Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Monday Mom – Neetika:

Last week was really tough.

Haley decided that she just wasn’t going to nap. No, thank you. Not interested. The only way she would nap is if she napped on me. When she was younger, I wouldn’t have minded. I even enjoyed the break from running after her. Having a few moments to rest and read the news on my cell phone wasn’t the worst thing in the world. However, Haley is now down to one nap, which in theory should be several hours long. To make matters worse, she’s been waking up earlier in the mornings, too. By the end of the day, I am really exhausted.

I did some research about this and I’m fairly certain that this nap strike is caused by separation anxiety. Apparently at Haley’s age (17 months), there are also several developmental leaps that can cause sleep disruptions. Like so many issues that pop up during childhood, it’s “just a phase.” But even if you know it’s a “just a phase,” it feels endless when you are in it.

All week I’ve been holding Haley for her naps, and she seems to be doing well since she’s actually getting some sleep. Another option would be to just allow her to refuse her nap and put her to bed really early. However, I find that route inconvenient and she just gets too fussy without daytime rest.

I don’t know if there’s a light at the end of the tunnel or not. My main concern is that developmentally, Haley will get over her separation anxiety and she will be back to normal—but she will be so accustomed to be being held because I have set up a bad habit. So this week, I’m going to take some action. I’ve created a game plan. I am going to attempt to put her in the crib and stay in the room, but not hold her. I know she is going to cry a lot, but hopefully me being present will calm her enough to where she can fall asleep. And then maybe I can slip out and get some mommy time. Wish me luck!

From Monday Mom – Neetika
Who doesn’t love a nap? I know if someone came to me in the middle of day and said, “Why don’t you stop whatever it is you’re doing, lie down, and rest for a while?” I would certainly accept the offer. Babies tend to disagree! There is just too much fun stuff going on and they don’t want to miss it.

As I type this, I am standing at my laptop, which is on our bar. I’m wearing the baby carrier, and Haley is snoozing soundly as I make a constant “shushing” sound. Luckily this brand of carrier (Ergo) is not that rough on my back, but ultimately I will grow tired. “Nap when the baby naps”? I don’t think so!

After a major sleep regression followed by sleep training (extinction), Haley sleeps really well at night. I had read that two different parts of the brain control daytime sleep and nighttime sleep, and I now believe that is very much the case. Haley really has the ability to “put herself back to sleep” at night whenever she stirs. During the day, she startles and is soon wide-awake if I try to put her in the crib. Many of my fellow mamas tell me they also use the baby carrier, car seat or their arms to get baby to nap. There is simply no other way, they say. But I am determined to get this baby napping in a crib!

I don’t want to push things, though, since night sleeping is going so well. My pediatrician even implied that Haley might not sleep as well at night if she gets better, more restful sleep during the day. Well, Haley is going on 7 months now, so who knows. Maybe I will get lucky and naps will be one of those issues that figures itself out.

Ever since Jack was born, his daddy and I have had him on a pretty solid routine.  Keeping up with the feedings, changings, naps, etc.  was like clockwork.  We went from two naps a day down to one and at that point I felt free. I was able to have the entire morning to do errands, exercise or meet for playgroups.   He would sleep a good 2-3 (even 4 hours at times) in the afternoon.  It was probably the best thing EVER!

Over the last several weeks he has been fighting his naps.  Selfishly, I look forward to nap time so I can have a break and relax, or get things done around the house without little fingers in the way.  He is an early riser, so getting that extra sleep during the day makes for a much more pleasant evening.  Lately, around lunch time Jack will tell me that he isn’t napping for the day.  I told him how the more we rest the better we feel.  I know eventually these naps will go away, but being pregnant and having a baby on the way just seems like the worst time for this to happen.  Now that the weather is beautiful outside, Jack and I have been taking advantage of it and playing as much as we can outdoors.  You would think all that extra burnt energy would make him extra sleepy.  The only guarantee to get him to sleep is riding around in the car.

The other approach I took was to let him play or read books in his room and enjoy some quiet time, hoping eventually he would fall asleep.  He isn’t a big fan of that unless I am in the room with him.  Usually one day a week his lack of sleep will catch up and he will be out cold for a few hours.

Around what age did your children end their naps?  I know the time is coming, and I will have to figure something out.  Soon he will start school and that will be a whole new schedule for him to get used to.  He has been having more meltdowns in the evening, and I know it’s due to lack of sleep.  Hopefully, we can come up with a plan to satisfy both of our needs.  Any suggestions are welcome!