Is it ok to let baby nap in crib?

Question

My 5.5 mo old son used to take his naps in the living room,either in his bouncer,on a pillow on top of the couch or play gym. I got him taking naps in his crib. I'm just wondering if he now socializes his crib for nap time instead of bedtime? Because I've been having problems with him waking up at night and him refusing to go back to sleep in his crib.

We just had family here over the last couple of days they left yesterday, that was the reason why I got him sleeping in the crib and then found that I liked him taking naps in another room so I'm keeping it up. Could he just be messed up because the fam was here? I'm thinking that could be a possiblity too.

Or is it just not a good idea to let him take naps in the crib?

I have my theories as to what's happening but just wanted to hear from experienced moms.....When he wakes up at night we will rock him back to sleep but as soon as we put him in the crib he wakes up crying.....Any suggestions?

Answer 1

The crib is the best place to associate any kind of sleeping, not to mention the safest. He is prob. just mixed up because you had company. My sons both have to readjust after anyone comes to visit us for a couple of days.

Answer 2

Taking his naps in his crib is a change for hm, so was the visiting family. Babies can react funny to change and it is not always how you would think. He has found a new trick, making mom come and cuddle. It normal at this age anyway and with recent changes, I'm sure he just needs a little extra check to see if everything is ok at night. He is very young still and there is nothing to worry about. If he is really putting up a fight at night, start the night in a bounc seat etc and then wake him up and move him before yo go to bed. This will reset the wake up to right before you go to bed. After a week or so, put him to sleep in his crib, he should wake up right before you go to bed. There are lots of techniques to teach a baby to sleep through the night, but I suspect he will do it on his own in a little bit. As a new mom it is easy to worry if little things will spoil him orruin him, rememeber this, he will not get out of bed and ask for you at 15. Like all little baby habits, this will pass and all too soon.

Answer 3

Babies go through stages. It could be for a number of reasons. If you had family there, I would say that was probably what started the change in his sleep schedule. I think the crib is the perfect place for naps, and I doubt that has anything to do with his change at night. Although, if he is getting better sleep at nap time, he could not be as tired at night.
Try doing some extra activity after naptime or right before bed. Give him a little extra food before bed to fill him up. See if that helps him sleep through the night again.
Also, when he wakes up at night, you can go check on him, but as long as he is fine, leave him there. If he knows he can cry and you will pick him up, he will continue to do it. Once he gets the idea that he has to stay there and it is time to sleep, he will do so. It's hard, but worth it in the end when they do what they are supposed to.
Good luck!

Answer 4

My twins sleep in there crib for naps and bedtime. They both do excellent. I believe they should sleep in there cribs. You get a break and they get a good nap. You son might be waking up in the middle of the night because he is hungry. My twins still wake up something for a bottle. It's usally when they are going through a growth spert. A nice good warm bottle should put him right back to sleep. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Babies should always nap in a crib.....they should learn that cribs are for sleeping period....the issues with him waking at night is probably not necessarily related to napping in the crib.

My son always napped in a crib, he had night waking issues, but it wasn't due to napping in the crib.

Answer 6

A baby that young can't differentiate between a nap and night time sleep. To him, sleep is sleep. That's where he should be napping.
When he wakes up at night, as long as he has a clean diaper and a full tummy, leave him in the crib and let him fall back asleep. Otherwise, he'll know that if he cries, you'll come get him and he'll keep doing that.

Answer 7

It's fine to let the child take naps in it crib. It's actually a good idea because he will go threw a stage(most likely)where he will not sleeping well. He will already know what to do when he is in there even if he doesn't want to. If you are still feeling ify about the crib thing buy a baby monitor.

Answer 8

i let my 4 month old daughter sleep wherever she falls asleep, especially since she is teething. sometimes its her crib, or bounce chair, or swing. and have no trouble getting her to sleep at night in her crib even if she napped there that day. there might be other factors to your child getting up in the night. is he teething, is he hungry, does he have a dirty diaper. personally i think having all the company you just had threw off his schedule, everyone wants to hold the baby when you know he should have been sleeping or his attention wasnt on eating and he didnt get as much as he normally would have. i think if you get him back on his normal schedule he will nap and sleep in his crib all night for you.

Answer 9

A baby should be taking his nap in a crib. Cribs are for sleeping and that is what a nap is.

Answer 10

the crib is the best, safest place for babies to sleep, whether it's for a nap or throughout the night. he's old enough now for you to start to let him cry it out when he doesn't want to sleep. it's very difficult to listen to them, but it's really better for both of you in the long run.