How did you break the swing nap habit?

DD is a great sleeper at night and during the day. We put her in her crib wide awake and she puts herself to sleep without ever even fussing. During the day she sleeps really well anywhere BUT her crib. She naps in the swing if we are home and the carseat/stroller when we are out.

I need to get her to sleep in the crib by the time I go back to work in september because, she is split between two houses during the week and I would like her to have the consistency of naptime throughout (my house, my moms and MILs).

I just tried rocking her to sleep and the second I put her in her crib she woke up and cried. I tried leaving her in there for a while but she was crying (which she never does) and I dont want to screw up my nighttime routine either.

What did you do?

Re: How did you break the swing nap habit?

We went cold turkey and rocked him to sleep. We also slept him on his belly which helped him a lot but that was a personal choice and not advice I give out.

Re: How did you break the swing nap habit?

you may be waiting too long to put her down. I used to have this problem, now Sasha won't sleep anywhere but the crib-- although she does fall alseep in the carseat, but the stars need to be aligned for this to happen.

Once I picked up Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child-- I looked for the "drowsy cues" and put her down when she exhbited them. Sasha was the same-- very easy to put down at bedtime, but naptime was another story.

Since I have been doing this-- I haven't even used the swing!

Re: How did you break the swing nap habit?

Alexa just decided this for herself , now she is giving us a hard time napping period, where as the swing was a definate , she wants no part of it !

Re: How did you break the swing nap habit?

we had the same issue at one point so we put him in the swing but only pushed it manually a few times, when it stopped moving we let him sleep in it still. Then moved him into the crib after that. I think he was just used to the motion and once he wasn't getting that from the swing anymore, he didn't really want to be in it.

I've also had a few friends that would put the car seat into the crib as a transition. Let dc sleep in the car seat in the crib a few days and then get rid of the car seat.

HTH

Re: How did you break the swing nap habit?

My DS would only nap in his swing as well, but I pretty much cut that habit cold turkey. I started reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and as Randella said, I started putting him to sleep when he became drowsy. If I wait to long, he gets over tired and starts to cry. Just try it one day. THe book says to put them to sleep no more then 2 hours after they have woken up. I watch him and the clock and sometimes I can put him down and he will be out within 3 min with no crying. Of course, life gets in the way and this is not always possible. Thank goodness he also loves to sleep in the car and in his stroller.

Re: How did you break the swing nap habit?

I let her fall asleep in the swing and took a shower. When I got out I shut the swing off and she is still sleeping, so maybe Ill try that for a few days and then start putting her in the crib more.