https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 13:58:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2579428 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 23:11:28 +0000 gingerbebe 2579428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started by getting baby drowsy and swaddled and then placing him in the Rock n Play that was lined with a dirty shirt of mine. Then I placed a warmed rice sock along his side or on his belly like if my arm was across him. We'd put him in a dark room with white noise. Once he was napping in there like that, we waited until the next leap or growth spurt or whatever (whenever their sleep is crap again) and just moved over to the bassinet/crib. Since they were sleeping like crap anyway, it didn't hurt to try the transition then. We used the dirty shirt/sock combo, just on the flat bassinet surface, and once the phase passed, he was used to sleeping in the bassinet. Then we stopped warming the sock. Then we got rid of the sock. Then we stopped replacing the dirty shirt with a new one every day and then stopped using shirts altogether.</p> <p>I think the process took 2 weeks altogether. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2579410 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 22:57:46 +0000 Portboston 2579410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO napped on me until probably 3-4 months. I can't remember exactly when he transitioned to napping in his crib but it was definitely pay 10 weeks. He would take +2 hour naps on me but the second I laid him down, eyes would pop open. I'm pretty sure I made a post about it and everyone told me that it's normal. He started taking pretty consistent crib naps and now won't sleep on me ever. And it makes me sad!</p> <p>Eta- there's a lot on the inter webs about the fourth trimester. Many people say that babies really aren't mentally or emotionally ready to be born until they are 3 months old but due to size and the way we give birth, we wouldn't be able to birth them. So the first 3 months of their lives, they need that contact from mama to adjust to the outside world. <a href="http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/9607642.html?edition=uk" rel="nofollow">http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/9607642.html?edition=uk</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2579301 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 20:18:05 +0000 lady baltimore 2579301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried waiting until after the 20-30 minute point when she usually wakes up, and then putting her down? LO was waking up quite consistently 27-34 minutes after going down, but my mom found that if she held her and bounced/rocked her through that wakeful point, she could then put her down for another hour or so of sleep. Not ideal, but it was better than holding her the whole time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2579232 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 19:15:46 +0000 MrsSRS 2579232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just keep trying occasionally. I feel like keeping baby from being overtired is more important than napping in the "right place," so I didn't try for every nap. Eventually they get older and it gets easier. Somewhere in the 4-6 month range. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2579216 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 19:02:49 +0000 csross217 2579216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: She always falls asleep in the carrier and we can sometimes transfer her to the swing, but she still wakes up within a few minutes...</p> <p>@daniellemybelle: I think I'll ask my mom to try putting her down for 1 or 2 naps a day and the rest can be on her. We've tried rocking her back to sleep when she wakes but once she's up she's wide awake and nothing we've tried can make her even close her eyes again! Sometimes she wakes happy, but most of the time she'll cry and wind herself up too much to sleep again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2578849 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:03:20 +0000 daniellemybelle 2578849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you talked to your mom about it? My mom watched LO for me for the first 1.5 years and honestly she was happy to have LO sleep on her! I was the one that wanted to get her more into a sleep routine. </p> <p>Personally, I would be grateful to have a loving grandma watching LO at this age one on one rather than daycare where they do have to get on more of a sleep routine and learn to sleep on their own out of necessity. If your mom is okay with it, maybe let it be for now? Maybe look into a carrier for your mom so she can have LO sleeping on her while she gets things done?</p> <p>Easier said than done though :) I was really about getting LO to sleep better &amp; independently too! She was a little older when we did this but I would actually go and rock her back to sleep after short naps. About half the time I could put her back down after I rocked her back to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2578817 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:39:32 +0000 winter_wonder 2578817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! LO only naps on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2578790 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:23:39 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2578790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I transitioned my son to sleeping on his own in his crib I transferred my scent onto his crib sheets.</p> <p>He was sleeping well on his back at night when we bed-shared, so I knew he could sleep on his back. The only difference was that bed smelled like us/ me/ breastmilk. I placed my used nursing bra in the crib all day and even rubbed it in a bit. Then, I started placing him in his crib. If he stirred and fussed too much I would get him out, snuggle and put him right back. It took two nights, but now he sleeps in his crib. </p> <p>All that to say, maybe try making her bed smell like you and keep trying until the next feed or diaper change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2578775 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:19:07 +0000 Autumnmama79 2578775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@csross217: I remember when my mom took over childcare at 12 months DD would nap so much better and longer than she ever would for me! Maybe that will be the case for you guys too, fingers crossed. Like 30 min naps for me vs. 2 hour plus naps for my mom.</p> <p>Have you tried a stroller or carrier walk to get baby started? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2578761 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:10:47 +0000 BabyTsMom 2578761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unfortunately, at that age I think it's really common to have short naps. Sounds like you're doing everything "right," and providing her a good environment to sleep in. Newborns just don't get the memo sometimes. I would either deal with the short naps until they lengthen on their own, or have your mom hold her. Or, she could hold her for one or two good naps, and try to put her down for the others.<br /> Personally, we (me, DH or grandma) did hold LO for his naps until he was like 5 months old. It sucked being holed up in a dark room for hours all day, but now that LO's 2, I wish he would sleep on me sometimes! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/need-help-getting-baby-to-nap-on-her-own#post-2578741 Thu, 30 Jun 2016 12:53:39 +0000 csross217 2578741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is almost 10 weeks old. For the past few weeks, we've been trying to put her down for naps and it just isn't working! We swaddle, rock, put her in the swing, use blackout curtains and sound machine. I've tried putting her down drowsy and completely asleep. She always falls asleep easily but is wide awake within 20-30 minutes and then gets really overtired and is cranky for the rest of the day. If I let her nap on me she'll sleep for 1.5 hours easily... she sleeps very well at night.</p> <p>I'm going back to work in a few weeks and even though my mom will be providing most of the childcare, I don't want her to have to spend all day with DD napping on her chest on the couch! Is there anything else we can try?? If you WOTH, what did you do about naps when you went back to work? </p>