how do you nap?

[Grivas]

ok, I'll admit it: I know nothing about being a mother! I've been reading the thread about how our little ones are sleeping, and you all refer to putting them down for a nap. It looks like many of you get your babies to nap for hours at a time! How do you do that? Mine needs to be walked / nursed / rocked into a deep sleep before I can lay her down. Then she only sleeps for 45 minutes to an hour. Nighttime is better - 2 hours at a time. I'm so jealous hearing about the 3 or 4 hour daytime naps! all that time with both of your hands free? please share your secrets!

[avnlavnlavnl]

I FF, which I think probably helped especially when they are that young. Plus I found that I had to use a swing or miracle blanket or bouncer for daytime naps. If I put her in her crib during the day not swaddled or anything I'd be lucky to get 2 full minutes before she crys!

You might look into some type of sling or wrap so you can get stuff done. Try this website www.thebabywearer.com

[KariM]

My DS was a great napper. DD1 didn't nap unless she was worn and even then it was about 20 minutes at a time.

With DD2 I'm honestly not paying much attention.

Often she sleeps in her carrier (we found she likes the Hmong carrier the best) or in someone's arms (mine, her daddy's or her big bro's). Occasionally she'll be in her infant seat and fall asleep. She's really a pretty easy sleeper and that's great considering her big sis is LOUD.

BTW - I thought your post was about how the mamas got naps and I wanted to learn how on earth y'all are doing that!

[Grivas]

Originally Posted by avnlavnlavnl

I FF, which I think probably helped especially when they are that young. Plus I found that I had to use a swing or miracle blanket or bouncer for daytime naps. If I put her in her crib during the day not swaddled or anything I'd be lucky to get 2 full minutes before she crys!

You might look into some type of sling or wrap so you can get stuff done. Try this website www.thebabywearer.com

what is FF?

[mkmama]

FF = formula fed which i do NOT recommend unless some medical reason.

All babies are different, hang in there mama!
I had one thought. How is your milk supply? if you have a good supply then i would recommend nursing off of ONE breast a feeding. This way, the baby gets plenty of the hindmilk (the first milk is more for hydration, and the second milk that comes during the feed is the fats that keep them full longer). When the baby gets the hindmilk he/she is more satisfied and may go longer between feedings.

I don't know what else to tell you, again, every baby is different. I second teh baby carrier. My LO likes to be held when she is awake, and rocked to sleep, but when she is fluttering her eyes open and shut i put her in her moses basket, ALWAYS SWADDLED (that's a great tip for contentment and security as they sleep), and she just falls asleep there and does sleep for 3-6 hours at a time.

This is such a short time in your life tho, and it will pass so quickly. Just try to embrace it best you can! i'm sure you're doing great!

[ishereal]

Originally Posted by avnlavnlavnl

I FF, which I think probably helped especially when they are that young. Plus I found that I had to use a swing or miracle blanket or bouncer for daytime naps. If I put her in her crib during the day not swaddled or anything I'd be lucky to get 2 full minutes before she crys!

You might look into some type of sling or wrap so you can get stuff done. Try this website www.thebabywearer.com

Why do you think FF helped?

[ishereal]

Originally Posted by Grivas

ok, I'll admit it: I know nothing about being a mother! I've been reading the thread about how our little ones are sleeping, and you all refer to putting them down for a nap. It looks like many of you get your babies to nap for hours at a time! How do you do that? Mine needs to be walked / nursed / rocked into a deep sleep before I can lay her down. Then she only sleeps for 45 minutes to an hour. Nighttime is better - 2 hours at a time. I'm so jealous hearing about the 3 or 4 hour daytime naps! all that time with both of your hands free? please share your secrets!

My LO is the same way. I have to make sure he is in his 3rd dream before I put him down !!

[Grivas]

haha, 3rd dream - that's true! when i can finally put her down, i feel like i'm getting away with something... the perfect crime! btw, i think this thread is nicely connected to the "tummy sleeping" thread. glad to see i'm not the only one.

[avnlavnlavnl]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean she should FF! I just heard they sleep longer when FF. (I wish I could BF but can't for medical reasons. It makes me feel very guilty sometimes.)

[Ironica]

Formula-fed babies sometimes sleep longer because it takes longer for them to digest formula than breastmilk.

As for "naps," Raphael's sleep isn't very organized yet; he falls asleep, he wakes up, it's all pretty random. Our house is extremely long, with the master bedroom all the way in the front and our office/family room (where we spend 95% of our home waking hours) all the way in the back, so we practically never try to put him down for a nap in bed. We have a Kick n' Play that we can put him in if we want to, and usually only do when he's asleep (when he's a little older, the toy bar will be interesting when he's awake, but for now the vibration tricks him into staying asleep somewhat).

Mostly he sleeps on a Boppy on someone's lap (mine or DH's), or in a wrap or sling, during the day. He sometimes sleeps for over an hour at a time, maybe even two hours now and then, but I don't really keep track. He spends more time sleeping than awake, and that's nice.

[Grivas]

Originally Posted by mkmama

FF = formula fed which i do NOT recommend unless some medical reason.

All babies are different, hang in there mama!
I had one thought. How is your milk supply? if you have a good supply then i would recommend nursing off of ONE breast a feeding. This way, the baby gets plenty of the hindmilk (the first milk is more for hydration, and the second milk that comes during the feed is the fats that keep them full longer). When the baby gets the hindmilk he/she is more satisfied and may go longer between feedings.

my milk supply is good, and I tried this last night. we'll see how it works for extending naps, but it did give me three hours between each feeding over night. thanks for the great suggestion! I'm feeling very well rested!

[BensMom]

So much depends on the baby. So dont feel like you are necessarily doing anything wrong if your baby only takes cat naps during the day. My son was like that, never settled into a nap pattern of more than 20-30 mins at a time until he was over a year old. he also was one who had to be in a deep-coma sleep before I could lay him down. The perfect crime - too funny. I can relate.

This too shall pass! Just keep that in mind if you are blessed with one of those high needs babies. They do eventually turn into pretty cool kids.

[pixiepunk]

DD2 is pretty much always in arms or in a baby carrier to nap during the day. and when she is in a carrier she will sleep for hours on end. she is happy to be put down to stretch and wiggle when she's awake (for a while) but i can't really imagine trying to lay her down for a nap, and assume if i did she wouldn't sleep nearly as long at a time. i did this with DS as well, after spending most of my day with DD1 running back and forth from the bedroom trying to get her to nap in the cosleeper live and learn!

[Organicavocado]

Papasan. Swing.

LOL I nurse him till he's drowsy, then stick him in there and rock it. He checks out the mobile for a few minutes then konks out, at least for an hour. This is when I get my things done that I can't do with him in a carrier- cooking (if I had been wearing him when I burned myself, it would have burned him. I will never carry him and cook at the same time, ever) and the little tedious stuff thats just easier when he's down.

Sometimes I can nurse him to sleep in bed, then get up when he's really out and cover him up, but then I can't see him.. I have to check on him constantly and I dont get anything done.