my daughter won't nap?

Question

i can't get my 8 month old daughter to nap during the day, im going out of my mind, please any suggestions? is it okay to leave her in her crib and let her cry or is that cruel?

Answer 1

It's cruel. It also may not work. And it can damage her and damage your relationship with her.

Maybe she's just not tired. Or she needs to be *helped* to get to sleep. You don't expect her to walk into the kitchen and prepare her own food,do you? She's just not ready to do it, right? The same is true of getting to sleep.

Crying causes the baby to produce cortisol--a stress hormone--even after she *stops* crying. It means that calories that she needs for growth and development are instead going to combat stress. It's like taking food out of her mouth. Doesn't that sound cruel? It also sends her the message that when she is completely dependent, the people who love her most in the world won't help. Also cruel, right?

Answer 2

Ugh.

I'm in the same boat.

My three month old is having napping difficulties. Some days he's fine...other's its a terror. And, I get nothing done.

I hate letting him cry, but if's he freshly diapered, fed, and his cry isn't the i'm hungry cry (really crazy high pitched) more of a fussy cry I let him cry it out.

I feel horrible...but, I have to get him to take naps. He has to learn to sleep. I have a girlfriend who catered to her son, and let him run his sleep schedule and he is a terrible little guy. He's always running, screaming, hitting people, smacking people, and pinching them. And, he's only ONE year old!! I think he's sleep deprived - he doesn't until he literally falls on the floor of exhaustion. And, if he doesn't want to take a nap - than its okay and she takes him outta the crib to play.

I think I'd rather try and form some type of schedule. And, now I am forming two three hour (sometimes two hour, not real strict yet) naps. One at 10 and another at 1 (usually he'll take another nap at about 4 depending on how he's sleep during the day; at night he'll sleep at somewhere around 9-10 and won't wake until 4 on a bad day and 8 on a model day...usually around 6 he wakes).

He's screaming at me now...but, he'll settle down in about 10 minutes (it's only temper...). You'll be able to tell.

Good luck!
Sending you good napping vibes....

Answer 3

First of all, it's not cruel to leave her in her crib and let her cry. She'll learn how to soothe herself to sleep if you do that. But if you don't wanna hear her cry until she falls asleep, try closing the shades/curtains in whatever room she is in for about 15 minutes before you put her in her crib so that it makes the room seem more "sleepy". Try turning the tv off so that it's also quiet for awhile before you put her in her crib. Then when you take her in her room close the blinds and lay her in her bed. If you do these things she should realize that "maybe she is a little tired and hey, that blanket doesn't look so bad" :)

Answer 4

Goodness hon, I say you are.. !

My son is a difficult one to, I will tell you a few ways I do it, I hope it helps you!

He loves to be rocked, so if your daughter does as well, you can lay her on your stomach and rock her back and forth, maybe sing softly to calm her, then when sh is asleep, have a bottle ready in her crib, prop it with a small stuffed animal, the beanie baby things work great, put the bottle in her mouth the second her head hits the bed, then prop on the neck of the animal( You can tell, how much this is done in my home lol..)

If you have a good sized stroller, take her out for a walk, sometimes if they have worn themselves out, it will put them to sleep, if you have her strapped in, just let her nap in it.

Does she have a favorite video?. Here, it is frosty(i hate frosty!). but, give her a bottle, lay her in the crib, and turn it on, sometimes this works to..

If all else fails, drive!.. maybe you will catch a lil bit of peace..

I hope these help you..
And if you feel she needs to cry it out, I think that is fine, and you are doing nothing wrong. Sometimes it works also.And it may break her from fighting sleep.

Answer 5

Babies her age should be napping once or twice a day... it helps them sleep better at night. And NO it isnt cruel to let her cry in her crib for a few mins... This is what I suggest.. it worked for me: My daughter would fuss a little while she was playing and usually if i would pick her up and rub her back a little and IF she was tired she would begin to rub her eyes, thats ur cue!!!... let the baby know that it is nap time and talk to her softly as u lay her down. leave the room, close the door, and if she crys let her cry for about 5 mins... go back in, but dont pick her up... tell her that its time to take a nap, lay her down, rub her back or belly a little bit until she stops crying and try not to look or act angry with her, stay calm yourself cuz that helps. it may take a few tries but it worked for me... But babies her age are already learning to manipulate situations, she knows that if she cries that u will pick her up. Let her know that isnt always going to be the case...

Answer 6

try this. play a soft lullaby cd and make her room really dark. if the mobile is still on the crib turn it on.lay her down, with a bottle or a pacifier. then leave the room she should fall asleep with in a little while. she may cry but let her no longer than 15-20 minutes though. go into her room after that time but dont pick her up pat her back and tell her shes ok and then leave again

Answer 7

Feed her, change her and every day after her lunch time, put her down in the crib and let her have some quiet time. Establish a routine with her. Babies need routine. Eventually, she will most likely nap for you. As young as she is, she should be napping. My three year old still naps everyday after her lunch time, that's the routine I started with her very early on.

It is actually healthy to let a child soothe themselves to sleep, it teaches them to be independent, which is a very good thing in the long run.

Good Luck, I know how valuable nap time is for a mom at home with the kids !!!

Answer 8

My baby went through that same phase. YES it is OK to let your baby cry. Every baby needs to figure a why to sooth themselves. I did a 5 minute rule. I would lay her down and let her cry for 5 minutes then go in and hold her for a couple minutes. After a couple minutes (even if she is still crying) put her back down. Then in another 6-10 minutes, what you are comfortable with, repeat this. I know it is hard to listen to your baby cry, but you know that she is OK and you are just a second away. Trust me, when she final goes down, you will be SO happy. Now I can put her in her crib and she will sit in there for an hour if she needs to and be as happy as can be. Good Luck and hang in there!

Answer 9

Oh my dear..... let her cry. I have a 3 day rule i live by.....try it for 3 days consistantly....same thing every same tiem everyday. If her crying bothers you, sit out on the drck, shut the windows, talk to a friend on the phone. WHATEVER you need to do!!! I have a 2.5 yr old and an 18, month opld. They are 13 months apart.... and i didnt have a choice but to be tough. AT 11 am every morning, ( they are up at 6am) they both go to nap. They share a room, and i have no problem. If the cry...well they dont...but there was a time.... i live by the 3 day rule. At 4 months old, i make them learn to sleep thru the night.How?...by letting them cry. If you dont let her cry, your only enabling her to run your life. Your the boss not her. And besdies an old wives tale says, le tthem cry, it strengthens their little lungs!!!!! just make it consistant. say is she wakes up at 7am...put her down at noon. give her 5 hours to poop out, and lay her down,. If the crying drives you insane. Set your stove timer to 25 minutes. Do not allow yourself to go check on her, until that timer goes off!!! can almost guarentee, the crying will stop. And do this for 3 days. on the 4th day she will be napping!!!!!

Answer 10

I dont think it is cruel at all to let her cry it out slightly. Of course no more than 10-15 minutes but its so important that kids get the recommended amount of sleep they need each day. Also my 7 month old has the need to be held 24/7 often if I step out of the room she will focus on somthing else.