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Re: crying before daytime naps

Posted by Stephanie on May 22, 2001 at 10:38:03:

In Reply to: crying before daytime naps posted by boca233 on May 21, 2001 at 17:59:38:

"Sometimes it seems as if just being horizontal sets him off. "

Several things come to mind. Does he go to sleep any better upright,like on your shoulder? If so, it might just be a problem with gas. Or it could simply be a problem of your child not being able to transition to sleep well during the day. In this case you might need to work with him like you are doing for a while longer. Crying is a normal baby thing. I never recommend leaving a baby to cry alone, but some crying is often unavoidable. Have you tried infant massage? My daughter was in a leg brace at this age, and every night before bed I would take off her brace and rub her down with some lotion to help relax her. Using the same lullaby tape every nap and bedtime can also help a baby transition to sleep easier. It helps form a familiar routine that some babies seem to need. There is also nothing wrong with nursing or rocking a baby to sleep, and some babies do better with rhythmic motion, like dancing. (my 4th son always went to sleep while I danced with him and sang "Meet Me in St. Louis!) Perhaps he is too stimulated and needs something to help him unwind. It sounds like you have a good nighttime routine going, could you come up with something similar for naptimes?

Another possiblility would be a growth spurt. Does he wake up hungry? You may need to increase his feedings for a while to compensate. Or perhaps a developmental milestone (like rolling over)is messing up things. If this is the problem, it may just take time to work itself out.

Babies are complex beings, but fortunately their problems usually resolve themselves in a short amount of time. Hang in there, keep trying new approaches, and give it some time. And remember to be flexible about your baby's naptime schedule. Just like adults, babies sleep needs change from day to day. One day he may need a longer nap, and another day he might not need much at all. It is not necessary to "make" a baby take a longer nap if they don't appear tired. Just follow your baby's cues and hang in there! It does get better!

Best wishes for a good night's sleep!

Stephanie, mom to 4 boys and a princess!

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Archived Infant Sleep Forum4 viewing only. To post a new topic go to the Infant Forum Homepage.
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