argh, nap h-e-l-l!!!

eden/averymum · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 11:33 AM

ok, I am officially sleep training. I have started CIO for nap and bedtime. My girls were sick and had their accinations, they got over them and we were left with disaster city. 45 minutes of effort producing 15-20 minute naps, constant crankies because they were so tired!!!

so, help me, I go about nap routine as usual and then just lay them down and walk away. OK, morning nap they just went to sleep, afternoon nap, they cried for about 30 minutes on and off, mostly on, I went in once and tried some shhhing and patting to no real avail and left after about 90 seconds. They finally fell asleep, but 20 minutes later, awake again crying. So I went in and shhhhed and patted and gave her her lovey, nope, no good, crying, but she only slept 20 minutes, the other was still asleep, I can't tell over the monitor if she got woken or not. It has been another 20 minutes now and there is crying on and off, like she sleeps for a few minutes then cries. Is this normal. I thought once they got to sleep they would nap well, but it looks like nope.

Is it the right thing to leave them and hope they get some more sleep, or take them out and say that is it for a few hours? How long until I get them out???

Rachel · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 02:25 PM

Oh gosh... sorry about this rough time, it will pass in time and with some consistency in how you respond to them. You should give them one hour in their cribs (from the moment you put them down, not from the time they fall asleep... does that make sense?). If they are still crying after an hour, then you can pick them up, but you have to give them ample time to fall back to sleep on their own.

sarathan · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 03:23 PM

Yes, what Rachel said. Be as consistent as possible with the times you put them down and how you put them down. They will eventually get things figured out, they won't be taking 20 min. naps forever. With a consistent routine, they will fall asleep much easier and sleep longer, it just takes time. Hang in there! I know, CIO can be rough.

eden/averymum · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 03:57 PM

thanks. she did go back to sleep after 20 minutes on/off crying and slept another 30 minutes. the hour in the crib rule makes sense, but what if they don't sleep at all, hold off until the next "scheduled naptime".

They went down for the night without a peep !

sarathan · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2005, 04:03 PM

Kristen- if they don't sleep AT ALL for one of their naps, try to hold off until the next scheduled nap as best you can. They might not make it and that's okay, you just do the best you can. Personally, I do a 30 min. rule in that I don't vary naptimes for Myles by more than 30 mins. I shoot for a 9, 12, 3 schedule. So the first nap would happen no earlier than 8:30, but no later than 9:30. Babies thrive on consistency and routine... before you know it, you'll have good nappers and happy, well-rested kids on your hands.