling to know that my boys feel comfortable falling asleep on me. I absolutely love it!
Best of luck. I understand the stress and only wish I had better advice for you! HUGS!!! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1066
| Have you considered that your babe may very well be teething? My son is a total momma's boy when he's teething, and really struggles with sleeping when he's in pain. Also, if he's even remotely hungry he absolutely will not sleep. At 6 months he had a huge growth spurt on top of teeth coming in so I tried to make sure he was full (of rice cereal, steamed veggies, etc), burped, and gave him some Tylenol to help his teething pain and it sure seemed to help. |
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| My daughter is a chiropractor specializing in pregnant women and babies. She helps a lot of mothers with babies who are fussy and/or don't want to sleep. You have hot a lot of good advice. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | GLP - 2015-12-28 6:43 AM My daughter is a chiropractor specializing in pregnant women and babies. She helps a lot of mothers with babies who are fussy and/or don't want to sleep. You have hot a lot of good advice. 
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2015-12-28 9:56 AM
|
|
| |
|
I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| IRunOnFaith - 2015-12-28 9:56 AM
GLP - 2015-12-28 6:43 AM My daughter is a chiropractor specializing in pregnant women and babies. She helps a lot of mothers with babies who are fussy and/or don't want to sleep. You have hot a lot of good advice.
You know, she never thought she would like working with babies/toddlers, but she has the cutest stories about them. She absolutely loves it. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | GLP - 2015-12-28 10:33 AM IRunOnFaith - 2015-12-28 9:56 AM GLP - 2015-12-28 6:43 AM My daughter is a chiropractor specializing in pregnant women and babies. She helps a lot of mothers with babies who are fussy and/or don't want to sleep. You have hot a lot of good advice. You know, she never thought she would like working with babies/toddlers, but she has the cutest stories about them. She absolutely loves it.
My chiro for my little one and during my pregnancy adores her job! She has my little one laughing all the time.
I take her in about three times a month or when she is having trouble going to the bathroom. After an adjustment everything is working properly again. We usually don't make it home before she has a terrible diaper. I drive 2 hours to see her Chiro and it usually takes longer with traffic. |
|
| |
|
 "Hottie"
Posts: 1373
Location: Okemah,OK | Our little girl is almost a year old and only started taking regular naps a couple of months ago. For the first 6 months, she slept at night either in a bassinet or in the crook of my arm. One thing that helped was a white noise machine. She was sleeping thru the night at about 6 months but I just had to wait for the napping to come naturally. I think once they're crawling and playing more, they wear themselves out more during the day and want a nap more consistently. She is the kind that one she started sleeping in a crib, she doesn't want to be held or rocked. When she gets tired, she wants you to lay her down and leave her alone. I started noticing that the only time she was bad crabby was when she was hungry or tired..... So if she was fed, I'd go lay her in her crib. Now she naps once in late morning and once in mid afternoon but like I said, that was mostly her choice, I just watched her and helped make it a consistent time of day. |
|
| |
Folks on-line