Trial-and-Error

I think I've mentioned before that we use the cry-it-out method with Ada at night. We've been using it for four months now, and she does really well. She usually just cries for a second when we put her down and then she's quiet.

Until recently, we've been getting Ada down for naps by rocking her to sleep in her car seat (or in desperate times going for a drive). I had read on one website that using the cry-it-out method for naps could reverse the baby's progress at bedtime because it makes them afraid of their cribs and bedroom. For fear of that happening, we've spoiled her by rocking her to sleep and then carrying the car seat to her room. Last week, though, I went to get her after she woke up from her nap and found her on the floor. I'm not even sure how it happened. I'm guessing she arched her back, causing the car seat to tip and her to slip out. Since she wasn't whining or crying, just confused, I found it quite funny. Regardless, I decided it was time to use her crib not only at night, but for her naps also. She does not like it. She cries from anywhere between ten minutes to a half hour, with even some play time in between which isn't too bad. If any of you are against this, please don't hate me. She cries because she's tired, and because she's not used to going down for naps this way, but she'll get used to it... hopefully quickly. It breaks my heart, but I can't be rocking her in her car seat when she's over a year old.

Thankfully, though, it hasn't screwed up her bedtime routine. She still falls asleep at night just as easily. So now I know. For future babies, I'll just have to start nap time in the crib when they're younger so it won't be so hard on them.