7 Month Old Nap Issues

Sleep disruptions are very common around the time they start crawling & sitting up. In fact, with each developmental milestone you may have sleep problems. It's normal. They are just so focused and want to practice and learn that they don't want to sleep. Just keep up with your routine and be consistent. It may take some time, but he will adjust.

When he gets back up and starts fussing, don't pick him up out of the crib. Lay him back down and rub his back/tummy and get him to calm back down. Limit talking and any other disruptions like turning on the lights, etc. You might have to stand there a bit, and lay him back down a few times, or just let him fuss, but he'll get it eventually.

The book "healthy sleep habits happy child" has been one of our best purchases. We now have a one and two year old that sleep 13 hours at night and take 2.5 hour naps!

Good Morning K., Zane our gr son is 17 months old and he does this to me some days. He is a back sleeper though, but stands up in his pack N play and throws out his woo-bee, bottle or blankets. I just leave him be and eventually he goes to sleep. He has developed a really big temper also. He's the only gr child who has ever thrown this big a fit. As long as he doesn't hurt himself i walk away.

You might put his music on random play repeat, or change to another CD, we use Baby Einstein Classical lullaby's. Keep doing what your doing K., your right in a way it is a power struggle, if you give in he wins...lol Little minx. At 7 months it's not going to harm him in anyway to fuss for a little while, if it goes on for more the 15 minutes lay him back down and leave once more. Don't pick him up by any means. If you do he's gotcha...lol

God Bless and best of everything with your precious little Prince.
K. Nana of 5

At 6 to 8 month babies are much more physical and so they can start having some sleep issues because of this like you describe. Have you tried "pick up/put down"? When he fusses you just pick him up (in a cradled position) until the moment he calms down, then put him back down. If he fights you then you put him right back down also and then pick him up again as he will still be crying. You can whisper calming words too just don't make eye contact or he will want to engage with you. I have been doing this successfully with my son the few times he has had sleep problems. Usually I have to do it 5 or 6 times, but it can go on longer. This is a technique from the Baby Whisperer book designed for babies 4 months and older. From what you have written I am thinking that you may have already read this book, but have you read "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems"? This goes into a lot more detail and has been a life saver for me. As babies go through different developmental stages, new sleep (& other) issues crop up and this book describes how to deal with each one. Best of luck to you!

Hello - we have sons about the same age - mine will be 8 months on March 11th - anyway, I went through the same thing around the same time frame, although it was during the night, he would wake up in the middle of the night and just want to be held, but thankfully it was a phase, he will do it about once a week now but it lasted for almost a month. When I talked to other moms about sleeping habbits they said that just because you had a routine does not mean he wont change it on you...so I just rolled with the punches and we are back on track...for the most part. Sorry I dont have better info for you, but at least you know that we all go through it!

He is probably just on the verge of a developmental change (from your description), so that can disrupt sleep. Just keep his routine consistent, and you will probably have to let him fuss/cry a bit. But it will stop shortly. The best way to head this off or shorten the duration is to let him practice sitting up and crawling as much as possible while he is awake. He'll get it!

That sounds perfectly normal! Every time they learn something new, they want to practice mastering it and don't want to sleep. Hang in there and keep doing what you're doing - he'll get back on track soon.

Good morning K.,
I am mom to 3 and grandma to 4. I agree with Karen nana 5, just lay him down to your same routine, and if he get up after you leave the room I would come back in and lay him back down with a firm touch that says mom is serious, and say it time for a nap, and leave I might do it a third time, but after that he learns to put himself to sleep, and it won't hurt him one bit. DON'T EVER let him win a power struggle, because if he wins at 7 months what will you face at age 7 and age 17. Stay strong your the one who knows what he needs, not him. Thats what being a parent is all about God intrusted them to us, we are to train and protect them until they are old enough to make wise decisions for their self. For instance, a 3 year old is not mature enough to ride his tricycle in the street, he doesn't have the right maturity to know how to face the circumstance in the street, but when he is 8 he can begin to ride is bicycle in the street, because you have trained him to face the dangers and circumstance, that a 3 year old just doesn't understand yet, the same for a 11 year old that wants to go on a date, they just aren't mature enough to deal with the circumstance that come up in a dating situation, so as the parent (protector) you have to make the right choice for them, and just like your 7 month old, they don't like it most of the time, but because you have been strong since he was 7 months, they know you will be strong when they are 17. I am so thankful for parents that protected me when I was growing up, And now my children and grandchildren are thankful for that protection also, although we had a few go arounds, but me and dad always won, and you don't have to be a dictator to win. When its done in Love they know.
Hang in there sounds like you got a good routine going.
grammy to 4

I think it is important to learn that nap time is not only about sleeping. Most people of any age will go to sleep if the routine stays in place. BUT, before or after they sleep, they should also be left alone in order to learn to be alone. Give him some toys that are safe, have nothing he can choke on etc. Let him be in a room by himself, soft music and stay in there the entire time he would normally be sleeping. Let him fuss. He'll either end up falling asleep, or he'll learn to play.

Mom's that never teach their little ones to occupy themselves are the moms that become so burned out. Everyday some mom tells me how stressed they are, how they never get any time to themselves etc. If they are going to learn how to play on their own at any time, they need to start early. You'll be thankful later.

Suzi