Nap Strategies for a Baby Who Can Now Sit up and Pull up in the Crib

Updated on March 04, 2010
M.H. asks from Roseville, CA
7 answers

Las weekend, my daughter learned how (finally) to sit up and consequently pull herself up in the crib. It's not a problem (yet) with bedtime- she sleeps all night from 8:00 pm to about 7:30 am... but naptime is becomming really challenging! I put her down in the crib after a feeding with her blankie, bear, binkie... just like I always have and now I hear her giggling because she's upright in the crib! She still needs the naps because she's rubbing her eyes and obviously tired! Help!!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the ideas, ladies! Of course we had already lowered the crib when we noticed her pulling up on the other furniture... it is just hard to get used to her being so independant- she's always napped when I wanted her to! (I know that was on borrowed time!) So since I posted the question- she has taken a couple of naps, and all of the naps had her sleeping on her tummy for the first time ever-- but she's not sleeping at night on her tummy- nor does she want to sit up in the crib at bedtime! I am working on wearing her out more, though-- she's a little scamp!
Thanks for responding!

More Answers

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L.B.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

You may have to change your routine a little bit to get her more sleepy before putting her down in the crib. A little cuddling after the feeding before you put her down might be in order.
She's just excited and wants to keep playing is all so calming her down a little farther than you normally do is probably all it will take.
Another option is some very soft gentle music in the background and controlling the light, especially sun light, in her room. Making her room dark like it would be at night might also help with afternoon naps. They make blinds that block out light now. Or just covering her window with a blanket to block out the sun will work just fine.
Hope those help.

G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Maybe wait until she's more drowsy before you put her down? I never had this problem with naps (my son hardly ever napped after being put down), but he woke up in the middle of the night a few times....

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G.T.

answers from San Francisco on

What we did when this happened with our daughter was:
- beginning a nap time routine, quite similar to bedtime (dim the lights, change diaper, cuddle and read a book)
- put her in her sleepsack for her nap, so she couldn't move as much, and the warmth made her more sleepy (also, she associated it with sleeping which helped)

Good luck!

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M.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Can you lower the mattress in her crib to ensure she can't get out? Depending upon her age, maybe you just need to alter her naptime(s) (mine seems to change all the time...every 2 months or so. ). Not sure if the problem was the scare of her being able to escape her crib or her not taking her naps.

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K.K.

answers from San Francisco on

This happened with both my girls and it was just a phase. Your daughter is clearly proud of herself and wants to practice her new skill, but the skill will get old (and she'll learn something new!) and her nap habits will settle down again. Be consistent and let her know it's naptime-she'll eventually fall asleep! Good luck!

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C.V.

answers from San Francisco on

I think maybe it being a new trick she wants to practice so give it a couple weeks and she will get over it. I leave my son (11 months) in his crib and sometimes can here him babling but eventually he falls asleep.

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P.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Lower the mattress so she can't get/fall out of the crib. Other than that, let her go. As long as she can get from an upright position to laying down, it shouldn't be a problem. She'll lay down and sleep when she knows you're not coming back in the room.

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