Nailing Down Naps

On January 22, 2010 · 2 Comments

Maybe you have the child that sweetly drifts off to sleep when they are tired, maybe. But, I bet that isn’t the case. It certainly wasn’t for me.

When Little G was a newborn he only slept for 5 maybe 6 hours…total! He cried and cried his cute little head off,well screamed really. We were totally overwhelmed. Things got slightly better as he got older, he would sleep more often but it was still a challenge for him to let go and fall asleep.

I couldn’t watch him be miserable anymore, I felt tired, exhausted. I felt guilty that I wasn’t helping him sleep…like I was a bad mom. I felt upset at his crying, I couldn’t take it anymore. Then I felt guilty for that. D or I would hold him while he cried until we couldn’t take it anymore and then pass him off to the other one. Back and forth, back and forth.

Little G was awake all the time. This couldn’t be healthy. So what can you do.

Finally, I decided to figure out his schedule. For two days Little G and I spend all day in my bedroom. Away from loud or flashing toys, television and radio…anything too stimulating.  We would play with stuffed animals, read books, laugh and giggle, but nothing over the top. During this time I looked for patterns, eventually they emerged.

For Little G specifically, after about an hour and a half he would become squirmy and fussy and a little bit angry.

Ah ha! This was the magic time! Over the next few days we watched and waited for these signs. This was the point of tired for him. Before was too soon, and after was overtired.

Depending on what happens during the day sometimes he’s tired sooner and sometimes later. We don’t get it right everyday, but at least now we know what to look for.

 
  • Jami

    Love the swaddle! My oldest is 2 1/2 now and he was swaddled and slept in his swing until he was 9 months old. But, he slept like a CHAMP. He still does. When I had my daughter, I started swaddling from day one ( I didn't learn with my son until he was 2 weeks old). She would only wake up to eat and go back to bed ever since the day we brought her home. She started sleeping though the night a 3 months, and takes two, 4 hour naps during the day. The swaddle I do comes from the book "The Happiest Baby on the Block". I wrap her super tight and tie it closed with a hairband. My daughter is almost 5 months but, I don't mind the extra hassle of tying her p before bed. I LOVE my sleep. I was also reading another post about your sons tooth, I breastfed my son until he was 16 months and had a whole set of teeth. LOL. I only got bit once, and that's when he only had gums.

  • MomRoad

    We swaddled in the beginning and it worked great. Then at about 2 months old, it would make him angry in the beginning but it wa the only way he would sleep longer than 20 min. Then it just made him angry…lol. He would grunt and yell and try to escape. I will look at the book if we have another one 🙂
    I am soooo happy that you were only bit once, this is a real and probably unjustified fear for me…lol. I'll definitely post up when and if it does happen. You have given me hope though.