Does It Matter Where Baby Naps?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
Does It Matter Where Baby Naps?
10
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 12:10pm
Hi my daughter is 10 weeks old and does pretty well at night sleeping in her crib. The day time is a totally different story. She will only nap for 20 min. at a time in her crib and then cries and as a result is very cranky. However, if she falls asleep in her swing or in her bouncy chair in the bathroom with the bath jets running (I know that sounds a little crazy but it works) she will sleep for a good two hours and wakes up REALLY happy. She also sleep better at night when she's had good naps during the day. Do you moms think it matters where my baby takes her naps? Or am I getting her into a bad habit by letting her nap where she wants? Thanks

Laura and Brooke (1/17/04)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 1:35pm
Well personally anytime my babies were sleeping and waking up happy was a joyus time for me. As a new mom you are not getting much sleep or anything else accomplished a lot of the time. I don't think you are doing your baby any harm. (just remember when she get a bit older sleeping in the bathroom with the water on is not a good idea - but you knew that) If you want to get her sleep in her crib all the time then buy one of those baby sound machines that can mimic water running and use that when you put her down. Or dig out a tape recorder and tape your bathroom jets.

But honestley if it works and is causeing no harm I say go for it. The one thing with both my kids was this what workded last month didn't work next month Babies can change their moods more times than a woman with killer PMS .

lmae

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 1:36pm
I don't think it matters. My dd would nap in her swing, and not in her crib. She has only started sleeping in her crib around 7 months.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2003
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 1:43pm
Personally to me if the baby is getting good naps in & is happy as is Mommy, then it should not matter where she sleeps. Obviously if it is causing harm, then I'd be concerned. But as long as the baby is getting the rest she needs, then let her sleep in her bouncy seat, etc. Have you tried maybe slinging her? If you are concerned about were she is napping, I'd try that! They you will have the baby close to you in a safe envirnoment. Only you know what is best for baby! If you feel she is safe & is resting like she needs, then don't worry about changing! Good luck! My daughter also slept in her swing & bouncy seat alot when younger. By the time she was weighing the 20lbs or so for the weight limit, she didn't care about not where she napped.

~Debra

Avatar for cghnasa
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 7:34pm
at 10 weeks you do what ever works. mine would only sleep on me when she was tiny like that. if she sleeps good in her swing then put her in her swing. if you really prefer her to sleep in her crib try a white noise maker or a fan (if its warm enough) on next to her crib. sounds like the noise helps her sleep. but I would go with what ever works.

Beth

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2004
Tue, 03-30-2004 - 8:03pm
Heck no! I believe if baby's happy then mom's happy and vice versa! :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 12:41pm

I think it is fine no matter where they sleep, as long as it is safe for them.


Nightime is important to have them sleep in the crib so you don't form bad habits, but during the day, I don't see why it should matter.


Mine sleeps wherever it is comfortable and safe at the time.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2003
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 1:48pm
at such a young age, I don't think it matters at all where she sleeps. I let my girls nap where ever they wanted at that point - car, stroller, floor, you name it. When she gets older - like 2 or 3 months - I would try to get her to take one nap a day in her crib and sleep in the crib at night too. It helps them get into a routine. Plus, the use of a fan or other "noise machine" (with wave sounds etc) work GREAT! I still use one for my girls when they take their nap and they are 2 1/2 now. We even take a fan on vacation to run while they nap/sleep. Good luck!


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2004
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 8:21pm
at this age any naptime for her is a chance for you to get some sleep too. wherever she falls asleep...let her sleep. at least she is falling asleep in places other than on your chest! this is a chance for some time to yourself, grab it.

sara
Avatar for lori_mcbride
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 10:30pm

Hi Laura!


Congrats on being a new Mommy! :)

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having a baby

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 2:34am
Hi there new mommy! First of all congratualtions!

I am a new mommy of an 8 month old little girl. My husband and I have tried several different things with the napping issue. Okay, first of all, your baby is only ten weeks old...so give her a chance to adjust to this world full of unfamiliarities.

At a month and a half, April was up about 3-4 times a night and I wasn't getting any sleep, which you will find out no one cares about, just whether your kid is sleeping through the night...LOL! I called the pediatrician who ok'd me to give April a tablespoon of rice cereal in the bottle/feeding right before bedtime. This helped her to stay a little more full and she started sleeping through one feeding at night. Most of the time during the day, I would hold April to establish our bond after a rough birthing where we didn;t get that immediate bonding time. So she slept on my chest or at the breast. Most of the time I was near enough where she could smell me and it seemed to help her sleep longer at nap time. Once she was 2-3 months old, she slept in her crib except for one nap in the afternoon in which she slept wih my husband and I until she fell asleep and then it was crib time.

I find that establishing a rountine is the important part in a good nap and sleep pattern. I cannot fully agree with you putting your child in a swing to sleep because I think this might cause her to get used to one way to get to sleep and not learn how to settle herself. This can cause problems later if not corrected early on. If April cries I will pick her up and reassure her until she starts to wriggle and resist my attention. Then I place her in her crib where she has learned to settled herself to sleep. If she continues to cry over and over, I godd back and place her passy in her mouth, reposition her on her back (she can roll adn flip and sit up now) , cover her up , and give her her stuffed giraffe. I also find this an important part of the sleeping sucess. Try to get your child attached to a sleep buddy. Something preferrably made of terry cloth (good b/c its anti-bacterial) and without bows, buttons, or other small objects she can choke on. This will teach her that that object means naptime. Only give it to her as at naptime to begin with...when she is older you can allow her to carry it around if she wants. Also a good passy, if she wants it. Make sure to take all things associated with toys or playtime out of the crib...this excludes the mobile. Play the mobile or the same soothing tape or CD everytime you put her down for a nap. Try turning on a fan or anything with a consistant sound, drywer, vacuum, radio, or anyhting else you can think of. Once baby is asleep turn this off. You can also try placing curtains on the windows to block out annoying sunlight that may kee her up in the day too, just please make sure they are away from the crib. Pick out a routine that fits you both comfortably and as she changes of course you will have to try new things, but if you create a routine now, your baby will probably catch on and hopefully be less resistant to naps.

I hope this helps you out. Good luck and please let me know if this works out. Give your new routine at least a month to get your baby accustomed to what is expected of her. YOu can also try a consistant storytime or singing your favorite soothing songs while you rock her. If I can help you with anything else please let me know, okay? Sincerely- Nada