Re: Trouble w/ napping

Posted by Elizabeth on June 09, 2003 at 16:40:11:

In Reply to: Trouble w/ napping posted by K. Wilson on June 09, 2003 at 14:48:38:

: I am the mom of a 3 month old and I am already having so much trouble finding a happy medium between all schools of thought when it comes to ANY aspect of how you do anything with your baby. The one I'm having most trouble with is napping. Babies need to nap right? At least twice a day right? I don't seem to be able to find anything about it in any of my books, except the one that avocates "crying it out". My baby gets to a point between EVERY 2 feedings when he gets cranky and I know he needs to nap but he will only fall asleep when I carry him around on me in his carrier. I am not a mom who can let her beby "cry it out" Eventhough I know that that is a very accepted school of thought, and I used to think that I would be able to do that (before I gave birth) I just can't. It brakes my heart. In addition to him not be willing to nap when he is obviously tired, he will wake up about 10-20 minutes after I put him down when he finally did fall asleep. Am I wrong, does a baby not actually need to nap during the day, and if I'm not, are there tricks to getting the baby to nap? Please help.

I agree with Sue about putting your baby to bed on his tummy even though many books and doctors say not to. My babies loved to sleep on their tummies and found that when I put them on their backs to sleep they would become frightened of their own hands.

I know it may seem a little harsh for the crying out method on a baby this age, but there may be a day where things like rocking the baby, taking him for a drive in the car to fall asleep, making sure he is not sick or has a wet diaper, making sure he is not hungry, napping with him, etc. will not work and the only thing left would be to cry it out. At this age, a baby needs about 3 naps a day - a morning nap, afternoon, and late afternoon. Most can get by with 2 - a morning nap and an afternoon. If everything you try fails, you may have to 1 day let him cry or the baby is going to be tired all day and so will you to the point that you feel ill and it is difficult for a mother who feels ill to take care of a baby.

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