more sleep questions - where to nap? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Ol'Line Rebel · 08-07-2008, 01:10 PM

Hi all,

I have a burning question generated by the whole thing about sleep associations.

It's especially for those who are satisfied with how their baby sleeps, or are certain will be sleeping well soon. (I include all those whose children are older, but just ask to think back to when they were babies.)

Where do you put your baby (normally) to NAP during the day? Do you always use the same crib/etc as for overnight? Or do you have a daytime place and a nighttime place?

I've always wanted my son to sleep downstairs near me for naps, in the playpen. However, I now realize I've worried so much about his overnight issues that I've pretty well successfully had him associate sleeping with his dark room with certain reading, then to the crib, etc, while I haven't done much during the day. It's totally different - light out, noisier (not horrible, but could be, or I'd like to be able to), no book, etc.

Is it possible to teach them to sleep by themselves in totally different venues, especially when 1 has already essentially been taught, but not the other?

LauraLu · 08-07-2008, 06:22 PM

I've always had my daughter sleep in her crib for both naps and night-time. I felt that it was important for her to associate her crib with sleep. She is the BEST sleeper. We are truly blessed. So much so that I am hesitant to have another child, lol, for fear of having one who isn't such a good sleeper

.
When she was much smaller, there were certainly times where she would be in her swing and fall asleep. Of course I would just leave her there. When we were able to establish a schedule, I would put her in her crib with her paci and blanket, turned on her mobile, and she was o-u-t. I never tip-toed around her, and I carried on with normal activities.
The important thing was for her to associate her crib with sleep and not necessarily darkness with sleep.

Ol'Line Rebel · 08-07-2008, 07:14 PM

Thanks.

See, while I see 1 would want to establish firmly that THE bed is for sleeping, I wonder if it's good to show that several places can be slept in.

I mean, if you're not at home, you can't put him in "his" crib. What about gramma's? What about being out in a stroller? What about on vacation at another gramma's with a strange house for several days and strange playpen?

luckydarlin · 08-07-2008, 08:33 PM

My daughter sleeps in her crib at all times but I think this is mainly because when she was a newborn to almost three months, she would ONLY sleep in her swing, so when I made the transition, I wanted to stick with it. Keep in mind too, her bedroom is on the main floor so for me it was just easier to put her down in her room which is just down the hall. Since she is on the main floor, she does great with noises, especially with the dog barking, and her room is very bright during the day. You make a good point - we slept at my mother's house for one night a few months back and it was very, very difficult to get her to sleep in the porta-crib that night. I'm not certain if it was the bed or the environment that made the difference, but it was tough, so I see the point of your question. However, in the past slept she would nap in the porta-crib for a short time while visiting my mom's - but that ceased once she hit approx. 7 months. Now it's her crib and that's that...but I'm ok with that right now because after the first almost 9 months of being a terrible sleeper, I'm just happy she's sleeping well now.

daisychain_0506 · 08-08-2008, 06:44 AM

My baby generally will sleep anywhere if she's tired. She napped in her basinette for naps in the living room for the first few months then into the crib for naps. She slept with us at night until 8mths (I know, but it worked for me). She also played in there sometimes during the day once she could sit just for a change of scenery and so I could get some things done. She will also nap in her stroller or car seat, or in my arms. She sleeps through the night 8 - 7:30. When I went back to work when she was a year she started napping in the playpen at my neighbours house. It only takes a couple of times before they figure out the new deal. They are very clever little cherubs!

One thing we found was that she loves music and my neighbour has a little handheld toy with buttons that Emily can press and it plays different songs, I think it's the wiggles, she goes to nap with it every day. I bought her a more expensive baby einstein one as it's the closest thing I could find so that she would have something like that for bedtime too so she can associate that with going to sleep. When I give it to her she lays flat presses the buttons and holds on to it for dear life. I guess it's her security blanket type thing.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. I think do whatever works for you, the baby will catch on and can cope with different environments for sleep.