6 month Old Won’t Nap!!

[Rockgirl]

That is really good progress!

[INnewbie]

I have a fan that runs during nap time, and I’ve been putting on Ms. Rachel’s bedtime video. If he’s not napping, then the video keeps him quiet and content and has actually helped him fall back asleep! Just started watching 2 more kiddos today and their dad said they don’t do naps anymore (4 and 5) but they did AMAZING playing quietly/watching a movie while baby napped! He slept almost a whole hour and a half with no fussing!

[Rockgirl]

White noise really helps to muffle out other noises in the house. I have a machine for the playroom during naps, and when I had an infant sleeping in a separate room, I just used an old iPhone with a white noise track playing. On Amazon music, there’s one called “White Noise-3 Hours Long”.

[INnewbie]

I’m hoping so, it’s taken Him 3/almost 4 months, but he’s finally adjusting to not being held all day long and he’ll actually nap on his own (although I haven’t gotten him to nap longer than an hour, his nap this morning wasn’t even 45 minutes because I flushed the toilet and it woke him up and he refused to go back to sleep). The afternoons are the hardest because he’s so tired from barely napping, but I’m reminding myself that we’re taking it a day at a time and we’re showing improvement!

[GirlMomma]

It sounds like he is. Hopefully he’ll be fully adjusted in a week or so.

[INnewbie]

I try to make each time i go back to soothe him have a longer period period of time between, and I’ve been avoiding picking him up and just giving him his paci and a hand on him so he knows I’m there. This works to calm him down, but he goes back to fussing after a minute or 2 of me walking away once he realizes I’m not there. DCM and I were talking this morning and think he’s going thru a growth spurt because he’s been eating a lot this week and napping a bit more often. She did mention that the only reason he woke up when he did this morning was because he realized she got out of bed to wash bottles and he was alone

[GirlMomma]

INnewbie how quickly are you getting him when he starts fussing after he wakes up? You may try letting him fuss for about 5-10 mins before going to get him to see if he will fall back to sleep on his own. With him co-sleeping at home, this could be the reason for the shorter naps. He realizes no one is around. If you are waiting, then it could also be a growth spurt/transition period.

[INnewbie]

This afternoon was rougher, he went down even easier for his second nap (laid him down same way and was out within a few minutes!!) but he woke up within the hour and was obviously still tired. I kept him up for about another hour, switching him between tummy time, on his hit with his light up toys (usually his fav) his bouncer, checking his diaper, and he wasn’t having any of it-holding him he just wanted to fall asleep. I got him to lay back down in the pack-n-play with a little bit of fuss for another 30 minutes and he was awake and ready to eat, so I gave him his bottle a little bit early. He ate the whole bottle (I have issues getting him to eat more than half/three fourths of the bottle usually) again so I’m thinking little guy is hitting a growth spurt.
Just reminding myself that it’s the little wins and the fact that he’s spent not one, but all 3 of those naps in the play pen, no rocking to sleep, no fussing for an hour+, instead of in my arms is a win and shows progress! Hopefully by the time I have the other 2 kiddos again he’ll be in the swing of things!

[GirlMomma]

Keep it consistent!!! You’re doing great and making progress!!

[Rockgirl]

Sounds like you and he are making progress!

[INnewbie]

We’ve only dealt with the first nap of the day, but only took 35/40 minutes for him to fuss himself down for his nap! Gave him his paci and would lay my hand on his tummy every once in a while, but he did it on his own and in less than an hour! He only napped for just under an hour, but he was tired and ready to lay down an hour before his mom said to feed him next, but he closed his eyes ready to fall asleep as soon as I picked him up and cuddled him, so he ate about a half hour/45 minutes later. Definitely a score in the books and I’ll be making sure to let mom know about the accomplishment!

[INnewbie]

Annalee yeah DCM said she usually holds him for naps and always cosleeps at night and just gives him a bottle if he fusses. Says he eats 20 oz a night (didn’t give specific times, I’m assuming she means 9p-5a or sooner? Idk explains why I struggle to get him to eat half a 6oz bottle every 4/5 hours when she wants him to eat a whole 6oz bottle every 6 hours

[Blackcat31]

Ugh! I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It sounds so awfully stressful. It's sad for the baby as well as he is simply resisting anything other than what he is being taught at home. I understand working parents and needing to sleep but this mom is setting her child up for all sorts of future issues in whatever care situation he is in.

It's so important for her to understand SAFE sleep as well as QUALITY sleep and she isn't doing that from what baby is showing you.

I would try to learn and gather as much info you can about safe sleep and quality sleep and try sharing with mom. Maybe just, maybe she will get on board with what needs to be done for not only the safety of baby but for the sanity of you and anyone else that cares for him

((hugs)) Good for you for reaching out to others and trying to find a solution.
Sleep issues are by far THE hardest to deal with when caring for children in my opinion.

[Annalee]

sounds like the product of co-sleeping with parents.

[INnewbie]

He’s currently laying in the play pen asleep, but crying. Even when I go up to it, put his paci in his mouth, he’ll stop crying for a few, keep his eyes closed, and slow down his breathing. Then it’s like he realizes he’s aslee and cries, or he’s crying in his sleep