Getting baby to nap

[Gardener11]

hi everyone, looking for advice on getting a very alert baby to nap, especially when out and about. If we are in a new environment it seems virtually impossible for baby to switch off from all the stimulation. Even a walk in a pram down a mildly busy road is too much.

Everything I have read online always talks about getting the sleep environment right (quiet/dark etc). Which isn’t always possible when we are out and I don’t want to stay in all day every day.

does anyone have any tips on this? Much appreciated!

[PenguinBlue]

hi, it is hard when they’re very stimulated! My son was the same and would be constantly looking around / trying to see what was going on. If you know the most ideal times for your baby to sleep, can you plan your activities / being outdoors outside of this time so that when it comes to nap, they have the most ideal environment? My son had a good routine for naps at 6m so I could plan baby classes / meet ups outside of this. And then I’d use the nap time to either cook / nap / chores etc at home.

If that’s not possible then just try and do it for one of the naps (morning perhaps?) and let them sleep as long as possible so that if / when you’re out later and they are v alert then it’s not too much an issue if they don’t nap? I’d also recommend something like a snoozeshade and portable white noise when you’re out and about: worked a treat for us when we were out / on holiday and then we could also enjoy ourselves whilst he slept. X

[Gardener11 in reply to PenguinBlue]

Thanks-I’ve been trying to identify some sort of routine which works some days and not others. His sleep all round is pretty bad and has been since his 3rd week but I’m going to try implementing a more solid nap routine and see if that helps us. I can sometimes get him down for a nap in his cot but usually only 1 cycle max whereas he’d happily sleep on me for hours which obviously isn’t ideal for me.

[PenguinBlue in reply to Gardener11]

Oh yes, definitely don’t miss the need to sleep on me! Hopefully it helps but try not to get too hung up too - I spent so long obsessed about my sons sleep and how much he was getting and not enjoying parts of my mat leave as a result. We had the one cycle naps (33min to the second 😵‍💫😂) until they started to consolidate around 6-9m and then things got easier but know it’s not the same for all babies. The snoozeshade etc might help when you’re out and about to darken the environment and take away the need to look at anything interesting - may help you to catch a break whilst out!

[Gardener11 in reply to PenguinBlue]

You’re right, it can definitely become and obsession. Thanks - going to try a snooze shade and see if that helps us. Thanks for the support!

[Purpledoggy]

TBH we never mastered this. My 18mo has always had major FOMO and although a brilliant sleeper overnight and in the car, and now pretty good napping in his cot, naps otherwise have always been nonexistent after about a month old. He was also a nightmare to put down for naps at nursery. I worked around it if I was going out and sometimes just had to let him go a fairly long time without one. Thankfully he’s not prone to overtiredness rage, just gets a bit hyper. So, in our case there was nothing to be done to improve it other than change expectations. Xx

[Seb9 in reply to Purpledoggy]

Snap! Neither of mine ever had a proper nap routine and I just had to adapt to doing life around them being awake and asleep at totally the wrong times. It's worked out quite well though as now they're 4 and 2 and last night we went to a carnival and they both stayed up till about 10pm and had a great time. I'm almost pleased they don't have a really rigid regime so we can be a bit more flexible when we want to be and know that they'll cope with it. They were dancing to an Oasis tribute band at 9pm and loving life 😁

[Gardener11 in reply to Seb9]

Haha I’m glad it’s paying off now! Fingers crossed for us!

it’s nice to know there are other babies the same- we seem to be surrounded by ‘good’ sleepers!

[Seb9 in reply to Gardener11]

Today some friends of ours aren't able join us today because their baby is on such a strict nap routine he'll be asleep during the thing we've got planned. With FOMO kids they'll often rally through events and stay awake so you can take them anywhere. They're are cons though that if they do nap too late, it's a late night for everyone, but I'm getting used to that idea now and trying to stop myself fighting it and making them go to bed at 7pm. It just stressed everyone out!

[StarsAllAround]

No advice just to say that my lo has been terrible at napping since she was born. She's now 5 months old and only naps 2 - 3 times a day for 20 - 30 minutes. She also only sleeps for 4 - 5 hours at night then won't go back to sleep for more than an hour. I have tried just about everything to get her to nap and sleep more and nothing has worked. I have just given up and resigned myself to the fact she doesn't sleep 😴