Infantreflux.org | Daytime Naps for a 2 month old - Need help!

This topic has 5 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 19 years, 3 months ago by hellbennt.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Author

Posts
July 24, 2007 at 4:23 pm #39812

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi-

I’ve read many of the other posts about daytime naps (or lack thereof) but it seems like most of the kiddos in those posts are over 6 months old.

My son is 2 1/2 months old and not sleeping well during the day although he does occasionally have a great 2 hour nap. Most are 20-30 minutes and he wakes up crying. I know you are supposed to put them down sleepy but awake but my son always cries as soon as I put him in the crib when I do this. The only time he sleeps well (and not even then usually) is if I put him in the crib asleep. Not a deep sleep but not awake either. At 2 months old and esp being a reflux baby, I am afraid to let him cry it out but I don’t know how else to get him to learn how to put himself to sleep. Is he too young to be putting himself to sleep? When your babies were 2 months old, did you put them in their cribs awake and they were able to fall asleep on their own?? Did you let them cry for awhile when they were this young?? We swaddle him so he can’t put his fingers in his mouth. He also can’t keep a pacifier in his mouth himself at all. It pops right out and then he starts crying so I just don’t give him a pacifier for sleep. He sleeps pretty well in the Baby Bjorn front carrier but I am getting tired of always carrying him around for naps and not getting any breaks myself or any one on one time with my 3 yr old.

I’d really like to know what other moms did for naps when their babies were this age and how long your babies slept. Thanks!!!

July 24, 2007 at 5:23 pm #39814

Anonymous
Inactive

Caden was NEVER able to peacefully go to sleep in his crib at that young age. I believe he was so uncomfortable from his reflux (even being on 30mg Prevacid) that he would immediately fuss when reclined onto his back. Perhaps that is what your baby is experiencing as well?

I do know many babies who don’t have reflux that are able to drift off with maybe some fussing but not screaming like my baby did. I think you have to consider that he may still be uncomfortable before thinking about letting him cry. I would hate to think my baby was crying in his crib out of discomfort and I wasn’t responding…have you tried letting him nap in a bouncer seat (the vibrating ones can be great – it saved us in those early days) or a baby swing? Sometimes they like that semi-reclined position better than flat on the back…just a thought.

What I did at that age was wear Caden in a carrier for all naps. He absolutely could not be put down on his back for sleep ever. Just to give you hope – he now takes every nap in his crib on his back, and can even be put down very drowsy sometimes and will drift on off by himself (without crying), so it DOES get better as they get older.

I know how much you need a break – I remember those days. Do you have a friend or family member who could relieve you for awhile so you could just take a nap? I was just dying to sleep I was so exhausted, and on a couple of occasions my husband took off work to hold the baby while I napped. It really helped!

I hope you get some help soon and that can get some much needed rest. This time will pass so quickly believe it or not.

Good luck!

July 25, 2007 at 9:21 am #39844

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi Kelly,

I’m pretty new here, and I think you and I have a lot in common. My son Nathan is 2 months old, and I also have an older son who was a refluxer. I saw your other post about increasing meds, and I can totally relate. Nathan is on 22.5 mg Prevacid, but he still has major trouble napping….same situation as your Brian — Nathan cannot sleep in the bed for more than 20-30 minutes without waking up screaming. He can only nap in the swing, and even that is not always for very long at a time. This really bothers me because I worry about setting up bad sleeping habits, too. As soon as my older son’s reflux was under control and we were sure he was no longer hurting, then we let him cry it out and it worked great for us. I’m eager to get to that point with Nathan so that he can start putting himself to sleep, but I really think he’s too young anyway at this point. So we are pretty much rocking him to sleep, then putting him in the swing for each nap. I keep reminding myself that he’s really young and once his reflux issues are sorted out, then we can work on the sleep habits. I’m thinking that Nathan’s and Brian’s reflux is not completely under control if they still can’t sleep in the bed for very long, but I’m not sure. I have been wondering about the same things you are — whether or not going up to 30 mg would do the trick and get them napping in the bed??? I’m sorry I don’t really have any answers, but I just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone!!! Hopefully we can benefit from each other’s experiences and help Brian and Nathan both! By the way — how much does Brian weigh? Just wondering about the Prevacid dosage….Nathan weighs 12 lbs even.

July 25, 2007 at 12:20 pm #39848

Anonymous
Inactive

Thanks Emily and Paula for your replies! It’s nice to know I’m not alone. Paul, let’s definitely keep each other updated on our baby’s progress!

I agree that Brian is too young to cry it out. I think I was just venting because there is nothing I can do but wait until he is a few months older and his reflux is under control. In the meantime, I am just tired and stressed and feeling like I am neglecting my 3 yr old. With my older son, we let him cry it out when he was about 6 months old and his reflux was well under control and it only took us 2-3 days and the max amt of time he cried was about 45 minutes one time. If he had cried longer, I don’t think I would have been able to do it. It was very hard to do and I cried right along with him but he was a great sleeper after that.

Paula, the last time Brian was weighed was about 2 weeks ago and he was about 12 lbs, 6 oz. He is formula fed and gets about 4-5 oz per feeding every 3 hours. He is now going longer at night, usually 5-6 hours without a feeding. He sleeps well in his crib at night but not so much during the day. He likes to sit in his swing for 10 minutes or so but he never would fall asleep in there. Same with the bouncy seat. Lots of people seem to have luck getting their kids to sleep in he swing or bouncy so I don’t know what we did wrong but it didn’t work for us. He will always sleep in the Baby Bjorn if I take him for a walk but sometimes my 3 yr old doesn’t want to go for a walk AGAIN and I can’t leave him home alone.

My mom is coming for a week in 3 weeks so I will have some help and be able to get a break during the day. Also, I read in “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby” that daytime sleep gets organized around 3-4 months of age and regular naps start to develop then, esp the morning nap so we just have to hold on until then.

July 25, 2007 at 12:57 pm #39850

Anonymous
Inactive

Kelly,

I definitely came on her and vented in the beginning – there is nothing wrong wtih that. We are here to help support each other, so feel free to vent away!

Also, you are right that as he gets a little older, his naps will be better and more predictable. That has been the case for all of our children as well.

I totally understand your frustration and the lack of attention you are able to give your 3 year old, because I went through that this time too. Our 3 year old daughter spent many minutes in front of the t.v. – much more than I normally allow. But, I figured it was short term and wouldn’t hurt her, and now we’re back to a more normal schedule.

So, it will be getting better very soon – hang in there!

July 27, 2007 at 5:05 pm #39985

hellbennt
Keymaster

i’ve heard that the bjorn will break your back after awhile…there are lots of ways to wear your baby

Babywearing: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1044&PN=1

hellbennt2007-07-27 17:05:40
Author

Posts

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Daytime Naps for a 2 month old – Need help!