What gives??

[csteely]

My 1 yo DD has always been a challenge to get to sleep. We've rocked, nursed, bounced, etc. from day one, and she fights it like a champ. Up until a few weeks ago almost all of her naps were vertical in the frontpack, either on me, DH, or our sitter (who's been with her since she was 3 mos - I work full-time).

Then a few weeks back, her sitter and I decided that it was time to try to get her to lay down for naps. I figured it would be a gradual painful process (we've tried and failed in the past), but poof! it worked. Every weekday nap for the last 3 weeks has been on her futon - they just read books, she crawls in and goes to sleep.

BUT if DH or I try to put her down, we still need to bounce her in the pack, or walk, etc. And nighttime too - still takes FOREVER to get her down.

What gives?? Anyone else have a baby who goes down like magic for someone who's not the parent?

[kgreenemama]

I am here right now because I'm looking for advice on the very same subject. My son is 25 months. He goes to a day care center three days/week and grandma's two days/week. He lies easily and without protest down at both places, and occasionally it will take up to 15 minutes for him to fall asleep, but most of the time less. On the weekends with me, he fights naps. Often, he just won't take one at all. And since he's now two and a chatterbox, he TALKS the entire time. I want to say, SHUT UP, and I wouldn't dare but it's so frustrating that he just won't power down for me. DH insists it has something to do with continuing to nurse him to sleep, but I try to explain that he doesn't even attempt to bf until he's close to sleeping. Until then, we spend 1-2 hours bouncing around the bedroom.

Like your LO, sleep, especially naps have require much intervention on my part. We held him through naps for a long time. But by 1yr, he would lie in bed and let me snuggle up to him on the days when he decides to nap.

A year ago we went through a similar process as yours when he started daycare, and I was so nervous about him being a handful for his teacher. That has not been the case. My temper flares when I don't get that nap-time to refocus myself amid a 14-hour day with a child, and I find myself snippy with my son after we resign ourselves to no nap.

Any success stories or advice out there????

[Jerlin]

Have you tried the same exact steps that your babysitter does to get your LO to sleep?

[Otterella]

When my DS (3 1/2) is getting really ornery about naptime, I take the pressure off by telling him he just has to rest. He can look at a book if he likes, but he has to lay down and stay quiet for a little while. If he's tired, he'll fall asleep. If he's not tired, he didn't need the nap anyways, but the rest still gets him refreshed. The trick is, I have to mean it, and be okay with it if he chooses not to sleep. The result is there are some days where he's really tired much earlier than others, but overall it's been much more peaceful, and he still gets his nap in more often than not.