babywearers -- when and how did your LO start napping alone

[llwr]

When did your LO transition from your body to a crib and how did you do it?

Did you find sleeping on their own to be a developmental thing, or something you had to work on?

DD2 is 11 weeks and I've been wearing her most of the time since about 3 weeks. She naps like a dream in the front pack, but she's getting heavy and I could take care of DD1 alot better if DD2 were napping alone.

She tends to wake somewhere between immediately and 10 minutes after being put in a crib or bassinette. I have a 2.5 yo as well, so it's not like I can spend a lot of time working with DD2 to sleep alone.

I don't need to give up the frontpack completely; there's a lot of things I like about it, but it's not going to last forever.

[mckittre]

My 10 month old has slowly gotten better at napping by himself, but he won't fall asleep by himself (still needs me to nurse him to sleep in the bed, then slip away). Over time the amount of time he stays asleep after I slip away has increased. At 11 weeks though, he did usually wake immediately. However, I still often wear him for naps, particularly if I'm hiking.

What kind of front pack do you have? I wear my baby on my back in a woven wrap - I can wear him comfortably for hours, and he's 10 months and 20lbs or so. If you're finding wearing the baby already uncomfortable at 11 weeks, you might need a different carrier.

[philosoikou]

What sort of carrier do you have? I would suggest buying, borrowing, or making a wrap of at least 4.5m. This is the most comfortable way to carry a baby for long hours, and a very secure method for her if she is sleeping.

I actually found it much easier to cope with life with an older child + baby when my baby slept in the wrap! She could sleep wherever she needed to, whether we were home or elsewhere, so it was less restrictive for my older dd. And like you said, who has the extra energy to "train" a baby to nap alone when there are multiple children in the mix?! I found it much easier to tie dd2 int he wrap and get on with it.

To answer your question, my first dd slept in the wrap, or beside me in bed, but not alone, for many months. She transitioned to being able to nap alone at about a year old. My second dd slept in the wrap mostly, but was able to accept being put down and left from maybe 4-5 months (?) on, if that's what suited us better that day. It wasn't something we had to "work" on. She was just fine with it.

HTH!

[llwr]

I have a snugli. I also have about 5 yds of muslin for wrapping, but I haven't really gotten the hang of it yet.

I really don't feel comfortable wearing her on my back at this age, but she's getting uncomfortable and in my way in front.

[MSinghsMama]

My son had to be held/worn the WHOLE time until he was 7 weeks, then he suddenly started to sleep for 10 minutes alone and occassionally 20 minutes. It's increased slightly over the weeks and since about 14 weeks he's managed to go to sleep without nursing sometimes too.

At night he doesn't have to sleep in my arms anymore but he will wriggle over to be right up beside me (he's 17 weeks)! If i settle him and then leave the bedroom he wake's up after 25-35 minutes. It's not much but i have to remind myself of how happy i used to be if he didn't cry for 6 minutes whilst i sterilised the breastpump and went to the loo!

We use a homemade wrap, 5 meters by 20". The best tip i got was to wrap it like "boobtube tightness", and ever since it's been just right everytime

[transylvania_mom]

I think it depends on the baby. Dd took naps in her playpen from the very beginning, but she falls asleep very easily by herself. Ds (now almost 5y/o) wouldn't nap by himself for a long time, six months at least, I think (I didn't wear him).

[almadianna]

it was developmental, kate started napping alone when she was around a year old but she was really high needs (still it), Calvin was a few weeks old.

[4JMJ]

My LO is 3 1/2 mos. We have a mei tai. If he falls asleep and I try to put him in the playpen, he wakes right up. He is more likely to stay asleep if I put him in his carseat. Plus it is really easy to get him out of the MT without waking him.