Ok. I need everyone's help on this one. I think, the reason my baby is cranky and wants me to hold her so much is that she's not getting enough sleep when she naps. She sleeps really well at night, (and she's pretty good at entertaining herself in the morning) but during the day, she doesn't nap well. She sleeps for maybe 20 - 40 minutes at a time and then she's up and cranky for an hour and a half or so. I think she should be sleeping longer and then staying awake happy for a bit longer than she is. Right now, in the last two hours, she took a 20 minute nap. Woke up and played for a few minutes, nursed for five minutes and fell asleep in my arms. Then, she woke up again (still in my arms) and I put her in her swing and she fell asleep again in her swing. She's sleeping there now. She'll wake up in a little while, I'm sure.
So, how do I get her to nap well? Is it because she is getting hungry too quick? In the last couple of days, it's been a battle towards the afternoons to get her to settle down and eat. Should I start giving her some solids at feeding time?
I could cuddle with her while she sleeps, but I don't want her to get into the habit of needing someone to sleep with her in order for her to nap well. That would make getting anything done impossible.
Any suggestions?
3 comments:
becky, we had similar problems with our first but learned how to fix them with our subsequent 2 children.
you have to keep her awake while she feeds. tickle her toes, little soft pinches, talk to her, wiggle a toy in her face to wake her, etc. To a new mom it appeared to border on abuse, but it was necessary to get the baby on our schedule. don't feel sad, it's for their own good.
I've never had any success keeping a baby awake while nursing, but I have found white noise to be VERY helpful. I would try running a small fan in her room, pointing away from her so she isn't in the breeze. Jonny especially needed that, but it has been helpful with all of them. At her age, she ought to be taking two good naps, about and hour and a half each. One in the morning, one in the afternoon.
whoops, my baby needs love!
Beck,
It's been suggested that if your baby has trouble sleeping, sometimes the scent of you will help. If you can, sleep with one of her blankets one night and then let her nap with that during the day. I've never tried it, but it may be just the comforting she needs to stay asleep a little longer!
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