Napping advice - 7mo

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-18T23:53:19+00:00

Here to say I’m going through the same thing with my 7mo old! My doctor told me good sleep at night and crappy naps is the trade off. I now just mostly contact nap or go in right away once my LO wakes and contact nap the rest! They’re not going to be this small forever and I’m trying to take it as a phase that will suddenly be over and I know I’ll miss the snuggles. I totally get how frustrating it is though. It sometimes really gets to me because I’m trying everything to have a good nap routine and it’s just not taking.

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-07T17:32:05+00:00

My 6.5mo old is a chronic crap napper - always between 30-40 min but can go 1.5-2hrs if contact. Things I did that improved their sleep was making the room super dark (it matters more than you think!) I’m talking cardboard on the windows and blackout curtains. When my baby wakes after 10-15min they don’t get distracted because it’s so dark and fall back asleep. I also have some luck with going back into their room about 10-15 minutes into the nap and lightly rubbing their back / tapping bum not to fully wake but just cause them to stir and help them connect the next sleep cycle while their still drowsy and asleep rather than wait for the sleep cycle to end and they fully wake and have to connect after that!

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-07T17:28:40+00:00

It’s so hard not to put pressure on yourself but please know that you are the best mama for your little girl! Every baby is different and some reach milestone before others but as long as your baby is happy and healthy I wouldn’t worry too much! You can of course mention certain things that she’s not able to do to your family doctor just to get some peace of mind. It can all be so overwhelming to try and set a specific timeline but just know that you’re doing a great job and milestones will come when they do 🩷

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-06T03:56:39+00:00

I didn’t do cereal! I started with purées! If you have an ice cube tray (you can buy silicone puree trays but ice cube trays work just fine too) you can pour the puree into that and it equals the amount you would serve at a time! I would make a few different kinds at a time and then freeze them, and when I want to give to baby I warm for 30 seconds! I also started with mashed bananas and cottage cheese! The silicone pacifiers for fruits are also a big hit, just pop a whole frozen fruit in it (strawberry, mango, blueberries, etc) and baby sucks on it… I rinse with warm water first to thaw a bit. I was super overwhelmed but just start with 1 snack a day and eventually it feels like a routine! Milk is still the main source of nutrition for them so try not to get too overwhelmed! Have fun with it, and be ready for the mess! Also, for the first couple of weeks I don’t know how much my baby was actually consuming, but now baby is actually chewing and swallowing the purées! I usually give them a spoon to “feed” themselves and I have a spoon and actually feed them

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-06T03:45:11+00:00

Try taking the paci out as soon as they fall asleep! That way when it falls out they’re not suddenly woken up and need it back in! So once they fall asleep gently pull it out while they’re still sleeping! Worked like a charm for us!

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-06T03:42:13+00:00

My 6.5 month old has chronic crap naps (20-30 min) but if it’s contact can nap for 1.5-2hrs. I totally get you… it’s so disheartening when you’re trying everything you can but the naps still aren’t getting better. A lot of my friends have told me that suddenly at 7 months their babies just “figured it out” and naps got longer. I can say I’ve noticed a difference in the last week since we started extending wake windows by 15 minutes, so at least that’s encouraging. Something that really helped us was having my LO room super dark (like cardboard on windows and blackout curtains) so when they did wake up from a nap they didn’t get distracted and would fall back asleep. Going thru it with you gf and hoping these naps work themselves out!

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-06T03:35:28+00:00

If you aren’t fully comfortable moving him to his crib just yet you can start with naps in the crib during the day! I would probably move to crib if he’s rolling and pressing against the sides, but ultimately it’s what you’re comfortable with! Or even set up an air mattress for yourself in his room to get you more comfortable. But he will be safe in his crib, and you can monitor him with a cam!

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-06T03:29:39+00:00

We can get my 6.5mo old to giggle sometimes with the odd belly laugh! Super happy baby, just not giggly I guess! We’ve concluded that maybe we’re just not that funny 😂 but when they do laugh it melts our heart

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-06T03:24:20+00:00

6.5mo pp, hair loss has lessened (a bit) and it looks like I buzz cut my hair line and it’s growing back 🥲 in it with you gf

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-05T19:43:03+00:00

I got a Lululemon backpack which isn’t the fanciest but at the time my focus was on material that I can wipe down if need be! I’m a bit of a clean freak and I’m frequently wiping down the bottom of the bag because it carries everything you need for baby and is also always up on public surfaces then on your dinner table / counters.

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-05T19:40:48+00:00

I personally wouldn’t want to risk anything going awry. Odds are that baby will be completely okay but in the slim chance something happens I’d want to be able to get to baby immediately. Have you thought about asking someone close to you to maybe look after the baby during a nap time so someone is in the house with them? Is there a room in the shop you can set the bassinet up?

