My son will turn 1 year old at the end of this Sept. He goes down in his crib every night after rocking and breast feeding without much fuss at all and sleeps through the night 80% of the time. Sometimes he wakes up just once... but usually cries for a very short bit and goes back down on his own, or goes down easily after I come in and breast feed him.
My struggle right now is that since he was born, he has always napped best in his swing and/or the stroller. He always would wake up after just 5 or 10 minutes every time I tried putting him down in his crib for his nap... so we just stuck with using the swing or stroller for all naps (or the car!). So, we unintentionally created the habit of his dependency on the soothing movement of the swing, stroller or car for day napping. BUT, now he's practically outgrown his swing and I don't always have the time to walk him or drive him around for naps now that I'm back to work. We've recently tried several times putting him in his crib for naps and he is sooooo stubborn about it... he cries and cries and doesn't give up! I'm comfortable with letting him cry for 10 or 15 minutes, but when it continues to go on I strongly feel it isn't right to just ignore him. He gets super sad and sweaty with tears streaming down his face... how can I get him to accept his crib during the day like he does at night??
Put a story or music CD on repeat in his room at nap time. Worth a try! Like any new routine, he will protest, but try to keep it a set routine and stay positive and upbeat--they can smell the fear! LOL
Maybe throw some of his favorite toys in the crib with him and sit him in it and tell him he can play for awhile when you know he is really tired, instead of laying him down and telling him its time for a nap/to go to sleep? I also like the idea of running him really hard and making sure he is good and exhausted before you put him in there!
Just keep at it...he'll except it...eventually!
I had that issue. What I found is that if I would plan ahead and put a heating pad in the crib to warm up the sheets, it would help tremendously. Just be sure to remove it before you put the baby in. They go from a warm spot to a cold spot, and it just isn't that much fun for a little guy. But, if it is warm and cozy, they likely will just settle down and stay sleeping. HTH!
Just a thought but maybe he is use to going to bed in his crib at night because it is dark outside. Is his room really sunny during the day? If so maybe try putting up darker curtains so it is dark in his room.
Good Luck
Hi, the only thing you can do is continue to put him in his crib. he only cries because he knows you will come and get him out. the only way to brake that habit is by standing your ground and just let him cry.
Check out your local bookstore and half.com for "The Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg. Her processes to solve issues like this are fabulous, although it doesn't happen overnight (just like the situation you're in didn't happen overnight), her methods aren't CIO-based and kinder, IMHO. She also has a website. Good luck!!
Have you tried a pack and play with the vibrations? And then slowly weaning him from that? Or putting him in the swing or carseat and NOT moving it? I haven't had to go through this, but that is all I can think of, sorry.
I am going through the same exact situation with my son who just turned one a week ago. He sleeps well in his crib at night and through the night most nights but for his 2 naps during the day, he can only sleeps in his stroller. The only good thing though is that I don't have to take the stroller outside to walk him to sleep. We have the stroller parked inside the house and he just falls asleep in his during his 2 naps. I am trying to transition him to the crib for naps but we tried before and to no avail. He still fits in his stroller but sometimes he looks cramped in there especially with the seat belts.
Sorry I can't really offer you any advice but would love to hear what other mamas have to say about this.
Hello A.,
This is a common problem - I went through it myself when my son was 4 months old. He wouldn't sleep anywhere unless it was in motion (even at night). There is professional advice out there - you can check out my website for more information. I look forward to hearing from you.
P.
www.sleepsense.net/kelowna
