5 Month Old Will Not Nap!

I am reading "Healthy sleep habits, happy child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It's a great book. I recommend you get it. I think it would help you.

M.,

Babies sleep when they need to, and if she is happy, content, and healthy, then she is fine. Find a way to put her down during the day in a swing, or her bed, or the car seat and do what you need to do. You might also try a sling or front carrier if she does not want you to put her down. Ask your pediatrican, but I am sure that she is fine!

M.

Have you tried using a baby carrier or wrap and taking a walk with her? My baby would not nap unless I was nursing her or walking with her, but when I did walk, she would nap well. I took a lot of hikes! It was good for both of us. If you need more information about babywearing, go here:

http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/babywearing/we...

I really liked the moby wrap style best, when my babe was smaller. Good luck!

My very wise, older, family physician once gave me some very good advise about babies and children: Babies and very young children are born knowing what their bodies need and don't need. Just because some babies do this does not mean your baby needs to it too.
If she isn't napping it is because her body is not requiring she do so. This is normal for her. You want to take a break in the afternoons? Fine, put her in the room with you, read your book, take your nap, whatever it is you want to do to relax and stop thinking just because Mary and John did it a certain way Sally is going to do the same thing. She will go to sleep if she needs to sleep and probably when you want her to be awake.
Take a deep breath, stop worrying about it, enjoy her while she is little and get on with your life.

I haven't read all the responses, so sorry if I repeat anything. But, if you're not already, make sure to do everything for the nap that you do at night. Same routine, minus a bath probably. One thing that I had to do for my daughter was make sure the bed was warm. I put a blanket between me and her during her bottle. Then, another on top of her. That way I had two warm blankets, one to lay her on and one to cover her up with. I've heard of people using heating pads to warm the bed first, also. I did get at least a couple of hours out of her this way.

Hi M., I am visiting my family in Ca. and my granddaughter will sleep maybe five minutes at night and cry and scream for sometimes two hours before she will go back to sleep. She does sleep well for her afternoon nap and sometimes they keep her up so she will sleep at night but that doesn't always work either. She is going on 3 years. I would be thankful if my daughter would take short naps during the day and sleep all night. Good luck but I think you have it pretty dern good.

Boy, do I remember those days!! Both of my kids, as infants, were HORRIBLE nappers. It wasn't until they got closer to a year old, did they take good naps for me (my daughter only really took one good nap, while my son took two). Its hard, and I remember being in tears sometimes because there was so much to do and I couldn't get anything done without them napping. I used to graze throughout the day, especially with my first because I couldn't get a full meal in edgewise. If your DD is eating well, playing and otherwise happy, I'd say don't sweat it. Eat several small meals throughout the day, especially if your nursing. Your house may be trashed and there may be a mountain of dirty clothes, but thats why God gave us husbands. Ask your beloved for a bit of help to save your sanity, mine helped out (but not with the toilets, LOL)and I was grateful. Good luck, Mommy!!!

Does she want you to hold her all the time?
Try putting her in her crib with her mobile going, or a swing close to where you are working. My daughter has a little seat that has toys attached overhead for her baby to try to grab and it also plays music and vibrates the seat. It is great for keeping the baby occupied for a little while.

M., I have an 18 mo old son who will do 1 20 min-1hr nap and will go to bed at 8-9 EVERY NIGHT and I go in at 8 to get him up. He is usually up at 7 but I would let him fuss it out till 8. I guess it took patients to let him fuss it out BUT it finally worked b/c he knows I will not be in there till 8 lol. He was in there humming this morning playing with his books and small car I have in bed for him lol. I was SO happy he caught on fast b/c I was ALWAYS so tired. At 5mo they SAY should be sleeping around 12 hrs. I would make it a consistent time to go to bed EVERY NIGHT even if she does not want to they will get the hang of it it is time to go down.. I know the fussing and screaming will get to your heart BUT it is worth it to get the time YOU NEED to yourselves and with you having 4 I am sure you do not get much of that. lol That is why we stopped at 2 lol... My son will get up at 8 and we will eat breakfast and then he is ready to go back down around 12-2 and he is up ready to go till 8 or so. I do give him like a healthy snack at night to get his belly full to sleep good to ALSO I do calming tablets not all the time to help him wind down if has been go go go all day which is usually how he and his sis are. VERY active wild kids from 8 till bed time lol... Good luck

Make sure that it isn't something like gas or teething that's keeping her from being able to sleep. For gas, use Mylicon. If it's teething, use Baby Orajel Swabs and Motrin or Tylenol. The orajel swabs will help until the motrin/tylenol kicks in.

