The No Cry Nap Solution (29 page)

guidance. Or check out one of the many wonderful classes or

books on baby massage.

Move Your Sleeping Baby

If your baby will not fall asleep in the crib but falls deeply asleep in

the swing, try letting her fall asleep in the swing and then move

her while she sleeps. Set up her bedroom to be inviting for sleep:

pull down the shades, turn on soft music or white noise, and warm

up the sheets with a heat pack or warm towel (remove these before

you lay your baby down). It can help to locate the swing in the

bedroom next to the crib so that you aren’t traveling a long dis-

tance between the two places.

Swinging, Bouncing, Vibrating, or Gliding
183

As soon as she is asleep, carefully transfer her to the bed. Make

your movements slow but steady. You might also try the Pantley

Dance, as described starting on page 144.

If your baby wakes the minute she touches the crib, try putting

a travel cradle or Moses basket in the crib to make it a smaller

space, or add a soft mattress pad under fl annel sheets. For more

ideas on how to make the crib cozy, see page 140.

Any time you change what you are doing at naptime, your

baby may resist the idea. Stay with any new idea for a few

weeks to allow your baby to adjust before you judge its true

effectiveness.

Night Sleep in the Crib, but Day Sleep in

a Swing?

A surprising number of parents report that their baby sleeps fi ne

at night in the crib, cradle, or bed but won’t nap there during the

day. For daytime naps they must turn to motion sleep. There are

three main reasons this happens: your night routine is more spe-

cifi c than your nap routine, you are misreading your baby’s tired

signs and attempting naps at times when your baby is not sleepy or

is extremely overtired, or you co-sleep with your baby, which is an

acceptable alternative for most children.

If your baby takes to the crib at night but not for naps, the

fi rst step is to take a look at your successful bedtime routine and

re-create it for naptime. You may not realize the many subtle dif-

ferences between the two until you act them out. The easiest way

to do this is to simply fool yourself and your baby into thinking it

184 Solving Napping Problems

is bedtime. Do exactly what you do in the evening—even though

it’s really noon!

The second thing to watch is the span of wakeful time between

sleep sessions. Be sure your baby has been awake long enough,

yet not too long, by naptime. Check the chart on page 8 and also

watch your baby for some of the tired signs listed on pages 44

and 88.

Keep Trying!

If your baby totally resists all attempts you make to have her nap

in her crib, then sometimes it’s best to leave well enough alone

for a week or two or even longer. Then try again, perhaps with a

different plan. Sometimes a slight change to your approach along

with a few weeks of maturity can make a big difference in the end

result. All babies eventually outgrow the need for motion during

naptime.

Helping Your Newborn Tummy

Sleeper Go “Back to Sleep”

I know that my newborn should sleep on

her back, but she hates it! When I let her

sleep on her tummy, she naps longer and

better, so I’m tempted to let her sleep

that way. Would that be a good idea?

When you’ve found a way to help your baby sleep better, it is

tempting to give in, no matter what. However, when your

baby’s safety is at risk, it’s not worth the few hours of sleep you’ll

gain. Studies have proved scientifi cally that back sleeping is the

safest way for babies to sleep, due to the higher risk of sudden

infant death syndrome (SIDS) when stomach sleeping. SIDS is not

totally preventable, nor can it be diagnosed before it occurs, but

this is one factor that parents can control. In most cases, infants

who sleep on their backs are less susceptible to SIDS than those

who sleep on their stomachs.

This isn’t an issue you’ll need to deal with forever, as your baby

will (far too soon) grow out of the newborn stage. There isn’t

an exact age when belly sleeping becomes a safe position; this is

unique to every child. However, most specialists imply that once

your baby can hold her head up steadily and roll easily from belly

to back and back to belly, you can put her to sleep on her back and

then let her fi nd her own comfortable position.

Once your doctor confi rms that back sleeping is best for your

baby, always put her to sleep on her back. If your little one resists

this sleep position, try the following ideas to encourage back

sleeping.

185

186 Solving Napping Problems

Investigate Using an Infant Sleep-

Positioning System

There are a wide variety of infant sleep-positioning systems on

the market. These are often made of foam and have two side bol-

sters (round or triangular) connected by a bottom piece of fab-

ric. At this time, none of these carry a recommendation or stamp

of approval by any medical group, as more research needs to be

completed on the safety of these products. Nonetheless, they are

becoming very popular and are even recommended by some pedi-

atricians. The designs are constantly improving, so search around

for the best one you can fi nd.

