[not_telling]

DS is 8.5 months and about a month ago we started "practicing" naps in crib (vs. naps on mommy or daddy). He usually takes two naps per day, so I've been putting him in the crib for the earlier nap. I nurse him to sleep in the glider and then carefulllllly move him to the crib, slllllllowly extract my arms from under/around him (which can take 10 min.) and then either sneak out of the room or settle back into the glider with a book.

Almost always, he wakes around the 30 min. mark and then the only way I can get him to go back to sleep in the crib is to actually join him in the crib. Yes, I climb in with him and snuggle like we do at night in the family bed. Sometimes he'll go right back to sleep, other times it may take 20-30 minutes. Then I try to get back out of the crib without waking him.

When he sleeps on us, he (of course) can sleep a long time (1-2 hours). For his second nap of the day, I still have him sleeping on me. I guess I'm wondering whether continuing to do naps both ways (in crib and on mommy) is getting in the way of him getting used to the crib. I'm also thinking that putting him the crib asleep does not help him get used to the crib...it just "helps" him get used to waking up in a different situation than how he fell asleep (I don't think he muich likes that). I am able to put him in his co-sleeper while still awake for the first stretch at night, but no success in doing that with the crib.

 

[Dreamy]

I found that the only way I could get DS to sleep longer in the crib was to put him down curled up on his side. I used a rolled up receiving blanket behind his back to keep him in place. He still hates the crib though!

I'd definitely rethink the safety of getting in the crib with him, I'm pretty sure they're not designed to support an adult's weight and could snap, which wouldn't be pretty

Rolling him back onto his side while drowsy and patting his back could be something to try. Good luck!

 

[eclipse]

Is there a reason you want him to nap in the crib, since he's cosleeping at night? My kids all napped in the family bed once they got past the "sleep on mommy" thing. Is the hope that you will eventually get him to sleep in the crib at night, or are you worried about him sleeping alone in the adult bed, or. . .? I don't think it's a good idea to actually get in the crib. There's a good chance you'll break it. You could side car it to the family bed - then he's in the crib and you're right next to him on the matress.

 

[battymama]

I genrally put poppy down on a matress on the floor in our front room, or put her in the stroller, she sleeps really well in the stroller and when she stirs i can rock her off with it.

 

[tallulahma]

i nurse dd2 down on cushions in the living room for naps, or our couch and then i can get up and do things without her ever being out of sight....

ive never used a crib....but i also would not recommend you getting in...even if you are supper tiny...

 

[vegemamato]

Quote:

Originally Posted by battymama I genrally put poppy down on a matress on the floor in our front room, or put her in the stroller, she sleeps really well in the stroller and when she stirs i can rock her off with it.

:

that's what I do when I *really* need to get something done (or if the maintence guys at our condo are being super loud outside our bedroom

 

[rachel7628]

I think that babies need to put down to sleep in the same place for the best sleep. They learn that this is the sleeping place. Our daughter didn't nap well in the crib until we started putting her in the crib for the first stretch at night. When she was about 7 months old, I'd rock her to sleep, put her in the crib and then move her to her co-sleeper when we went to bed. Her naps got much better almost immediately and she started taking (relatively) consistent 1.5 to 2 hour naps.

 

[gretelmom]

Our LC suggested putting a hot water bottle in the baby's spot on the crib while you nurse them. Then move it the SECOND before he gets set down, and move yourself away slowly... Also, is baby warm enough? How about a sleep sack AND the hot water bottle? This was a big thing for my kids, didn't know they were cold, it wasn't obvious, but when they were on one of us or in the bed, they were a lot warmer.

PS just re-read that and want to be clear that hot water bottle doesn't stay next to baby in the crib, it's just to warm the bed before he touches it.

 

[Megan73]

I WISH I had some advice - but I have exactly the same problem with my 8.5 month old.
My son sleeps fine in his crib next to our bed at night but will only nap on top of me. If I try to put him in his crib he wakes up the second I start putting him down anywhere or try getting up myself even if he's totally exhausted and needs the sleep. So I just sit there while he naps. I'm getting lots of reading done!
I feel like I should somehow be teaching him to fall asleep in the crib on his own but I have no idea how???
I hope this changes soon...

 

[not_telling]

pardon short response...cranky baby in armss...

reason for crib naps: leaving in family bed is not safe at this point (full-size bed, mattress not on floor and no plans to put it there, 2 sides of bed are not "protected), also we probably will want to transition him to crib sometime in future because of small size of our bed.

our crib converts to a toddler bed, so i was kinda assuming that it could support my weight because i can't imagine having a small child in his bed and mom and dad unable to perch on the side or snuggle up to read stories, etc. i can't seem to find any weight limit info, though. it's a pacific rim maple crib.