I'm sure u won't want to read this all and that's fine... its more for my own knowledge and record keeping, and a place to right down triumphs and frustrations.
So for the past few weeks we have had a lot of trouble getting Kelsey down for naps. She has been doing amazing with going to bed... usually sleeping from 7:30ish till 6:00am. But when it comes to going down for a nap and staying asleep for longer than 45 min. it's been difficult. So I decided last week that this week would be the "Nap training" week. I decided that I would do nothing but stay at home and spend time with Kelsey teaching her how to nap longer than 45 min. and to get us on a routine of sorts so that hopefully no matter where we are she will sleep. Kelsey's personality is a lot like mine. She doesn't want to miss a thing and will only sleep when she is so past exhausted that it actually is hard to fall asleep because she's over tired. I believe i was a lot like that when i was little, so she comes by it honestly. So I guess I can't really complain... :)
Day 1 - Didn't go so great. I tried to follow my schedule that I planned but she woke up earlier in the morning and threw it all off. She is on a 3 hr feeding schedule and that's all fine but she doesn't want to sleep between those times. So I would start putting her down 1 1/2 before her next feeding and for some of the naps it went well but then others it took a full hour to get her to sleep. A little frustrated and wondering if this is worth it... but reminding myself that naps are important and that Kelsey will benefit from this in the long run. Went to bed GREAT!
Day 2 - Started off a lot better. Woke up at 6 (which is when i want her too) and the first nap went really well, but the 2nd nap only lasted 1/2 hr. I tried getting her back to sleep but it resulted in 45 min of crying and ended with me feeding her (it was very close to her next feeding time and i think that she was just hungry after all that crying). 3rd nap started off well, but had to go back in after 1/2 hr and rock her back to sleep... but she eventually slept for 2 hrs total. Went to bed great but then woke up again, but cried herself back to sleep. Hopefully it will only get better from here!
Day 3 - so far it hasn't been the best. she woke up at 5, and wouldn't go back to sleep so I fed her a bit and put her back to bed, only to realize that she was soaked from an over wet diaper, so i changed her but this woke her up too much and it took 1 hr for her to go back to bed. Then she woke at 7. She was sleepy by 8 so she went down only to wake 1/2 hr later... this resulted in a 1 hr battle to get her back to sleep... only to finally give in... what do I do?? After hearing her cry for over an hour I just can't take it anymore.
Day 4 - well, didn't go much better than any other day. the first nap of the day went really well and she slept for 2 hrs, but it was all down hill from there. She goes down really good for naps, only to wake up 15-45 min later. I've tried letting her cry it out, that does no good, she doesn't stop crying. The longest I've let her cry was 1 1/2 hrs. After that I knew there was no way she was giving in. I've tried going in right away and giving her soother, that doesn't work, she just spits it out and cries more. I've tried picking her up and rocking her back to sleep and that sometimes works to get her back to sleep but the moment I put her into her crib she wakes up again. It's very frustrating. and now she's not sleeping good at night either! I don't know what to do anymore!!!!!
Day 5- MUCH BETTER! First 2 naps were Great! The last nap was split into 2 but that's alright. She was much happier today and ate better too because she wasn't as tired or grumpy! We are finally getting a routine and system that seems to be working. Started feeding her some cereal in the eve's to help her sleep longer at night and it seems to be working very well! She eats it really well and it is helping her last a little longer at night!
Well, hopefully this is the start of a better napping life and good long nights. :) Here's hoping! :)
So how has the last week or so gone? Since you posted this? The nap and sleeping thing can be so tough - Our issue was bedtime - so I had my week of "we're not going anywhere, only going to get you on a bedtime schedule" and was determined to let him cry it out - after 2 hours of crying I realized that wasn't the solution for him. However there have been a couple of nights that in the middle of the night I have turned the monitor off and let him cry, b/c I knew he was fed and changed, etc. But, anyhow - good for you sticking with it! It is tough I know! BUt good for both of you in the long run !
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