stoping the use of a bouncy chair

[mountainboo]

Ok, this is unfortunately a problem that I have created myself. My son is now 6 months and since he was about 3 months old we put him in a bouncy chair that vibrates when he has naps or relaxing time because he always found it very difficult to sleep in his cot during the day. It's now time he stopped using it because 1. he is just over 20lbs and 2. he is 6 months. I put him in his play cot for playing with his toys and tummy time but he wont sleep in it and we tried putting him in his cot for a nap recently but he became so upset that I felt I couldn't put him through it again as I don't want to lose his trust (by the way he sleeps fine in the cot at night). I stopped the vibrate on the chair a couple of weeks ago. Should I stop him from using the bouncy chair gradually or in one go? I guess the only thing I can do with reagrds to making sure he gets his naps is the pram!!

[mamatwo]

hi there
i completly get what you mean about the cot - the last thing you want is problems sleeping at night. his play cot is prob not the best place for him to nap if he expects to play when he goes into it. could you go out for a walk when he's due for a nap for a few days to get him out of the habit of the chair? then try introducing the cot gradually and take him out if he's upset? hopefully he'll forget about the chair fairly soon if he doesn't see it / use it. hope this helps, good luck xx

[annie0000]

Maybe you could try letting him go to sleep in the pram or the bouncy chair and then transfer him to the cot so that he wakes up in it - that way he might get used to being in it during the day and you could progress to putting him in it in the daytime - it will be darker soon anyway and with the curtains shut, he may settle to it quite soon.

[lozzylou]

hi, my niece who is now 3 was in her bouncer chair till she was 13 months old. it was the only place she would settle. i dont see as it will do him any harm still being in there if it is comfy for him. my boys wouldnt sleep in the cot in day either so i used to bring them a blanket down and lie them on sofa with cushions around them to stop them rolling. mine would always lie there while i was in the room butif i went out they would sit up. maybe you could try this but sit next to him so he knows you are there, and then gradually move further away from him

[mountainboo]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try transfering him from the chair when he falls asleep and if it doesn't work then I'll let him keep the bouncy chair untill he loses interest.

[aims1202]

i think if he falls asleep in one place and wakes up in another he will feel more insecure. i would say get rid of the bouncy chair, at his age he will forget about it very quickly. decide where he will have his nap and stay with him maybe rubbing his tummy while he falls asleep. then each time gradually move away from him as he's more settled until he eventually wont need you there with him to fall asleep.

[annie0000]

If he is already used to sleeping in his cot and waking up in it, he will not feel insecure when he wakes up - he probably wont even remember where he fell asleep. It is different if you move them and they wake up somewhere completely unfamiliar - but then again, that happens most times that they fall asleep in a buggy or pram.