Naps and CIO

[Anonymous]

Was Myles as young as Ben when you started this? I hate to do this if he needs the sleep, but I’m beginning to wonder if he just only needs so much and will get it whenever. I would MUCH rather a longer afternoon nap than a morning one. The thing is, he wakes up so grumpy from the afternoon one, and he tries to go back to sleep (I can hear him sucking his fingers, etc.), but he just will start to fuss again. I really don’t get it.

He has his 6 mo. checkup tomorrow morning, so that will cut the morning nap short, and hopefully mean a longer nap in the afternoon. It will be a good test though. I’m afraid now that he has done it this way for so many days in a row and developed a bad habit that if I cut the morning one short, he still won’t sleep the afternoon one!

I tried it one more time today letting him sleep in the AM, and he right now is stirring from the afternoon nap – after 45 short minutes!!!

Bensmama2007-3-13 15:45:25

[Anonymous]

He was right around 5.5 to 6 months. Young, I know. But it really did work for us.

[Anonymous]

What times of the day do you put him down for naps? Dagney normally goes around 9 and 1/1:30 lately, each time normally sleeping 1-1 1/2 hours each. Usually 1 1/2 in the am and 1 hr in the pm. She also will go down for about 30 mins somewhere between 4:30-5:30, and she’s normally ready to hit the hay by 7:30 each night. The time change hasn’t affected her too badly as we were away this weekend, she was so exhausted that I think she didn’t realize the time changed! Do youthink maybe he needs to go down a little earlier (sometimes if they’re too tired they wake up at the end of the 1st cycle)?

[Anonymous]

My daughter also has a hard time sleeping during the day, but is fine at night. We find that she takes a 30 minute nap in the morning, but then sometimes sleeps for 2 hours in the afternoon, and sometimes only goes down for 45 minutes, 3 separate times, to equal 2-3 hours. She also needs a short nap around 5 pm to get her to bed around 7:30-8- She is the same way as far as being worse at night if she doesn’t ger her naps, but I am in the same boat as you- After about 45 minutes, she squirms until she starts crying, but you can tell she’s still tired- It is easier on us because we do not have another child to worry about, so having her on a day “Schedule” isn’t as important to us as sleeping at night-

I did read in a book once that if they are sleeping all night fine, then thank your lucky stars and let them do whatever they want during the day- If it’s 45 minutes 3 x a day, vs. 2-3 hours at one time, then to give in- I don’t quite agree with that, but it helps me when I am getting really frustrated- I remind myself that some babies dont’ sleep at night, and at least she does that- Plus, my daughter is REALLY sensitive to daylight/dark- I think she sleeps so well during night time because her room is nice and warm/cozy, and dark- but, during the day, she wakes up, looks around, and sees that it is light out, and just can’t go back to sleep- that is my theory anyway- I am sure if I let her CIO, then she would learn to, but I’m not ready for that yet-

I am not much help, but I know EXACTLY where you are coming from- And, for some reason, my sitter can get her to sleep for 2-3 hours at a time, in a swing! I have NO idea how she does it, other than the fact that it is a really dark room- I was told not to darken the room for day naps, as it will confuse them, but maybe there is something to that day/light thing-

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I agree about the darkened room. I have a blanket on the window, but it’s still too light in there. I have noticed he sleeps so much better during the day when it’s dark and rainy outside. I think he’s just too stimulated by what he sees around him and isn’t old enough yet to figure out how to just shut his eyes to block it out. He’s been sleeping in a little later in the mornings too now that daylight savings has started and it’s not quite so bright out in the AM.

I worked when my daughter was born, and her sitter kept the nap room very very dark too. It totally helps, so I say phooey on whoever told you not to darken the room!

[Anonymous]

I use room darkening fabric in the children’s rooms. It works great.

[Anonymous]

OHHH! Do you just get that at a fabric store or do you have to order it? I swear the sun shines right in my kids’ windows.

[Anonymous]

Well, in the small town where I live you can’t find anything, so I did buy it online. I found a seller on ebay, but I’m sure you can find in else where on line as well. It’s actually called Blackout fabric. You’ll love it!!

[Author]

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