The No Cry Nap Solution (33 page)

208 Solving Napping Problems

Daniel, four months old

Occasional Car Naps Are Acceptable

It would be impracticable to schedule your life around your baby’s

nap schedule, and it would be impossible to prevent a baby from

ever
falling asleep in the car. There will be days when a car nap is

unavoidable. When that happens, try to let your baby nap for at

least twenty minutes. If you wake her while moving her to bed, it

is unlikely she’ll fall back to sleep again, but at least you will have

refreshed your baby enough to get through to the next naptime.

Colic Care

Helping Your Baby Get Comfort

and Relief from Naps

My baby has colic. Every afternoon he gets

into a crying spell and cries nonstop for hours.

He rarely falls asleep during these periods,

and when he does, it is only for a short nap.

He gets severely overtired. What can I do

to stop the crying and help him sleep?

Colic is as hard on parents as it on babies. Their intense crying

is heartbreaking and leaves parents feeling helpless and frus-

trated. Colicky babies, as this parent describes, have regular peri-

ods of inconsolable crying, typically late in the day. These bouts

can last one to three hours or more and can defi nitely interfere

with your baby’s afternoon naps. What causes colic is still a medi-

cal mystery, so it can’t be prevented. Without an exact cause, we

can only focus on the methods that ease a baby’s symptoms and

help him relax enough to fall asleep. Studies tell us that suffi cient

daily naps can reduce the frequency and length of colic episodes

and can help ease your baby’s discomfort.

The exact mix of solutions that help a colicky baby nap are dif-

ferent for every baby, and parents are unique in the methods that

they wish to use. Experiment with the various ideas until you fi nd

the right combination that works for you and your baby.

209

210 Solving Napping Problems

Colic experts from the University of London’s Institute of Educa-

tion discovered that a shortage of overall sleep hours increases

periods of fussing and crying for colicky babies.

Things That Ease Crying and Help Your

Baby to Nap Better

Remember that nothing you do will eliminate colic
completely
. That

will happen only when your baby’s system is mature and able to

settle on its own. However, when you can reduce your baby’s crying,

you will enable him to take better naps, which will lessen the effects

of colic.

Look for patterns to your baby’s crying; these can provide clues

as to which suggestions from the following list are most likely to

help your little one. Try not to overwhelm your baby or yourself

with too many changes at once. Watch for any signs of improve-

ment when you try something new. If the particular course of

action doesn’t change anything, don’t get discouraged—just try

something else until you fi nd tips that work for you and your

baby.

• Watch your baby for signs of tiredness and put her to bed

the moment she appears sleepy. If you have a hard time

reading your baby, refer to the chart on page 8, which shows

the typical amount of time a baby at this age stays awake

between naps. Put your baby down for a nap
just before
you

think she needs it.

• Hold your baby in a semi-upright position for feeding and

directly afterward.

• Experiment with how often and when you burp your baby.

Colic Care
211

• Offer meals in a quiet setting free from distractions. Main-

tain the quiet mood for about thirty minutes after feeding.

• If you are breastfeeding, feed your baby on demand (cue

feeding), for nutrition as well as comfort, frequently

throughout the day.

• If you are bottlefeeding, offer more frequent but smaller

meals; experiment with different formulas with your doc-

tor’s approval. Try different types of bottles and nipples that

prevent air from entering your baby as he drinks.

• If your baby likes a pacifi er, offer him one for naps and

during fussy periods. Sucking on a pacifi er increases the

amount of saliva your baby produces, and the extra lubri-

cant in his system can sometimes reduce the amount of gas

produced.

• Invest in a baby sling or carrier and use it often during col-

icky periods.

• Put your baby in a stroller and take a walk. When the

weather is unpleasant, bring your stroller in the house and

walk your baby around at naptime. When he falls asleep,

park him near you so that you can keep an eye on him.

• Give your baby a warm bath before sleep if this relaxes her.

