How to manage baby’s naps with a toddler

Has anyone got any advice for how to manage naps for a 4 month old when you also have a 2 year old?

My 4 month old gets so overtired every day and refuses to nap. From lunchtime onwards she scream cries for hours and will not nap all the way until bedtime. Nothing I do- rocking, breastfeeding, carrier etc works and it’s impossible to spend ages in a dark quiet room trying to settle her when I also have a toddler. She also will only nap for half an hour max at a time when she does. I can’t take her out for drives and pram walks (don’t have a double pram and toddler hates the pram) as my toddler would be really bored. Im just wondering what other people do, any routines and methods etc?

TIA 🫶🏻

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Following as would also like to know! My eldest would also fall asleep which would cause a chaotic bedtime for her!

That sounds really tough, especially with a toddler. I’m sorry that it’s a struggle! My little one would only contact nap initially and would always wake up if we transfer him to the next to me, however he would sleep in the pram. Like you I can’t go on lots of walks as also have a 2 year old! So I keep the pram in the hallway, put my little one in his pramsuit (blankets don’t work for him!) and push the pram to and fro until he sleeps. I then also put the white noise machine on quietly next to the pram. It means I can get him to sleep whilst my toddler is playing nearby too. My toddler wanted to help me push the pram the other day 😂 If my baby wakes up I then push the pram again and most of the time he goes back to sleep. It’s not a long term thing but I’ve really found it works for me at the moment x

I’ve a 4 month old and just turned 2 year old. I was finding I was in the same situation as you and baby would then not sleep at night as she was too overtired after not having enough day time sleep. So I’ve paid for and been using the huckleberry app. You input when they wake and it calculates babies ‘sweet spot’ for nap. You then time the nap and it will calculate the next and so on. I’ve found it to be absolutely bang on and my little girls no longer been fighting her nap as she is ready for it and not got to the point of being overtired.

Reflecting I think my little one was going to long between naps because I was just so busy with the both of them that I wouldn’t realise how long it had been etc. From one stressed out, overstimulated mamma of two to another, you’ve got this 💪🏽

I’ve got a almost 4 month old and and a boy who’s 3 in April! He loves going out so I put her in the pram and we go “exploring” she sleeps and he gets to either nosey round shops or go for an adventure to the park! Also gets me out the house! If not we do naps in her own room and little man plays downstairs while she does so x

I do the same with Beth, it’s pram so it’s best if both worlds for everyone lol xxx

I have a 4 month old and a 22 month old! I think I've mastered nap times during the day! My 4 month old has 1 cat naps in the morning, either contact naps or naps on the go as we go to classes and then both babies nap for around 2 hours at 12! I have found that the baby carrier is an absolute god send! If my baby is refusing to nap I put her in a carrier and my toddler in her pram and we go for a walk she falls to sleep instantly!!do you have a carrier? X

Thanks everyone! Baby isn’t a fan of the carrier and toddler doesn’t like the pram annoyingly but I will give your suggestions a go and try and persevere ❤️

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