8 Month Old Naps

Hi all,
My son is 8 months old, and has 2 naps a day (lasting anywhere between 30 mins and 1 & 1/2 hours) He sleeps through the night, though does get a bit grumpy an hour or two before bed. My only problem is that when I put him down for a nap, he cries and cries himself to sleep. Sometimes it can take him up to 45 minutes to settle. I am trying to let him settle himself as I am due to have my second baby in October, and would really like it if he could get himself to sleep.
I usually go in every 10 minutes to make sure he is just whingeing, and to roll him back over on to his back, and I have tried putting him down for a nap later, and earlier to see if it is just bad timing on my part, but every nap he takes at least 15 minutes of crying to go to sleep.
He isn't like that at night, he just watches his mobile above his bed and quietly drifts off...anyone have any ideas on how to make nap time less stressful for the little guy?
Would greatly appreciate some input!
Thanks!

What sort of routine do you do at night time to get him calm for bed? If you have one maybe try a similar approach to his day nap routine, eg. read a book quietly in his room away from any distractions.
Not sure if that is of any help at all though...

It actually sounds like he's doing well. Might just take him a little while to get used to it. Assuming he can roll over himself at that age it's not necessary to keep rolling him onto his back. He might roll onto his tummy & be more comfy so will fall asleep quicker.

I must say I am pretty bad at getting him settled for a nap - at night time he has a bath and then his bottle and we sit quietly (with the TV on...I know, probably not the best idea..) for about 20 minutes and he goes off to bed. At nap times I tend to just play with him until he rubs his eyes and then put him in his bed.
I feel a bit lazy now, I really should do more of a quiet activity before nap time, but somehow it just never occurred to me.
Thanks for the input, I might try that on him this afternoon.

Oh and StrawberryTimTam - is it OK for them to sleep on their tummy? He seems to like it - but I was worried about the SIDS recommendation, so I always turn him over.....I get so confused sometimes - never sure what is right and what is wrong!

sounds like you and i have similar days!
My Baby wont self settle in the day in her cot!
she crys and rolls around and just is not happy I personally think its her teeth that worry her because its every morning and not so bad in the afternoon but evening she goes to sleep with no crying!
I have tried putting her to bed earlier and later makes no difference
I have the tv on as well and she plays before she goes to sleep I have tried no tv no play makes no difference
15 minutes of crying is pretty god dam good! My baby takes about an hour in the mornings I hate it ....I go in as well every 10 minutes to make sure she is ok but yer she just keeps crying and eventually just goes to sleep!
there just being babies very normal behaviour!!!! Dont worry about the sleeping on the belly it is fine really only if there young babies you would need to watch that! I wouldnt be rolling bubs over too much risk of waking them!
anyway good luck muma!! sounds like your doing a great job!

My DD is very similar but she is almost 10 months. She has always catnapped through the day but sleeps well during the night. For what it's worth....I now know the rough times she will go to sleep (still has sometimes 3 naps a day), her blind is down when it's 'sleep time', she goes off with a dummy and her comfort toy (I hope we never lose bunny...an absolute godsend). sometimes she will cry - but if it's a protest cry (ie tears aren't flowing, and she's clearly not distressed), I will leave her for a few minutes or 5, and check on her. there was a stage maybe around the 7-8month mark where she was so difficult to get down for day naps, and yes sometimes i gave up and she didn't nap, but hey, she survived!
now she sits up and can't get back down, so I go in and say 'time to lay down' and put her back on her side or tummy.
reading books before sleep also works, but I really don't think you can make a baby sleep. i can only imagine how tricky this must be also being pregnant smile

BUMPITY BUMP!!!

Thanks to everyone for the comments - it is good to know I'm not the only one who has trouble with it. I have just put him down for his afternoon nap, and even though we had about an hour of 'quiet time' (sitting in a darker room, having a bottle and listening to soft music) he still is fighting taking a nap.
I will continue to do this, because it calms me down too smile but seeing that it is happening to others as well, maybe it is just the way he is? He is definitely teething, has 7 teeth already, but I put a bit of bonjella on him before nap time.
Will just have to persevere and hope that he starts settling himself after some quiet time and just continue to check on him.

Madeladel wrote:
Thanks to everyone for the comments - it is good to know I'm not the only one who has trouble with it. I have just put him down for his afternoon nap, and even though we had about an hour of 'quiet time' (sitting in a darker room, having a bottle and listening to soft music) he still is fighting taking a nap.
I will continue to do this, because it calms me down too smile but seeing that it is happening to others as well, maybe it is just the way he is? He is definitely teething, has 7 teeth already, but I put a bit of bonjella on him before nap time.
Will just have to persevere and hope that he starts settling himself after some quiet time and just continue to check on him.

yup thats all you can do! I just put dd to bed only 20 minutes of crying! I noticed she started to really cry loud and thats when I have been going in but I didnt this time and she just knodded off only a few minutes after! I remember sleep school said let her escalate because it will come back down and she will go to sleep! think I need to let her cry a bit longer seems to be working for now !!