• Place a warm towel or wrapped water bottle on baby’s

tummy (taking caution that the temperature is pleasantly

warm but not hot).

• Dress your baby in clothes that are loose around the tummy

area.

• Hold your baby with her legs curled up toward her belly.

• Massage your baby’s tummy or give him a full massage.

• Swaddle your baby for naps. (See the chapter “How to Use

Swaddling for Naptime” for information about swaddling.)

• Lay your baby tummy down across your lap and massage or

pat her back.

• Hold your baby in a rocking chair or put him in a cradle-

swing. (See swing information on page 174.)

212 Solving Napping Problems

Mother-Speak

“I invested in a cradle-swing as soon as I realized my baby

had colic, and it saved my life. Before the swing, I had to

carry and jiggle my baby for every nap, and my arms were

falling off! The swing provides enough movement and sound

to allow my baby to sleep.”

—Barbara, mother of four-month-old Zoë

• Invest in a baby hammock, which gently cuddles and sways

a baby to sleep.

• Look into a vibrating infant seat or cradle. The gentle

vibrations can soothe your baby, and some professionals feel

that they can also dislodge gas bubbles.

• Walk, sway, or jiggle with your baby in a sling in a quiet,

darkened room while you hum or sing. Or put in a movie

and pace the room while watching. Your baby will get his

nap, and you can get in your daily exercise and a movie,

too!

• Ask your health care provider about the various baby

positioners and crib wedges that keep baby nestled and his

upper body slightly elevated. If gas or refl ux is at the root of

your baby’s colic, this may bring some relief.

• Try keeping your baby away from highly stimulating situ-

ations (loud noises, crowds, action) during the day when

possible, especially in the half hour before each naptime.

This will prevent sensory overload, which can increase the

crying.

• Studies have linked secondhand smoke with an increase

in colic symptoms, so don’t allow anyone to smoke in the

house, in your car, or near your baby.

• Take a rest yourself. Lie on your back and lay your baby on

your tummy or chest. The rise and fall of your breathing

Colic Care
213

and your heartbeat are very soothing to your baby. (Trans-

fer your baby to his bed if he falls asleep. Or do this in a

room with another adult who is awake and can keep watch

while the two of you sleep.)

• Investigate the use of a crib attachment that vibrates and

hums, duplicating the sensation of a car ride.

• Play soothing music or turn on a white noise recording

(such as womb heartbeat sounds, ocean waves, or rainfall).

• As a last resort, ask your medical care provider about medi-

cations or holistic remedies available for colic and gas.

When You Should Call the Doctor

Anytime you are concerned about your baby, call your medical

care professional. In the case of colic, be sure to make that call if

you notice any of the following:

• Your baby’s crying is accompanied by vomiting, pain, or

fever.

• Your baby is not gaining weight.

• Your baby is over four months old, yet the colicky behavior

persists.

• Your baby doesn’t want to be held or handled.

• The crying spree isn’t limited to one bout in the evening,

but on and off all day.

• Your baby does not have regular bowel movements and wet

diapers.

• Your baby’s crying is making you angry or depressed, which

could mean that you have postpartum depression.

Special Situations

Questions and Answers

Day Care Snoozing: Napping Both at Day

Care
and
at Home

My baby rarely sleeps more than thirty minutes twice a day

at day care, and some days she won’t nap at all. She gets

exhausted and falls asleep in the car on the way home and

then is diffi cult to get to sleep at night. Ironically, my best

friend, whose son is at the same day care, has the opposite

problem! He naps well at day care but not at home. It is very

frustrating for both of us, and we don’t know what to do.

When a child has two totally different environments in which

to nap, unique problems can crop up. There are times when

the two places are out of sync when it comes to nap routines,

resulting in great naps at home and nap problems at day care or

vice versa. Sometimes, the ever-changing situations cause poor-

quality naps at both places, resulting in a sleep-deprived, fussy

child.

Frequently, there are one or two aspects of the nap routine that