6month old NAPTIME NIGHTMARE!!?

Question

My son is 6 months old. He goes to sleep just fine on his own at night time. But when it comes to naps he hits, he screams, he scratches. I or his dada have to put him down for every nap he takes. What should we do?? Oh, and b4 you say, "fuss it out" well, just don't say it cause that is inhumane!!!

I know he's tired because he starts fussing, rubbing his eyes and refuses to play. Does anyone know a good way to get him to sleep in his bed without the fussing it out part? He currently naps in our bed, but I can't leave him there all alone when he's awake because he's starting to crawl and will fall off the bed.

Answer 1

Okay Here are a few ideas I am a mother of two girls ones 6 the other 2 so I have been there. I use to use a aquarium that hung on the side of the crib it played different music, lights, ect. So I would put them in the crib and put the music on ( it would play different ones and we would go thru until we found the right one) I would give them there favorite blanket and if you do the bottle a few onces of formula or milk. She would fuss for a moment but we made it a routine every day an hour after lunch and stuck with it, and within about 2 weeks or less there was no problem. Lots of activites in the morning, and a good lunch and I know that your little one will get in to that routine and you will have a very good napper on your hands in no time. Good luck
Katina

Answer 2

I had the same problem with my second son, he sleeps well at nights but nap-times if he is not in my arms, or in the car....he will be asleep in his crib for 20 min. And that's it!! He is one year-old now, and I still have the same problem. I don't like to "fuss it out" either, so.. I try to nap with him when I can, or hold him while hi is napping (and I work in the computer at the same time) The thing is that every child is unique, and there isn't a formula that works for every baby. Good luck!

Answer 3

Wow! I have a 6 month old boy and he doesn't do that! That's crazy! Sometimes he wants me to rock him to sleep, and I will for a little bit, but before he is asleep I put him in his crib and he falls asleep. Sometimes I have to pat his bottom too, he is rolling over now, so I lay him on his tummy and he sleeps so much better than he used to. He takes 3 naps a day. Maybe your little guy is too tired by the time you try to put him down, I know when Sam is overtired he fights it more. Try an earlier nap. Also, I got one of those crib toys that has lights and plays music, sometimes he just chills and watches it and eventually passes out. If you always rock or hold your baby when he falls asleep he will never learn to fall asleep on his own which is a crucial part of development. I have friends who have to lay down with their 2 1/2 year olds to get them to fall asleep, another one still gives her 2 1/2 year old a bottle and pacifier! My 33 month old has been putting herself to sleep since she was born! Really, there are humane ways to help your baby do this and I strongly suggest you research them. Good luck!

Answer 4

I'm glad you don't want to let your little one cry it out. I am against that as well.

My daughter is 10 months old and has always needed to be put down for naps, and nighttime sleep. Sometimes I find it helps if baby naps in your own bed, that way (if you nurse, anyway) what I do is nurse baby to sleep while she is laying beside me and then just slip away. Makes it easy to initiate the napping, sets the stage if you feel like napping with him, it's easy to get away, and...well.....we get 2-3 hour naps out of it!! (though we only get one nap a day now that she's older :( )

I've also found, if you have a baby carrier (Snugli, Baby Trekker, baby sling, baby backpack, any will work) to go for a walk, this will help to "wear the baby down" as Dr Sears words it, and then you can just transfer him from carrier to bed. :) hope that helps

Answer 5

How do you decide when he should take a nap? Maybe he isn't tired.

If you don't have one already, go out and buy a sling-type baby carrier. You can nurse him to sleep in the sling, then you can go about your normal activities while he naps cuddled up close to you.

Or you can lie down with him and nurse him to sleep, then wait 5-10 minutes (until he is likely to be in a deep stage of sleep), then get up.

Answer 6

what do you mean, "put him down" for every nap he takes? When my sons were that little, I put him in his crib closed the door and blinds and he slept. I didn't drag him food shopping or to the mall at nap time....I found that when my kids were on a schedule...regular meals at specific times...and a routine of going to bed or taking a nap in a certain place at a certain time then they and I were MUCH happier. As a matter of fact, their nap time was my nap time and that made me very happy!

Answer 7

maybe he isn't tired at nap time. try skipping his nap time and instead sit him down and watch him play himself to sleep. if it is that bad I would try that. strange you could always talk to his pediatrician just to be on the safe side of things. It could be a food allergy. now that I think about it.........My nephew would go crazy if he ate anything that had red dye in it and processed foods like he couldn't eat mac n cheese bc the powdered cheese made him go crazy he would hit scream scratch bite.it could be something that simple. start a food journal and write down everything he eats and when he has a reaction you can go back and see what he ate that day. good luck

Answer 8

maybe hes not tired at nap time. let him stay awake during the day and he will fall asleep on his own when he is ready for a nap. realize that as he keeps getting older, he will sleep less and less during the day. my daughter is 9 months old and she really doesnt take naps. i just let her stay awake because i dont see the point in fighting her to get her to sleep.

Answer 9

do you lay down with him i know that might seem time consuming put maybe he doesn't want to be left alone or thinks he will miss something. Lay down I still have to lay down to get my 3 yr old to nap dose me good sometimes cause i fall asleep too. If that doesn't work maybe a snack and a bath in the after noon will help relax him

Answer 10

my best answer is to pat him or lay your hand on him and sing him a lullaby. Also make it dark in the room and maybe play soft music. a vibrating bouncy seat can help, or a swing.
these were very helpful, though in desperate situation a swing in front of tv with teletubbies or sesame street is usually a sure thing. yeah, i know tv is evil, but its not as bad as fussing it out or going without the nap. best wishes!