successful nap extension - finally!

[1blueheron]

From 4 months old until last week, I rarely got more than 30 minute naplets out of DD.  We're now up to two 90 minute naps a day!  I'm sharing what i did because I've seen a few threads on this and I know the catnapping drove me crazy for a long time.

Inspired by Montessori floor beds, I took the side off our low-to-the-ground IKEA crib to convert it into a "toddler bed" and put a makeshift mattress next to it to cushion roll-offs (and as a place for me to lay down when nursing her down).  I fenced off her half of our room and babyproofed everything in that area.  

The very first day we used the new arrangement she slept for 90 minutes!!  I put her down, and after 30 minutes (a la No-Cry Nap Solution) stationed myself next to her to resettle her.  I hung out reading and she shifted at her usual wake-up time, looked over at me, I rubbed her back and she went back to sleep.  Every day since then I've gotten at least one long nap.  I read next to her for 10 minutes or so around the 30 minute mark, resettling as needed.

I think this is working because it mimics our nighttime co-sleeping arrangement, where I'm often lying next to her reading while she sleeps.  I suspect that before this she viewed the crib as a place where she always finds herself alone.   Anyway, whatever it was, I am so, so grateful that it's working without tears or struggle.  I think she and I both really needed this.

(From a safety point of view i dunno how comfortable I would have been doing this before she was mobile enough to get herself out of any spots she might have gotten wedged in should she roll off.  I'm confident she can do that now.  She did roll off once, and landed on the pallet next to her crib, but actually slept through it or went back to sleep without getting upset.)

[Buzzer Beater]

Could you post a picture of this? I'm super curious how this works... I think it's a great idea. I'd really love a cozy spot to nurse DD down during naptime. Today she napped on me for half an hour, half an hour, then 2 hours. Gotta make a change!

[jesepumpkin]

thanks for posting! i have a 5 month old 30-45 min napper and i've been doing all kinds of 'tinkering' to get her to sleep. i have tried the sneaking in to resettle a few times, with varying success. it is hard because then i have to leave my older dd for a while (usually watching a cartoon on my computer). i will give it a try again. 

the part that drives me crazy is that she goes to sleep so easily! in her sleepbag, a kiss from mom and she goes to sleep on her own. but will not do this during a nap or in the night! *sigh*

[1blueheron]

Buzzer, here's a pic, with DD modeling her napfulness:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/56761807@N05/5241432526/

The Boppy's just there for my head when I'm reading.  (Obviously, we're past the age of sids fear, as she's full-on tummy sleeping with a blanket!)  

I was never able to pick her up and resettle her, so the ability to resettle in place is key for us.

And you know what's really wonderful?  I feel like her night sleep has gotten a little better, too, after a week of solid naps.

[memz]

I think I will try this...my DD has always been a cat napper and that is while sleeping on me....maybe with time this could work ...that and finding a way to get my boob out without waking her... thanks for the info!!

[THBVsMommy]

Thank you for sharing!

[porcelina]

Another thanks here! We did something similar with naps on a mattress on the floor with DS1. However, I always had to put a boob in that mouth! I'm going to be more about patting and shushing with DS2!

[1blueheron]

Originally Posted by porcelina 

Another thanks here! We did something similar with naps on a mattress on the floor with DS1. However, I always had to put a boob in that mouth! I'm going to be more about patting and shushing with DS2!

I fully expected that she'd need me to boob her back down, as that was the only thing that had worked in the past (and that only worked *sometimes*).  I was surprised that a little back rub was all it took.  Like I said, I speculate (and who knows) that she has decided that this is a safe place to sleep, just another bed.  Now I just need to figure out how to do something like this safely for a smaller baby when we have dc2.  I like the idea of opening up that little baby cage a bit and having some mama space in there.