Letting sleep overtake your baby...Sears-style.

[Beauchamp]

Does this actually work for anyone? It mostly works for us for daytime naps, either nursing to sleep or falling asleep for a nap in the Ergo while I am doing housework. But for nighttime...I can't seem to crack the code on "letting sleep overtake" my LO. It seems we always have tears. And I mean like I feel like I am failing her because I can't find a tear-free way to put her to bed.

[Blueone]

Somtimes yes, sometimes no. My son is very set on staying up even when he's grouchy from being so tired. Recently he's headed into a growth spurt and will wake himself up before he's really rested and be a complete grouch so I have to put him back down for a nap and he hates that and will throw a fit. But he wakes up an hour later much more rested. It really depends on his mood.

Point is, children respond differently at different times. I wouldn't stress too much, no situation will ever be just right and some children are just more stubborn about not taking a nap!

Oh, have you tried different positions for putting your LO down for a nap? Sometimes I can't hold him because he'll throw and even larger fit. If I lay him down and pat his back it's tinier. But sometimes he has to be held. I find that the more relaxed I am the better it goes. Usually I'll put on a short 30 minute show and watch that. If he continues to throw a fit that just gets larger he's either hungry or I just let him stay up. He'll tire himself out more in the short amount of time he's up after the fight playing.

It's a challenge, Good Luck!

[LadyCatherine185]

Not consistently until DS was closer to 9-10 months old. Before that it always was with tears and a LOT of effort on my part. No matter how TIRED he was.

Now I would say about 80% of the time he ASKS to go to sleep, and will nurse to sleep in bed for naps, or at night he will nurse and then ask for "Daddeeee Ni-night" and will fall asleep while DH holds him on the bed. Sometimes he does resist sleep, but I can usually account it for a busy/off schedule day, or teething/sickness related.

it will get better!

[Beauchamp]

Last night we had our first night where sleep actually did "overtake" her. We nursed in our bed, and just let her stay there, rather than trying to move her to her crib, which 99% of the time wakes her up, makes her cry. Maybe she is trying to tell us she needs to co-sleep right now? I am getting much less sleep, but at least this way is better than an elaborate hour+ bedtime routine that ends in her waking anyway...