When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

DD is 3 months old and she doesn't have designated nap times. She sleeps in the car, on the boppy, in the swing etc. but I don't actually put her down for these naps. Just wondering when I should start putting her down for naps at designated times? And right now DD still sleeps a lot during the day so I usually put her in her crib around 10pm. Just wondering how old your DC was when you started putting them to be bed around 7 or 8? TIA!

Message edited 4/19/2011 6:52:43 AM.

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

Ds was the same way till about 5.5months. He only napped in his swing, car, boppy and there was no schedule. He slept in his crib at night starting at 11 weeks but he refused to nap in it. I knew that I had to start a nap schedule when I went back to work at 5 months so we did CIO for naps. For months he only slept for 30 minutes, but then he finally started napping longer. We also established a nap schedule with him in his crib. We slowly pushed his bedtime earlier starting around 3 months and by 5 months he was in bed for the night around 830. And now at 18 months he still goes to sleep around 8.

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

i was gonna ask the same thing gail!!! Nate doesn't really have a schedulr right now either. I just started upping his last bottle for the night 2 days ago and last night he slept7 hours!!

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

i started at about 8 weeks and he caught on very quickly!

ETA DS is 18 months and he's been going to be at 6:30 since he's about 8 months.

Message edited 4/19/2011 8:33:48 AM.

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

DS1 = 3 months we started a routine
DS2 = from day one he had to follow the routine that didn't disrupt DS1's routine so much....but really at 3 months is when it started to become consistent (and he became a willing participant)

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

Around 6 weeks or so, bedtime was anywhere btwn 9 and 10. Now at almost 15w, it's usually around 9.She's been sleeping until 5-5:30 and then back down till 7 or 8. We don't have a nap schedule but she is taking longer naps and more of them (she wasn't a napper till now). I look for her cues and then rock, swaddle and put her in her crib. I usually get a one hour nap, a 2 hour nap, and. third short nap. She's been taking the 3rd nap in the evening. I have a feeling that it will soon be her bedtime. She's been waking up from that one cranky--like she needed more sleep.

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

We started a bedtime routine around 2 months at about 9pm and then have slowly made it earlier and earlier (now she goes to bed at 7.) She STTN for about 11-12 hrs but naps terribly. Only recently (at 4 months) she is finally getting on a napping schedule. We've been very dedicated to putting her in her crib for naps, even if it's only for 20 mins. What really helped is someone on here suggested to do a mini-bedtime routine before naps. It really worked! Also, I read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and have been following the "1-2 hrs of wakefulness." Basically she is awake no more than 1 1/2-2 hrs before she goes back down for a nap--BEFORE she is showing tired signs. It has really helped! Good luck!!

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

I was wondering the same but DD has been going to bed between 9-10 and then usually sleeps till around 5. I dont really want to put her to bed really early cause we dont get home until 6:15. I mean if she falls asleep earlier great! But between the play time with her and then the bath I dont see how it could be earlier.

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

bedtime around 3 months. before he started daycare

a solid nap schedule didnt happen until about 5 months, when he started putting him in his crib to nap. before that, he was napping in his swing and it was hit or miss

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

my DD is almost 4 months and has had a bedtime routine for maybe 3 weeks 7:30/8. I usually feed her at 7, burp her and cuddle and put her down awake.

as far as a nap routine we dont have one
she naps for about 15-25 min each nap

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

We started at around 10w b/c I was going back to work at 12w

She still follows teh same basic routine now at 8m, but is starting to drop her second nap.

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

4 months and I should have done it sooner, but now I know. Nap times are tough still because she doesn't always sleep during them and then falls asleep during other times. We are still working on it but bedtime and wake up time is consistently 8pm-7:30am!

Re: When did you start establishing nap times and a bed time for DC

About 8-10 weeks old we developed a schedule. That was when he started to STTN.

He generally took a nap 2 hours after waking up. Then another maybe 2-3 hours after he woke from the morning nap. Then usually a early evening nap for maybe 30 minutes to take the edge off when we got home from work (that early evening nap disapeared around 6 months old though).

Bedtime was 8:30ish ( we had like a 1/2 hour window either way with DS).