Question
5 month old won't nap in crib
My 5 month old will not take daytime naps in his crib. He will be napping sound asleep in my arms, but if I try to put him in his crib so I can do something, he wakes up within 5 minutes and cries. If I let him cry, it can go for 45 minutes to an hour, then I go get him because I worry about his crying so long. Any ideas to get him to nap in his crib? (He sleeps there just fine at night...)
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3 Answers
My daughter used to do that too, although she also didn't usually sleep in her crib at night.
But reading this, I was wondering if maybe it's too bright in the room, or if there's something else that's significantly different during the day from nighttime? For instance, there could be noises that he's not used to hearing. Or, is the crib in your bedroom? If so, he might be used to you being in the room with him even though he doesn't sleep in your bed. I'd try adjusting the ambience or perhaps adding some music or other white noise. Just keep in mind that if you put on music, you need to have it repeat so it doesn't shut off...that can sometimes wake up the sensitive sleepers. Hope this is of some help.
Patti
SAHM in SoCal and administrator of the Sleep Forum group, http://www.miothersclick.com/group/sleep-forum
Patti
SAHM in SoCal and administrator of the Sleep Forum group, http://www.mothersclick.com/group/sleep-forum and Tri-Counties Moms, http://www.mothersclick.com/moms-club/tri-counties-moms-sb-ventura-slo-c...
If you have any kind of routine for bedtime: like a song, story, rocking, etc. I suggest doing part or all of that routine for naptime too. I am guessing that the baby goes to bed asleep at night too. Maybe you can try putting her down when she is almost asleep and pat or otherwise comfort her to sleep.
My son was terrible about naps and sleeping at night in his crib until we started using regular routines. It really helped us.
i also have a 5 mos old...who ppl seem to think is difficult. she is my first and i expected much worse lol...so i don't mind so much i guess.
anyhow...i couldn't get her to sleep more than 2.5 hrs till she was like 3 mos. the pattern thus far had been...2mos old she ate 2oz,slept 2hrs, 3mos same thing. 3mos she started sleeping in her own bed. i had her in bed right next to me up untill that, but she gets too hot, n i knew i had a small window to break her of it without all the drama. so i started putting her down at like 10pm. DONT LET THEM NAP TO LATE, try n keep em up for 4-5 hrs before bedtime. i give a bath, wait as long as possible, feed her n let her get sleepy. i keep a fan on in my room where she sleeps. the noise is good, if i do something in the other rm she doesnt get startled as easy. KEEP UR NAPTIME ROUTINE IDENTICAL AS PM! i have black out curtains, it must stay dark n the fan is always on i lay her down when she is really tired or falling asleep is easier at first...she is used to me kissing her head lightly5-6 times as i wisper goodnight...i love u...time to sleep now. now she hears all that n asociates it with the kissing n my leaving her sight she knows whats up. oh! ya, when they cry, or u have to calm them...try to stay outta sight, dont give the attention they want don't pick them up unless u have to. (make sure its not food they want. i cant count how many times i had just fed her n 20 mins later finally figure out she is like starving, talk about guilt) it takes awhile before i can lv the rm. she has to hav a binky(her dads doing) at 3 mos she could hold it herself which REALLY helps...i lay her on a recv. blank n put one under it to hold her binky in her mouth when she's on her side, thats the key. when i know she's settled (may take an hour the first week or so) then its safe to lv. DON'T TALK TO THEM or make noise or have any lights bothering them. she cant sleep if its to warm. dont loose patients, u may have to hold her hand or binky for 15min till she gets it. AFTER u get that routine mastered...now once in awhile she will fight it, i've had to let her cry it out twice now, it lasts every bit of an hour, till she's sleepy. now she doesnt fight me. but know when to do it. most times, she really just wants a little more to eat or she really isn't tired, i am lol. don't make a habit of them sleeping in ur arms. i did that to. now sometimes i will n she loves it, so do i. she cant stay awake more than 5 hrs tops. she wakes up, eats, plays for 2hrs sometimes 2.5, then shes ready for a 2 hr nap. all day everyday thats her routine. but she eats like every 5 hrs or less. sometimes she eats alot more sometimes not much, so thats hard to read. i try to put her down at 10pm, she wakes at 5 on the dot,eats n sleeps again till 10am eats, n i get her up. shes lucky if she lasts till 12 lol. sorry for blabbing!!