How do I get my 8 month old son to take naps?

My daughter is 8 months and a week old; this is what we did and what i would recommend to anyone...

At Night

1) we put her to sleep at around 8-8:30 pm

2) She wakes up around 7-8 am

In the morning

1) We don't let her sleep till 3 hours after she wakes up and let him sleep till 1pm ( note : make sure he DOES NOT sleep after 1, as you must wake him up at that time )

2) we keep her awake till 5 pm and let her take about 1 hour.

The whole point is that the baby doesn't sleep more than 3 hours during the day.

Now as to him not sleeping on the bed....here's a few tricks

1) keep him awake until he start crying for sleep ( not too hard just till he starts whining ) then rock him in your arms and very gently put him on the bed

2) Make sure that he feeds well; and I'm not talking about breast or bottle feeding but actual food the baby must have at least 2 - 3 meals a day once when he wakes up, once mid-day and once in the afternoon.

3) make sure that the baby doesn't have an upset, by giving im gripe water - it's natural and doesn't harm the baby give him 2.5 ml of gripe water every once or twice a day that would stop any stomach aches.

4) don't let him cry too long - maybe that's why he won't sleep on his own as it imprints in his mind that you will leave him always stay close and pat him to reassure him and he will sleep.

If all the above fail, I believe you'd need to see a mid-wife or senior nurse to give you more professional advice.

If he honestly doesn`t want to sleep why don`t you take him outside for a walk in his buggie.The movement will hopefully send him to sleep.At least then you are out yourself in the fresh air and not stressed at home.

Do you play with him alot? If so, most of the time babies will fall asleep when they are full, clean, clear diaper, and played with. If that doesnt work, put a couple of warm, slightly heavy blankets on them. then they would fall asleep.

try making the room dark like it is when it night to make him think its night, turn off anything making noise arrange things the way they are when you lay him down at night, this way he thinks its night and can be more comfortable.

stop pickin him up if he cry it is your own fault, retardation by association any moron can become a parent but it takes a certain kind of person to be a parent