If you don't already have one set up, try getting the kids into a routine. When I was growing up, I was the second of 4 kids, and we all knew when we heard the theme song to "All My Children" that it was time for naps (Back then it was on at noon). You could have it so that the 3 year old and 5 mo. old sleep starting at noon, and the 9 and 7 year old (if not at school) have "quiet time".

Make sure too that you're consistant with the times they get up in the morning and bedtime in evening. That will really help a lot. Even my 5 year old last night, at 8pm, it was time to go into her room and read a couple of books, then go to sleep - she got up and yawned and said, "I'm tired." Good - she was supposed to be. The schedule is working! LOL

Just a few thoughts....good luck!

Hi, M.! As you probably already know from your previous children -- better naps promote better sleep. No, I don't think she's sleeping enough during the day, especially since she's just 5 months old. My daughter went through the same thing, so I can feel for you! It's not fun, and like you said, YOU need the break!! My suggestion is to be sure that you are as consistent as you can be with her schedule. I think that makes all the difference, that way she knows what to expect, and her body gets used to sleeping at certain times for certain lengths of time. Hopefully, this is just a short phase, because she definitely needs to sleep more. She should be taking at least two naps a day (1-1/2 to 2 hours each), in addition to her night sleep. Be consistent, and hopefully, she will jump on board and sleep better for you. One more thought... do you think she might be teething? Check her mouth if she'll let you. She may need some Motrin or Tylenol before she goes to bed. Good luck!

Do you have a play pen ? If she is awake and won't nap put her in the play pen so she can play but still see Mommy.You don't need to be holding her anytime she is up. Yes cuddeling etc. is great but you still have things to do and needs of your own.She is getting 10 hours sleep maybe she is not getting enough exercise to wear her down.
About getting a job, think about it hard. You will have day care to think about and could end up with less money than you are making if you go to work.A good Day care is very expensive and comes also with infections and illnesses from other children they are exposed to there. My sister children since december have kept her home from work more than before they entered day care, Pink eye, stomache viruses, colds, Flu. These are only a few problems. Then there is the monkey see monkey do antics you will have to deal with at home after they see another child doing something they try it, it is usually bad behavior like talking back, hitting, throwing fits, biting, some times even cussing.
My Mom stayed home with us girls until we went to school and taught us to be well behaved children and we were always admired as being such sweet little girls.We rarely ever got into trouble except maybe at home argueing over toys or such.
I think a stay at home far out weighs a working mother as far as raising the children goes.I know some Mom's have to work , but if you don't have to why do it.Sure you might be able to afford more costly toys but toys can not replace Love and nurturing growing little body's and minds.Why let strangers raise your kids 8 to 9 hours a day.
Good Luck

Have you tried letting your 5 month old sleep in a swing? Maybe he/she will sleep better with motion. I have a swing that attaches to my car seat and my son sleeps in that, 2-3 hours. Beautiful!

Hi M.,

Been there, done that.....he is now 17 and would sleep all day if he could!!

I'm with Pam R---take baby wherever you are, eat, read your book, snooze (in a child-proof room, of course, if baby is mobile!!); or swap baby-sitting with another mom.

We also had good luck putting Benjamin in his car seat and going for a ride; that often helped him fall asleep. If the weather wasn't cold we sometimes left him in the car seat, in the car, in the attached garage, so he'd get a good nap (we left the house and car doors open so we could hear him, and of course checked on him periodically). Another option was to bring him indoors while he was still asleep in the carseat.

Another possibility for a little break during the afternoon-- are there any neighborhood kids you could hire to come over for a little while? You could stay there and eat your lunch (or a substantial snack), or shower, or nap....while the sitter/"mother's helper" is there. Since you are there you could even go with a slightly younger child, e.g. 11 or 12, because in the event of a real crisis s/he could interrupt you. I did this a few times when I had a 5 yo and a 2 yo and needed to get a big chore done, or practice my oboe. The boys had someone new to interact with, I had some time.

Also, when your DD gets a little older she will be more mobile and will burn more energy and possibly be more tired and ready to nap. (I know, that's small comfort now, lol!)

Enjoy her as she is, in a few years you won't be worrying about this anymore! Good luck!

K. Z.

Another vote for "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. You will learn why your child needs to nap and how to best make it happen. Good luck to you!