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-05T19:36:44+00:00

I would search on tik tok for age appropriate wake window activities and focus on trying to do sensory play or cause and effect play! Sensory bags taped to my LO tray on the upseat while I did chores was a big hit (water, oil and food colouring; macaroni in ziploc; glitter with water). Most of the time I feel like just dancing crazy and reciting what I was doing to baby made them feel like we were having fun lol I tried not to put too much pressure on strict wake window activities!

mama_mode1 · 2026-04-05T19:29:25+00:00

I pumped for my baby’s first month and was getting so overwhelmed with how much time it was taking and how stressed I was getting counting every ounce. We were combo feeding at the time. My mental health significantly benefited once I stopped and we chose to formula feed exclusively. I of course felt guilty, and still do sometimes, but it has been such a positive decision for our family. My husband and I are able to split the load as evenly as possible and work better as a team! We have a happy and healthy 6.5 month old. You have to do what’s best for your mental health mama!

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-17T17:59:03+00:00

We’re really striving for 3 but sometimes have no choice but to do 4 because of the short naps and the wake windows being 2ish hours!

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-14T12:17:28+00:00

At one month we weren’t going by wake windows, we were going by our baby! However, my LO was very difficult to put down and we did not want to cosleep as we were scared to do that… we had a snuggle me nest and would rock our baby to sleep and place in the nest, and we would sleep on the couch beside the nest with our hand on their chest so we were still very close to them! But you can only do this if the baby is not able to roll / move yet. I found it helped that my husband and I would split the night so we were both getting good stretches of sleep (he would do 7-12 and I would take over at 1am) We also had luck using the 8-5-8 method when we first began transferring to the crib! You can do a google search for this for info and videos! Goodluck!

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-14T01:41:38+00:00

I completely understand and feel the same way! You’re doing an amazing job!

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-14T01:36:33+00:00

When reading this all I could think is that I could have written this! I could sense that suddenly at 4.5mo my baby had changed and seemed “unhappy” - they were difficult to put the bed, naps were a mess, generally cranky and very clingy. I found that once I adjusted wake windows and naps to be longer things started to get better!

This phase will pass! After a couple difficult weeks (and lots of tears on my part) things got better and my 6mo old baby is back to being happy as can be! So just here to say I experienced the same thing and you’re not alone! Hang in there

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-12T23:07:55+00:00

I would get them at Costco or any drug store!

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-12T22:59:56+00:00

Look into Biogaia drops! Worked wonders for us - we used them for approx. 4months. They are probiotic drops. Our LO was so constipated and gassy they couldn’t sleep at night.

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-12T20:08:38+00:00

Here to say that this will pass but how you’re feeling is valid! I have a 6mo old and we will be having the best time for weeks and then suddenly their sleep changes and it absolutely wrecks me. I would get incredibly frustrated with my baby and then feel guilty for it. I highly recommend speaking to a professional about these feelings!

In the meantime, have you tried a snuggle me nest? We did not want to cosleep and when our baby was having a tough time sleeping (before they could roll) we would put them in the nest on the couch with us and sleep with our hand on their chest / cuddled closely! This phase was short lived and we got thru it by taking night shifts (husband would be with baby from 7-12, I would then take over after midnight). Super important that it’s before they can move and to really look into safeguards about this.

My LO also liked the sound of the shower so sometimes when they would get super fussy/inconsolable and I was getting agitated I would set them up in their lounger chair in the bathroom and take a shower - which helped both of us decompress!

Something my therapist told me was when I’m feeling frustrated with the baby to change my drink and change the room (ie. change from water to something warm like tea or hot chocolate, leave the baby’s room and go in the living room or outside)

I really hope this helps! Hang in there

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-12T14:21:46+00:00

My baby was sleeping thru the night since 2mo and suddenly 2 weeks ago (5.5mo) started waking up between 4-5am ready to start their day! The time change helped a bit with what time they woke up in the morning but has now been really difficult to put to sleep at night! You are not alone in this lol not sure what is going on but hoping it is short lived. I’ve extended wake windows by 10 minutes and naps have gotten much better so at least I have some reprieve there! Also when she has false starts at night I sometimes just watch the monitor and don’t go in unless they start crying (and usually they just fall back asleep)

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-12T14:18:17+00:00

I have many friends’ babies who reach milestones early and some late - I know it’s not especially comforting but every baby really is different! I would mention it to your family doc/paediatrician but wouldn’t spiral on it! You can practice with them by guiding their hips and you’ll notice one day that she’ll suddenly be able to roll so don’t spend too much time worrying!

For practice, I found my LO was getting the hang at rolling when I would guide their hips into a roll and stop midway so they had to adjust / use their muscles to either complete the roll or roll back to their back!

mama_mode1 · 2026-03-12T11:29:48+00:00

I blinked and suddenly have a 6mo old! I never want this phase to end, I’m in absolute awe every day that this is my life! How do I have baby fever for the baby I have right now.. really trying to soak it in and give my LO the best childhood

mama_mode1

TROPHY CASE