For the past two days, Rylee has screamed at the top of her lungs for about 1-2 hours. Nothing really helps. She is soooo tired and won't fall asleep. Yesterday, I put her in the car and we went for a ride and that worked, but today it didn't. I put her in her crib and she is crying now. It has been about 10 minutes. I can't take it anymore so I have to get her. Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel like I am losing my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Coopaveryben on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 05:00 pm:

If I remember correctly my oldest and middle went through this about 8-10 months. I would sit have to hold them with all my strength and rock and sing ...they would just scream and try to get loose. I also tried the car thing too and it didn't always work. I believe it would sometimes take over an hour until they would fall asleep or I would give up. I don't have any answers but it does seem to pass. Very nerve racking though. I hope someone has some better answers.

By Emily7 on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 06:10 pm:

I would have to lay Joe across my legs & bounce him until he feel asleep. How does she sleep at night? You could try laying a pillow on the floor with a blanket & have watch a cartoon. Maybe if she doesn't think you are trying to getr her to take a nap she will go down easier.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 06:27 pm:

Has she been having difficulty at bed time as well? *Might* be an ear infection brewing. Both my kids have had them without a fever. Hope she's sleeping better soon!

By Jelygu on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 08:15 pm:

My son (7 mos) is doing the EXACT same thing. He did have an ear infection (without a fever), but that is cleared up now. Yesterday he only nap for a total of one hour. ALL DAY! It was a very exhausting day. Hopefully this won't last much longer for either one of us. Good luck!

By Rayanne on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:20 pm:

She is almost 8 months old now.
She does well with her first nap, usually around 11:00 or 12:00. That lasts anywhere between 1 to 3 hours. The next nap is not happening lately. She is so crabby.
I know that she is teething, so I have given her Tylonol and babyoragel, but it doesn't seem to do the trick.
I tugged her ear earlier to see if maybe it was bothering her, and she didn't do anything. Should I call her doctor?
At night, for bed, she usually does fine. She is sleeping now....thank God.
I just feel so useless and feel like I am doing something wrong.
I know that I am not doing anything wrong, but when she cries like that I feel horrible that I can't help her.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:00 pm:

If it's not teething or an ear infection, she might be ready to drop down to one afternoon nap. It's such a guessing game, isn't it?! LOL! An ear check may be in order just to be on the safe side.

By Rayanne on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:02 pm:

How do I transition her to one nap a day?
How do I prevent her from being soooooooo crabby if all she wants is one nap?

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:29 pm:

If her first nap is usually at 11 or 12, try holding off putting her down until 12:30 or 1:00. My DS starting fighting his second nap at about 10 or 11 mos.. I started putting him down later and later in the morning. He then started taking a 3-4 hr. afternoon nap (1-4 or 5:00). It was heaven! LOL! However, DD never napped as well.

Of course, you know her best. I'm just grabbing at straws to find as reason as to why she could be fighting her second nap. Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

By Tink on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:38 pm:

My guess is that she is dropping one of her naps. I think Trina has a good suggestion for the transition. Be prepared for her to need one nap for a couple of days and then need two naps in order to "catch up". My dks all did this for a few weeks before they settled into the idea of just one. Good luck! It's not easy but it IS normal.

By Fraggle on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 10:45 pm:

I was going to say the same thing as Trina. Try to do an early lunchtime (just before her regular morning naptime) and then she will have a full tummy when it is time to take the afternoon nap. My oldest DD had a hard time with this transition-she would fall asleep in her highchair at dinner time because she was so exhausted from not taking an afternoon nap.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 11:58 pm:

First, I would look into having her ears checked.

And I am betting she is trying to loose the afternoon nap too. After having four kids she seems right on schedule for it to me. When does she get up in the morning? And when does she go to bed at night? Try to move her nap towards a middle point between the two. And I agree about the pillow and the blanket too. IF you can not work her current schedule back a few hours try getting her to "rest" on the living room floor in the after noons. Quiet time can help with attitude too. She may drift of or she may not but either way if you can get her to lay down than you will have a little time to recharge and be ready to battle her until bed time. Heck lay down with her... Snuggling time will not always be there but the dishes will be. And just remember, this too shall pass and in 15 years you will give anything to have one more afternoon with her as she is just now...

