Putting a baby down for a nap?

Question

What is the best way to put a baby down for a nap. Currently, my 1.5 month old falls asleep wherever I am during the day but I'd like to start him on a nap routine. What's the best way to go about doing this. It's difficult getting him to go down in his crib or bassinet.

Answer 1

I am a big fan of the BabyWise method for getting babies on a routine (Book title= "On Becoming BabyWise"). I would strongly recommend getting the book so you can get all the great recommendations they have....but the net of is that you need to first get your baby on a regular and predictable feeding schedule. At six weeks old, your baby should be fed every 2 to 2.5 hours if breastfed and every 2.5-3 hours if formula fed. So if you are feeding every 3 hours, your baby would eat at 7am, 10am, 1pm, etc. Try to keep your baby awake after you feed him/ her. Put your baby down for a nap one hour before the next feeding. So first nap is at 9am, next nap is at 12noon, etc.

I put my baby on a 2.5 hour feeding schedule at 4 weeks old and it wonderful....I waited until he was 4 months old before letting him cry it out...so nap times were sometimes tough in the early months....but it all worked out well in the end.

Answer 2

This question is more complicated than you can imagine. Everyone finds something different that works for them, and there is no one right answer. We set up our son on a nap/sleep schedule pretty early, at about 1 month, and he became an excellent sleeper. During the first 3 months, swaddling was the best thing that worked for us. After that, we moved him to the crib, and followed a combination of several popular methods, including Dr. Karp's and Dr. Ferber's. Good luck.

Answer 3

you just have to start putting him in his crib and letting him cry! Try and put his mobile (or something that plays music) on everytime you put him down to sleep! It will be so much harder for you when he gets older if you dont do it when they are small.Trust me I started trying when my son was 6 months to put him in his crib for his naps and it was so hard!! He had to cry alot before he would fall asleep on his own! Now he's been falling aleep for almost 2 months now by himself! We also swaddled him until he started getting out of it and we did it for bedtime also! They say it helps them sleep longer!!

Answer 4

i'm having an identical difficulty with my 5.5 month old. that's taking him longer and longer to bypass down for a sleep. one factor you need to do is positioned him to sleep in his swing and then while he's in a deep sleep(improve a limb relatively and notice if it falls or if he tightens his muscle tissue lower back, if it falls he's in a deep sleep) and then circulate him to his crib so as that he can start up getting used to actual sleep in it. yet another factor is attempt to start a ordinary till now naps, or a minimum of create quiet time till now naps, because of the fact he could be overstimulated, and which will make it extra durable to place him to sleep, and he will seem then to what he's familiar with will paintings. yet another advice is to allow him to play in his crib at the same time as he's conscious so he's extra used to the thought he can spend time in his crib in the process the day, cuz you haven't any longer have been given a difficulty at night. it relatively is quiet playtime, you are able to play with him or permit him play by myself with some toys, or a splash of the two.

Answer 5

It might be a little early to start trying to establish a routine. I always tried to make the crib the place that I put them for sleeping. Its safe, secure and you will be happy that you got them used to sleeping in it. When they are older its easier to establish a routine by putting them in their bed with a stuffed toy or a special blanket.

Answer 6

I had to leave the house and let hubby deal with it. I used to pick him up/ check on him every time he started to cry, so my husband sent me out for a walk. He, apparently, could listen to our son cry in his bed and ignore it. Within a week of walking during naptime ( on my part), our son went down for naps no problem!

Answer 7

One thing is to keep it right around the same time. At first go lay down with them. If they start to get up lay them back down. And rub their back alittle while. After a little while just go lay them down and rub their back for alittle while. The slowly start taking yourself out, when you put them down. Then reward them when they wake up. Fresh air, like a small walk helps make them sleepy also. Good Luck!