Afternoon napping gone bad!?

Question

My son has recently started (just int he past 2 days) crying, screaming even, when I try to get him to sleep for his afternoon naps. He is not a great nap taker anyway, He is 4 months old and takes 3 or 4, 30-45 minute naps a day. He sleeps great at night. I know he's tired, cranky, rubbing eyes and as soon as I try to rock him he starts screaming. He did it twice this afternoon and only took a 30 min nap from 2-8. At 8 he didn't fuss much and went right on to bed. I say 'didn't fuss much' b/c he fussed when I held him facing me but when I faced him out he stopped and went to sleep while I rocked and sang to him. (which is kind of stange b/c I have always held him facing in to me) I know some babies fight sleep but he was screaming it even made me cry.I was just worried something was wrong. But he's only done it in the afternoons and the rest of the time he's fine and he's sleeping fine at night. Any advice?

I thought I asked for advice not criticism. I do not 'stangle my baby to sleep' nor do I control his sleeping patterns. When he's tired I rock him and have been since he was born. He's not the type of baby that just 'falls asleep'.

Answer 1

Sounds just like my girl.... she's done that at various times to me as well, usually a phase before we figure out the 'new schedule' that works for us.
First I have to refute some of the comments made. I'm sure you're going to ignore them anyway, but I dont think you can spoil a baby of 4mths so if you want to rock him, rock away!! I still give my 11mth old some cuddle time before I put her in bed, I dont just take her straight to her room and plop her in her crib when it's nap time. And two naps a day at 4 mths - wow, most babies that age are still finding it hard to say awake longer than 2 or 3 hrs before needing a nap. Limiting nap time is not a good idea at all.
If he's showing signs of being tired, like rubbing his eyes and getting fussy, then he actually IS tired right? You see this and put him in bed, and he starts screaming. How many times did my girl do this to me too! Likely he missed the window of opportunity as I've heard it referred to... what I did was move UP my girl's nap time and presto she stopped fighting it so bad.
Now is a very exciting time for him. He's probably trying to roll over, explore his world more and more, and being in bed means he cant do that. You'll see it gets worse and worse once he can sit up by himself and crawl. From the moment she could sit up by herself my daughter wont stop sitting up in bed and playing with her toys when she is SUPPOSE to be napping. Like now, I think I just heard her talking to herself instead of sleeping... I'll go in there and she'll be sitting up playing, I just know it.
Oh, right - about him turning around. My daughter refuses to be held facing my husband anymore, she started that around 7 mths I think... I'm the only person she lets hold her that way now. No idea what sparked that. I wouldnt think too much about it, just hold him however he likes so he can relax and go to sleep.
Good luck!

Answer 2

I found that if I waited too long to put my daughter down for a nap, she wouldn't sleep and would just cry and cry. I finally figured out that she had a hard time falling asleep if she was too tired. Perhaps try putting him down a little earlier for the nap you are speaking of. Also, as I am sure you have found, kids change so quickly as they grow. His preference will change from day to day. I think that most babies like structure and predictabililty because it makes them feel secure but they do like change sometimes. With that said, all babies are different - if this is your first baby, and I assume it it, you will see that it takes so much longer than four months to figure it out. I have a two year old and I still am learning! Good luck!

Answer 3

Lady Day up there ^ is probably 13 and has no idea what raising a child is like.

And my advice is that its possible your child could just be giving up some naps. Sometimes they just don't want to sleep anymore. If you just leave him to play, does he get really cranky? I would say just leave him until he's practically falling asleep on his own. Sometimes children as young as yours need a little change in schedule and then he may get readjusted. If he's sleeping great at night (and you're lucky!) then he's getting most of the rest he needs. I wouldn't worry.

Answer 4

I have an 8 month old so I know what you are going through!

I found that if I put her to sleep for her naps at certain times during the day if she wasn't tired I would have a screaming match until I took her out of her cot. I just let her guide me and she determined her own routine. For a few days I didn't put her down for naps at all, and when she started showing tired signs, rubbing her eyes and sucking her thumb I would put her in her cot.

This worked great and she now gets tired at 9am, 12pm and 4pm. So she very rarely doesn't sleep. She also is a great night time sleeper like your little one.

As your bub gets older he will need less nap time. If you are finding it hard to get him to nap maybe it means now he is 4 months he might just need less naps? Who knows, just follow your bub's needs and they will let you know.

Good luck!

Answer 5

He could be a little colicky. You will find out soon if it is because this will continue for a couple of months. Some babies are severe and some will only do it a couple times a day for short spurts. My sone did it till he was 5 months old. He would scream in pain and it made me cry. He did get a lot of relief from gas drops and with my husband and I holding him with the football hold.

Hopefully your baby is just gassy and will feel better tommorrow.

Good Luck

Answer 6

your baby may just be giving up a nap.. my daughter napped 3 times a day until she was around 6 months old and then just started napping 2 times a day.. I have never been really big on schedules, so we made the transition easy. Just let him play until he seems tired and then let him nap!

Answer 7

i am having the same problem now but my baby is 21 months old, she got use to people rocking her to sleep.... try not to rock him because one he is in pre-school they wont do that. they let the go to sleep on there own... they sleep habit have been broken some how... my only suggestion is to try to get him back on the sleep pattern that you had him on before and also try feeding him more that way he will be full and sleep a little longer. and you might just have to put him down and let him fight sleep , but if he sees you cry than he might just take advantage...

Answer 8

i HAD A BABY THAT WOULD NOT SLEEP IN THE DAY. What i do is close all windows make it dark and put on some nice soft music it works . my child is 17 mths and still sleeps with music (but can go sleep without music) . But it does work...Leave him let him cry it out for 15 mins it will take about 3 times and they will get it. some times it would really hurt me to do that to my child But they do have to learn. good luck rember MUSIC ANd WAIT 15MIN TRY FOR 3 DAYS IT WORKS .....

Answer 9

Do not try to rock him to sleep. A four month old should be put down for two naps - one in the mid to late morning, and one in the afternoon. And, I mean, put the baby in the crib and leave him. Let him cry. When he wakes up, let him enjoy life, and then in the afternoon put him down for a nap and let him cry. Every child is different, of course, but I've had four kids and they all took two naps a day at four months.

Answer 10

Could be that his sleep patterns have changed? Or he has colic or he is simply not feeling well? Endless possibilities.

Observe him some more and if he continues this behavior, maybe you need to see a doctor.