13 month old day time naps

[mishh]

My DS will be 14 months on June 12th. He sleeps through the night 90% of the time and generally goes down very easily.. I breast feed him but he goes into his cot awake and he will do 7-7.

Day time naps are my problem. It's my own fault really, he was very cuddly when he was little and then napped on my lap and fed himself to sleep. I can't seem to break the habit. Trying to drop day feeds and I can get him to sleep without it but it takes a good half an hour of screaming and I can't put him down. Tried doing the same as his bed time but he goes absolutely crazy if I put him in his cot during the day. If I breast feed him to sleep I can put him on his little couch and he will stay asleep for 30-45 mins (normal for him).

Looking for any advice to help him from needing boob to nap and not on top of me!

[LollyDolly]

I have the same problem but ours goes all night too! We are on the waiting list for the ellen barron sleep clinic in brisbane. Their advice on day sleeps and what they do (you stay there for a week and they assist with all sleeps) is you put them in their bed or cot and leave them, going back in to calm them down if they are upset but you only leave them in there for 1 hour. You then get them up and pretend like they have had a sleep and then when they start showing signs of tiredness again you start the process again, eventually they will get so tired that they will get the point and sleep. I've not tried this but that was the advice they gave on the phone. I hope you can find a solution that works for you soon!

[Rose&Aurelia]

Why stop nursing for the day naps? If it works don't break it IMO.

[mishh]

He is starting child care soon so I'm concerned about him sleeping there if he associates me feeding him with having a nap?

[purplecat]

Mine breastfed to sleep or right before her sleep for all day naps until she started daycare 3 days a week at 12 months old. The carers never had a problem getting her to sleep when I wasn't there and a boob wasn't available! Kids are amazingly adaptable and flexible like that. In fact the carers commented that she was one of the best sleepers and the most securely attached of them all, and she got moved up to the next room early because she was the only one who would just cuddle her bear and drop off without needing patting or rocking. I reckon that's because she was so secure in her day sleeps at home with the boob. On my days off i'd feed her before her sleeps as usual. She worked it out very quickly. If its working so well and other methods end in screaming why change? You may find once he starts at daycare his breastfeeding needs at night and on your days off may increase, as this is his way of reconnecting with you after a period of absence. It also helps build your supply again as it can sometimes drop off a little on your work days.

I vote to keep boobing to sleep :

[mishh]

Mine breastfed to sleep or right before her sleep for all day naps until she started daycare 3 days a week at 12 months old. The carers never had a problem getting her to sleep when I wasn't there and a boob wasn't available! Kids are amazingly adaptable and flexible like that. In my days off i'd feed before sleep as usual. She worked it out very quickly. If its working so well and other methods end in screaming why change? You may find once he starts at daycare his breastfeeding needs at night and on your days off may increase, as this is his way of reconnecting with you after a period of absence. It also helps build your supply again as it can sometimes drop off a little on your work days.

I vote to keep boobing to sleep :

Oh this has made me so happy thank you!!!

[purplecat]

I just edited my post to add some more info that might make you even happier!!!!!

Just Follow your instinct and your babies cues - they are usually spot on :

[Rose&Aurelia]

He is starting child care soon so I'm concerned about him sleeping there if he associates me feeding him with having a nap?

DD started daycare whilst I was still nursing to sleep. Didn't phase her at all. The carers and her worked it out in 2 weeks (4days). They cuddled her, then patted her and now they just rub her back for a few min. I was still boobing to sleep till 20mths

[mishh]

Thanks everyone! I will continue I think it's easiest for us and he gets too upset otherwise.

Thanks for sharing your positive stories!