Many parents use positioners successfully for babies who resist

back sleeping or who have refl ux or other digestive problems. Many

say that when they fi rmly swaddle their baby and place him on his

back in a properly fi tting positioner, it solves many sleep problems.

Ask around and search the Internet for parent recommendations

on these, and talk with your medical professional about using one

for your baby.

When your baby can roll from back to front and front to back,

it’s time to stop using a positioner. If your baby rebels at fi rst, you

can remove one side of the positioner. Also, increase the number

of tummy-time fl oor-practice sessions throughout each day to help

your baby practice this new rolling skill. Within a few weeks, your

baby will have mastered this maneuver and will be more comfort-

able in his crib.

Use a Crib Alternative for Naps

Sleeping in a sling, stroller, swing, or infant seat will keep your

baby slightly curled, rather than fl at on a mattress. Many tummy

sleepers enjoy the curved position much more than lying fl at on

their backs. In addition, these carriers have a more fl exible, softer

surface that invites sleep. Be sure to follow safety precautions and

Helping Your Newborn Tummy Sleeper Go “Back to Sleep”
187

Luca Eamon, seven months old, in Mama’s sling

read the instructions that come with the device. Manufacturers

of car seats, strollers, and infant seats warn parents not to leave

a baby alone in these seats, so this idea works only when you are

awake and close by for naps; they aren’t good places for night sleep.

Keep an eye on your baby and watch to be sure he doesn’t twist

around in the seat, become entangled in the straps, or hunch too

far forward, as this can interfere with proper breathing.

While a car seat creates a nice nest for sleeping, new studies tell

us that babies should not be left to sleep for long spans in a car

seat because the positioning can also interfere with proper breath-

ing. There are a number of positioning cushions that can be used

in a car seat or baby seat to hold your baby’s upper body in a safer

sleep position. These typically have a pad that is placed under the

baby’s back with side “wings” to prevent a baby’s head from wob-

bling. New designs of some car seats allow them to adjust to lie fl at

when taken out of the car. If your baby often falls asleep in the car

seat, it would be worth it to check out a seat of this style.

188 Solving Napping Problems

While all of these alternative places may help your baby nap

better, there will soon come a time when you would like the free-

dom of putting your baby down for a nap in a bed and taking some

baby-free time while he sleeps. Even though you’ll likely have to

help your baby adjust to the change at some point, the vast major-

ity of parents feel it is still worth it to use these nestlike places to

improve their newborn’s sleep.

When it’s time to help your baby make the transition to a fl at

crib, try moving him after he is asleep. Or you can pat or rub your

baby’s tummy, legs, or head at the transition to be sure he stays

asleep. Or use the Pantley Dance transfer method described on

page 144. You can also put him in a rocking cradle, which makes

up for the fl at surface with gentle movement. For more ideas on

weaning to a crib for naps, see the chapter “Swinging, Bouncing,

Vibrating, or Gliding: Making the Transition from Motion Sleep

to Stationary Sleep.”

Use a Baby Hammock

Babies who resist lying on their backs on a traditional mattress

will often welcome back sleeping in a baby hammock. These

safely cradle your baby in a comforting fetal position. Hammocks

provide a more fl exible, yielding surface and provide soothing

sleep-inducing movement, as well. A baby hammock is especially

helpful if your baby is a preemie, a restless sleeper, or a short nap-

per or if he has colic, refl ux, allergies, or any other health issues.

Shop around to fi nd a model that suits you and your baby.

Try Swaddling Your Baby for Naps

Very often a baby who resists sleeping on her back fi nds the posi-

tion diffi cult because of her natural startle refl exes. When her arms

or legs move in ways that she can’t easily control, this prevents her

from sleeping or startles her awake. Being swaddled prevents her

Helping Your Newborn Tummy Sleeper Go “Back to Sleep”
189

natural refl exes from waking her up. (For more about swaddling,

see the chapter “How to Use Swaddling for Naptime.”)

Warm Up Your Baby’s Sleeping Surface

Some babies may not actually object to back sleeping but to the

transition from your warm arms to a cold bed. You can place a

heating pad set on the lowest setting or a bead-fi lled warmer on

your baby’s mattress just before naptime. Remove the heat source

and rub your arm over the surface to be sure it is not too hot for