I'm completely at my wit's end with what to do about getting my 6 mo. old to take a nap with my 2.5 y/o around. I fel like I've tried everything and am hoping that someone can suggest something I haven't tried yet, or give any insight into this situation. I feel like my only option is to let one of them cry and the thought of that is sickening.
What I used to do, which seemed to work well, is give my toddler a snack in her booster seat (strapped in) while I went upstairs to nurse the baby down. Luckily she falls asleep pretty easily, but I do need about 10 solid minutes with her. For the past 3 weeks or so my toddler has been screaming for me when I go upstairs and gets hysterical when I don't answer or come down. When I do come down a few minutes later she is genuinely scared. I always explain where I'll be and that I'll be right back, etc. but she does this every time. I've even tried talking to her through the monitor but that doesn't help. Now, when I even start to get ready to take the baby up she goes crazy-throwing herself on the floor, the whole bit. I honestly think she's scared to be alone and it's not just having a tantrum or anything against the baby.
She won't watch TV so that isn't an option, I've tried bringing her in the room with something to do on the floor-and she ineveitably gets on the bed and makes a bunch of noise, I've tried having the baby sleep in the swing/bouncy seat-doesn't happen, I've tried the carrier, but I have to be in constant motion and she doesn't sleep very well and I feel like she deserves at least on decent nap a day.
I really don't know what to do. We co-sleep at night and she sleeps in our bed for naps, so I can't really just leave her in there and hope she'll fall asleep. I've tried the pack-n-play but she won't sleep there either.
Please help with any ideas, I'm beyond at my wit's end.
Thanks so much!!!
What I used to do, which seemed to work well, is give my toddler a snack in her booster seat (strapped in) while I went upstairs to nurse the baby down. Luckily she falls asleep pretty easily, but I do need about 10 solid minutes with her. For the past 3 weeks or so my toddler has been screaming for me when I go upstairs and gets hysterical when I don't answer or come down. When I do come down a few minutes later she is genuinely scared. I always explain where I'll be and that I'll be right back, etc. but she does this every time. I've even tried talking to her through the monitor but that doesn't help. Now, when I even start to get ready to take the baby up she goes crazy-throwing herself on the floor, the whole bit. I honestly think she's scared to be alone and it's not just having a tantrum or anything against the baby.
She won't watch TV so that isn't an option, I've tried bringing her in the room with something to do on the floor-and she ineveitably gets on the bed and makes a bunch of noise, I've tried having the baby sleep in the swing/bouncy seat-doesn't happen, I've tried the carrier, but I have to be in constant motion and she doesn't sleep very well and I feel like she deserves at least on decent nap a day.
I really don't know what to do. We co-sleep at night and she sleeps in our bed for naps, so I can't really just leave her in there and hope she'll fall asleep. I've tried the pack-n-play but she won't sleep there either.
Please help with any ideas, I'm beyond at my wit's end.
Thanks so much!!!
