Infant Napping 101?

[AfterSchoolMom]

Hi All,

I just started taking full timers again (I previously cared for only SA's). I'm just wondering, for all of you who take on babies - what steps do you take to get them on a napping routine at your house?

[Live and Learn]

How old is the baby?

[AfterSchoolMom]

How old is the baby?

3 months and 11 months.

[lil angels]

I ask the parents to please get them up at the same time everyday then I can fight with them to sleep and get on my routine.

[AnythingsPossible]

I personally don't have a nap routine for infants. They sleep when they need to sleep around here. My older infants usually nap around 930 then again at 1230. Under 6 months there is no routine, other then their individual one.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I personally don't have a nap routine for infants. They sleep when they need to sleep around here. My older infants usually nap around 930 then again at 1230. Under 6 months there is no routine, other then their individual one.

Yes, but my question is HOW do they sleep? Do you have a routine of, say, a darkened room, white noise, out in the open, in a swing, in a crib, etc? If they're used to being fed or rocked to sleep at home, do you do that, or do you just lay them down? Do you let them CIO? It's not the timing that I'm concerned with at this point, but the method.

[laundrymom]

Yes, but my question is HOW do they sleep? Do you have a routine of, say, a darkened room, white noise, out in the open, in a swing, in a crib, etc? If they're used to being fed or rocked to sleep at home, do you do that, or do you just lay them down? Do you let them CIO? It's not the timing that I'm concerned with at this point, but the method.

never ever ever ever in a swing, carseat bouncy seat,.. ONLY on a crib, no blankets, SIDS is real. back to sleep. no cuddlies, no blankets, I just lay them down, let them cry, keep coming back every so often to give them paci, reassure them, but they never sleep anywhere but a crib. (pnp)

[Live and Learn]

never ever ever ever in a swing, carseat bouncy seat,.. ONLY on a crib, no blankets, SIDS is real. back to sleep. no cuddlies, no blankets, I just lay them down, let them cry, keep coming back every so often to give them paci, reassure them, but they never sleep anywhere but a crib. (pnp)

This! Except the paci....no pac is here.

1) I don't put tiny babies (under about 6 months) on a schedule. I change them, feed them and put them down awake when I can see they are tired.

2) 11 month olds go down around 9 to 9:30 to 11:00....come hec or high water.:: Afternoon nap is absolutely sacred every child in my care goes down by 1:00 to 3:00. If they need to cry it out they do...usually doesn't take more than a couple of weeks to get on a routine.

No rocking to sleep, no bottles in bed, no white noise.
Each child gets their own very dark bed room. Good luck.

[SandeeAR]

Same here, under 6 months, they sleep when they are sleepy.

Over 6 months, morning nap 9-10:30, afternoon 1-3. Toddler beds, pnp and crib all in one room, with lullabye cd on repeat all. One 9 mo old is in a pnp inn my bedroom as she will sleep 20 min, cry for 10, sleep 20, cry for 10 and then sleep till 3 pm and wake up screaming, every day LOL.

She will only promote to the Kid room when she starts to sleep for the full 2 hours and wakes up happy!

[daysofelijah]

Same for me pretty much. Whenever they want up to 6 months. After 6 months, nap 7-9 and 12:30/1-3/3:30. Over 6 months, they stay in the pack and play the whole nap time. I will go back in to give paci and shush/calm them, but don't pick them up.

eta: separate darkened room until 16ish months, but no white noise, they need to learn to sleep through the playing in the next room

[AfterSchoolMom]

So it seems like most everyone lays them down in a PnP while awake, even from day 1. Anyone have problems with them crying for long periods or not settling down? If so, how long does it take them to "learn" to sleep in the PnP?

[Live and Learn]

Absolutely start day 1....Baby boot camp.
The first couple of weeks are hard. Stick to the program...don't cave::!
After 2 weeks or so they usually get with the program. The worst napper I ever had took 5 weeks to get in line . He is the best napper in the whole wide world now....here .....won't nap at home. If the 11 month old is there 5 days a week it is easier. If he is there only a couple of days a week it will be a lot harder. The morning napper I have now sleeps for about an hour screams bloody murder for 20 minutes and then sleeps for another 40 minutes.
Each kiddo is different but my schedule doesn't change.
Good luck.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Nannyde, where are you? I'd love to see your thoughts on this!

[SandeeAR]

Absolutely start day 1....Baby boot camp.
The first couple of weeks are hard. Stick to the program...don't cave::!
After 2 weeks or so they usually get with the program. The worst napper I ever had took 5 weeks to get in line . He is the best napper in the whole wide world now....here .....won't nap at home. If the 11 month old is there 5 days a week it is easier. If he is there only a couple of days a week it will be a lot harder. The morning napper I have now sleeps for about an hour screams bloody murder for 20 minutes and then sleeps for another 40 minutes.
Each kiddo is different but my schedule doesn't change.
Good luck.

I have one of those screamers!!!! She sleeps good at the am nap, in the afternoon,(1-3), she will sleep 20 min, scream for 10, sleep for 20, scream for 10 and then go to sleep for good, till 3pm. She sleeps in a room by herself of course!

[Danielle]

Honestly, this thread makes me sad. I never ever make a child cry it out. It's cruel. I rock, wear, sing to, etc. Whatever they need. I also do this where all the other kids are. The baby then sleeps in the room with us. They get use to the noise quickly and is easier on all of us. I only have 1 baby in my care at a time so they can be cared for like they need to. For those of you concerned about SIDS, read this: http://www.drmomma.org/2010/02/sleep...ess-lower.html