Question
How do I get my 5 mo. to take longer naps?
I am trying to get my 5 month old to take longer naps. She sleeps okay at night time but during they day she takes very short (20 min.) naps. She can barely last 1.5 hours, because she is so cranky from having such a short nap. I put her down awake and she cries for about 15 minutes - sometimes more, sometimes less. I try a pacifier but it falls out. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Kim
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3 Answers
i have the same problem my daughter is the same way ..... i dont know what do anymore, i've tried everything to make her sleep longer. If anyone gives you a good answer please let me know.. im dieing to try something new.
Denise Olivero
Denise Olivero
Have you tired a swing? My 6-month old son, who normally sleeps fine in his crib at night, sometimes refuses to sleep in it during the day. However, if I put him in his swing, he falls right to sleep and stays asleep for awhile.
Also, I've found that white noise (water running, etc.) also helps him calm down when he is fighting his nap and then helps him to stay asleep.
Good luck!
I had the same problem with my baby. He would sleep for 45 min. to the minute and then wake up! Ahhh, it was frustrating. He didnt' know how to soothe himself to get back to sleep. I did a couple of things. One I put a small stuffed puppy that rattles in his crib, he loves it and now will pull it to him whenever we put him to bed (I have also heard him wake up and reach for the puppy, it helps to soothe him). We take it everywhere with us if he has to nap somewhere else. Also we play the Fisher Price aquarium for him when we put him down. He loves it and will just stare and smile at it. We also put him down on his side because he seems to sleep better that way. He will eventually roll onto his tummy and sleep. Once he started sleeping on his tummy he took much longer naps!
To help with waking every 30-45 min. if he woke up I would go in turn on the aquarium again and turn him on his side and rub his back and shsh him until he calmed down. Then I would leave the room. I would do that continually for 30 more min. (going in after 10 min) or until he fell asleep. I never picked him up until the 30 min. was over with. Basically I was told it is a habit they have of waking up and they have to learn to put themselves back to sleep!
Good Luck!