no napper

[jerabelle]

hi mommas,

DS is 5 months old and refuses to take any naps during the day - as soon as you lay him down, he screams.  he really doesnt get cranky or anything from being up all day, i just feel bad because i know his little body is just exhausted.  only time he'll doze off is when i nurse him, and even that only lasts about 10 minutes.  my mom, MIL, and sister have tried, and none of us have been successful.

any suggestions for this no napping baby?  would love to get him on a routine for morning and afternoon naps ...

[momtoS]

HUGS...both of my little ones were like that. I have no words of advice....I did live through it (and I am expecting surprise baby number three....)

[indigosky]

Does he fall asleep if you wear him and go for a walk (even if it's only pacing in your house)? Or take him for a walk in a stroller? Or put him in a baby swing?

[sosurreal09]

DD was like that. at 5 m/o we had 2 catnaps if we were lucky! I just put our mattress on the floor and nursed her to sleep (lying down so I wouldn't have to nurse her) and crept away. I also used white noise.

things got better at 9 or 10 months. we would have "breakfast" when she woke up and play and nurse and all of that then after "lunch" it was cuddles and nap time which consisted of the above. and usually a book read before milkies.

we still use this routine now and shes 15 m/o

at 5 months you are still struggling through the motions lol I used to try and have her nap as "independently" (as in I could leave after she was nursed and asleep) all week, then on the weekends I would wear her for naps to "catch up" b/c I knew she never did seem to nap enough.

She was always a low sleep needs baby. She does 11 hr nights usually and naps for 2hs now. you will get through it!

[littlemizflava]

both of my 2 dropped napping at that age they would sleep 14+ hours a night and be up all day. only napping for a few minutes while/after breastfeeding.

[HucksMomma]

I have a 5 month old son who is a catnapper.  He would go down pretty easily but only sleep for 20 minutes. It's not quite the same issue you have but I have a couple of suggestions:  Get and read Elizabeth Pantley's "No-cry Sleep Solution" and "No-cry Nap Solution" and get a baby hammock.  The books are great, lots of tips and information and things to try for a variety of sleep issues. I have found them super helpful. After trying a lot of different ways to get Huck to sleep longer, I followed Pantley's "cycle-blender" advice and bought Huck a baby hammock.  I got a Special Delivery baby hammock (google them) and it has been awesome! Huck now takes naps alone for at least 40 minutes and if I catch him while he is waking up and give him a little jiggle then he will sleep for an hour to 2 hours.  They are handmade in Hawaii by a group of mothers and are much less expensive than the Kanoe hammock. We installed eye-screws in various rooms around the house so he can use it wherever. Although his napping isn't perfect, it is so much better! And better napping has led to better night sleep too.