Napping in Crib

Hi Candy,
I had the same problem with my son who is now 2. He would sleep fine in his crib at night but would not sleep in his crib at nap time. He would take naps in his swing. I would turn it on until he fell asleep and then turn it off. He was about six months old when he started napping in his crib. I worried more about him getting sleep versus where he slept. If he didnt' sleep well during the day then he didn't sleep well at night. I am sure she will eventually sleep in her crib.

Try doing a mini version of your night time routine. I got that tip from Healthy Sleep Habits and it worked for us.

Good luck

routines are the best, bathtime, music etc... I also did the 15-20 min cry method... she learned to quiet herself and now looks forward to routine bedtime fun. The Nanny book has some good ideas too.

It took my son a long time to be a good crib napper, even though he was and still is a great sleeper at night.

I would say keep doing what you're doing. Do a mini routine beforehand, give her lots of snuggles, and put her down. If she is clearly freaking out and not going to calm down, transition to another mode for napping. Our son napped in the swing until maybe 5 months?? Often, I had to take him for long walks in his stroller. It was sad. But then one day...he got it. I just kept trying.

Even in Weissbluth's book and I think Ferber's, they write that sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do to get them to nap. They say it is *ideal* to do the crib nap because it will be more sound sleep, but sometimes it is just important to help them get sleep so they don't get sleep deprived. That's when it gets even worse. I don't think my son had a distinguishable nap pattern until 6 months.

I use the 15 minute rule. I have a 3 year old (4 in april) who only recently started sleeping in her room in her own bed when our youngest was born on Halloween a few months ago. Im so greatful that my son learned early to enjoy his crib, but I unfortunately had to do it the heartwrenching way. The first few days we were all 4 sleeping somehow in our queen bed and that just wasnt working for anyone. So I convinced my daughter to sleep in her room with her brother. So of course I had to keep my word and keep him in his crib. It took the first couple of weeks, but eventually he stayed in there. I would rock/nurse him until he was sleepy or had just fallen asleep, then I would gently put him in his crib. He would stir and fuss pretty bad each time I did this, but I stood outside and gave him 15 mins. Its so hard to hear them cry like that and not go in and rescue him, but eventually he learned to self soothe and he'd go right to sleep. I'm lucky he turned out to be a thumbsucker. So now he'll just find his thumb and off to bed he goes. You'll know if you need to go in there and get your child before that 15 minute mark if he/she does that 'certain' cry.. but hang in there. And if you need to, go in there and do what you need to do to get them back to that sleepy state. It takes time, but it will happen.

My son is 15 months old now. When he was infant he co slept with us in moses basket then the bassinet of pac n play, then bottom of pac n play. (we have an older hoem and bedrooms are far apart, that is giant reason for co sleep)to finally one night he let me know HEY I want in my crib now! he would never nap in his crib at that point! he too slept in his swing for naps. He started to nap in crib when he outgrew the swing and had transitioned into crib at night, which was i think about 6 months? MAy be older, I should check his baby book! SOme babies need that rocking to sleep. Its what worked for us, so we went with it.