By Rayanne on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 08:26 am:

She usually goes to bed anywhere between 9-10. She wakes up anywhere between 7:30-8:30.

I think that I will call the doctor today and see what he says.

I think that I am going to move her nap today and see how it works.

I wish she would lay down and watch TV, but she won't. I'll try the pillow today, and see what happens.

Thank you everyone.

By Rayanne on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 10:47 am:

Rylee is going to the doctors at 3:30 this afternoon.

I will let you all know how it goes.

By Debbie on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 12:53 pm:

It's good that you are taking her to the doctor. My ds used to get ear infections all the time and the only way I knew he had one was when he wasn't sleeping good.

My youngest ds did go to one nap at around 9-10 months. If she checks out okay at the doctors, I would just try and move her to one nap.

By Emily7 on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 04:49 pm:

How did the appointment go?

By Rayanne on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 05:20 pm:

Everything went fine.
Rylee is 100% healthy.
She is weighing 19pounds and 2ounces.
What a CHUNK!!!

The doctor said that she could be starting separation anxiety or it could be her teeth. I just have to deal with it, and that is fine. Like Bobbie said, this too shall pass.

Thank you all again for your help.
I am just going to let her guide me instead of me guiding her.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 11:06 pm:

Glad the ears checked out. Did you try moving back the nap time?

By Amyk on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 06:12 am:

Hey there -

My son is a very poor sleeper - so I've spent the first 10 months of his life researching babies and sleep... first off - I've learned that babies should keep 2 naps until about age 15mo-18mo. Apparently many parents make the mistake of transitioning to 1 nap too early. My DS just dozes for about 30m for his first nap - but that seems really important to recharge him - he then takes a much longer 2nd nap about 3 hours later. Check out a copy of "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley - it will have tons of ideas to help you out. Should be able to get it at the library or a used copy on Amazon.

Good luck!!!

Sincerely,

Amy

By Rayanne on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:56 am:

Today we are going to work on the naps.
She took 2 yeaterday, but only 1 hour for each.
I will keep you all posted on how she is doing.
Thanks again.

By Kaye on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 01:33 pm:

I think what you need to do is try to let go of your schedule a bit. I say this because if she is fussing and fighting a nap, you are exhausting yourself and her and only making it worse. Try to really listen to what she is saying. Some kids do just go to one nap at this age, tends to be a longer nap, some just have to work through a phase. My oldest completely quit napping at this age, she was in day care and the lady said she has never seen anything like it..LOL. My middle kid went to one nap, my youngest kept 2 naps for the longest time, he just finished kinder and he still takes the occasional nap. My point is all kids are different, just make sure your schedule is for her. Life will be so much easier for you!

By Amyk on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 01:46 pm:

A couple other thoughts - timing is everything...if I wait 3 hours between waking up for the day and the first nap... my DS fights and fusses.... if I wait 2.5 hours he goes down much easier.

Also, our babies are at the age where their motor skills are developing like crazy and the whole world is opening up to them. That being said, they need more wind down time (rocking, stories, soft music) prior to their naps to calm down.

HTH

Amy

By Melana on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 10:19 pm:

my DD had this problem not too long ago, she still takes two naps, but I put her down later in the morning, and usually she only takes a one hour nap. She's 10 1/2 months now, and it works just fine this way, maybe you should just let her choose when she wants to nap? Not much advice really, but I do understand!

By Rayanne on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 10:37 pm:

Well, today was a great day!!!!
She woke up at 8:30, but then put herself back to sleep afterplaying in her crib for 30 minutes, and finally woke up at 10:45.
She took her first nap at 12:45 and woke up at 2:45. Then she was up the whole day and went to sleep at 5:30 and woke up at 7:00 and now she is in bed for the night.
I think that I am just going to let her guide me. She will let me know what she wants.