Naptime. One of my most favorite parts of the day! Okay, so it may sound a bit selfish, but I have come to really enjoy that particular part of the day when the house is nice and quiet and my girls are tucked nice and cozy in their beds. I have been very fortunate that both of my girls have been pretty good about being regular nappers, but lately things have taken a bit of a turn.
Anyone who knows me in real life could tell you that I'm a stickler for rules and order. I'm not exactly the kind of person one might characterize as being spontaneous. I really try hard to schedule my days around my children's naptimes. I can remember the days of working in a department store where I'd see a child who was clearly tired and fussy, but the mom was totally doing her own thing, determined that she was going to continue shopping anyway. That was back before I had kids, and I was determined that when I had my own, I would not be one of those moms. I understand that things must get done, and it's sometimes really hard to stick to a schedule, but I really believe that well rested children make for a happy home.
Ever since Alyssa was about 15 or 16 months, she's been faithfull taking a two hour afternoon nap usually from 1-3 p.m. Audrey is still on the border of taking 2 naps a day, but sometimes if I get lucky, she'll only take one nap and both girls will go down at the same time. I just love days like that when I get a good two hour chunk of time just for me. I can get caught up on things without being interrupted and for a SAHM that time is golden!
But over the last few weeks here and there things have been starting to change. I go to put Alyssa down and everything starts out great. I can totally tell that she's tired. She sometimes even has bags under her eyes to prove it. And then something strange happens. About 30 minutes after I've put her down, she'll either yell from her room or just come out of her room and announce that she's done taking her nap. The only problem with this is that she never actually took her nap in the first place. I proceed to tell her that she needs to go back and lay down. Crying ensues and she tries to convince me that she really doesn't need a nap. After an hour of so of her crying off and on and banging the wall next to her bed, I let her come out of her room and go back to playing with her toys.
But then I wonder to myself...Is this it? Could my faithful napper be done with naps for good? She is almost four already. Right now, as I type I hear a little person moving around in her bed, even though I "put her down" quite some time ago.
Maybe some of your Mamas out there can tell me about your experiences. What age was your child when they stopped taking naps? Any advice is welcome. I promise I'll try not to cry if you agree that this could be the end of naptime paradise...
7 comments:
Ha!!!! I love that last line about promising not to cry!! I don't think any of my girls were ever interested in taking naps, not even when they were infants. Somehow, they could manage to take little 10 minute naps and they'd be ready to go again, so I can't help you on this one! I know I sure would love a nap right about now! LOL
not much advice on my end. My girl was not a napper...and I didn't like that very much. She did sleep through the night though since a wee little baby. My boy on the other hand still naps up to 3 times a day...a morning, afternoon and late evening...BUT he still wakes up to eat at night...up to 2 times! HA!
I think it may be the end of nap time paradise...I so need naps every day at every moment! I often wonder how I function...or do I function...hahaha...my best to you my friend!
PS
Thank you for your comment. The truck was found but everything was taken...:-(
Stunt Man is on his last days of napping too, and I have to admit...I am dreading it. I need that block of time in the day for me too. i love that quiet time. I enjoy quiet. We have a very loud family, so quiet time is priceless. lOL
You may just have to start doing rest time and set the timer for her to stay in her room for a certain amount of time.
That is my only advice. Sometimes Stunt Man just watches a Bible man DVD for his quiet time and if I am lucky falls asleep in the process. Best of Luck..
Mimi
I wish I could help. My boys are inconsistent nappers & sleepers. If you can tell me how to get my 2 year old to bed before 10pm, I'd sure appreciate it. :)
I HAD A WONDERFUL 4 YEARS OF 1-4! THAT WAS MY TIME! NOW IT IS ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP THE TWO OLDEST FROM WAKING UP THE BABY DURING NAP TIME! GOOD LUCK!
We also do quiet time at our house. LeOra took naps until she was about 4 but I still did not want to give up on my quiet time. I started rest time where I put Mackinsie down for a nap, then give LeOra a stack of books and she stays in bed and reads until the music is up (usually Enya or some classical music). It works good for us and Mommy is always better after her rest time as well!
I think they go through stages. Caleb has been doing it lately...for a few weeks he'll nap great and sleep for a few hours and then for a few weeks after that he'll sit in his room and play for two hours and not go to sleep at all. DRive Me Crazy!!!!
Jacob on the other hand is closer in age(he's 5) and he doesn't regularly take a nap but if I can get him still for more than 10 mins he's out like a light. That tell me obviously that he still needs a nap but rarely takes one.
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