Naps - Rock City Falls, NY

Hey Allison- it's always tough for mom to get in a new routine- I know I always hated the changes, but the long afternoon nap was a good one, I liked getting together with friends in the AM and then doing my work in the afternoon or just reading a good book. I also had to go to doing some of my cleaning first thing when I woke up with the kids around or watching a cartoon. Good Luck!!

I feel your pain. My son (now 20 mos) dropped his a.m. nap at one year old, and life has been pretty hectic since! His morning nap was great- I used that time to shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, you know, so that I could look like a human being! Now I have to do all that stuff with him attached to my leg. Sometimes, on rare occasions, he will take a morning nap, but usually he doesn't go down until after lunch time.

I hope you are finding ways to give yourself a break. Sometimes I put Brendan in his crib just to rest- even if he doesn't nap. He'll look at books and just lay with his blankie. It's good for them to take "down time" and it's important for you. I'm not a huge advocate of TV but sometimes I pop in a video for him so that I can get some laundry done and tidy up, or start dinner. We all need breaks! Do you have any teenagers that live in the area? Hire a "mothers helper" for one afternoon a week so that you can take a breather and get some things done.

Don't feel guilty about putting her in the crib for 30 minutes or turning the TV on in the morning for some downtime. I have found that many of my friends are well-rested because they have nannies and cleaning ladies, but what about the ones who can't afford those luxuries? We are overworked! :) I'll try to think of some other suggestions for you.

Hope this helps!
Lynsey

Hey Alison,

One nap a day is normal for this age group. At my daycare we feed the children lunch at 11:30 and they go down for a nap at twelve and usually sleep for 2-3 hours. She should be ready for her nap by then, she may be getting overtired and that is why she is so tough. I would try also to put her to bed by 7 the latest. She could be cranky from not getting enough sleep. Despite what we think sometimes an earlier bedtime can make them sleep longer and have a much more restful sleep. Its worth a try. Even if you make the change gradual by 15 minutes earlier each day until you get her an earlier bedtime. I know its a long day but if you can get her to take the one long nap it may give you a nice long break in the afternoon. There is nothing wrong with putting her in the playpen with toys while you get things done. Even if she protests at least she is safe. One other suggestion is I would alternate the toys so she does not get bored. I would leave only certain toys in the playpen so when she goes in daily they will be new to her. If you have to hide some toys and then rotate them every few weeks it should hold her attention a little longer. My son was high maintenance so I know what you mean it is a tough, long, day. It will get better as she adjusts to her new sleep schedule. Good luck!!

What do you mean you "go from 6-7 am until 1 and then nap, and are beat by then"? At 16 months she should be able to play by herself, while you do some laundry or dishes. You dont need to physically entertain her 24/7. Relax on the couch and enjoy watching her play. Ask her where her baby is and make up little games for her. Tell her to take her baby for a walk around the house. Put a couple of cereal boxes on a kitchen chair and send her shopping. Kids love make believe.
Figure out what time is best for both of you to nap and then plan your day around it.

Wow, Alison! You are describing my son to the letter! He, too, is up at 6 am and sometimes only gives me an hour nap a day, so I completely understand just how exhausted you are! Your daughter sounds just as active as my son--which adds to the exhaustion. Sadly, I have no advice. I don't think there is any really--I guess we just have to tough it out. Hopefully, we won't go insane in the meantime!! I was beginning to think I had the only kid on the planet that would only sleep 10 minutes in the car too--which makes long trips to see Grandma just hair-pulling. Personally, I can't wait until the warmer weather gets here. Experienced parents keep telling me that once he gets outside during the day to play more, his naps will improve. Let's hope they're right about that!
Good luck, sweetie!
-T

Alison,
I don't know when you lost your 2nd nap, but it sounds like it is only recently. I understand your sense of loss. However, you are lucky, in my estimation. :) My son lost his months ago (17.8 mos).

You sound like you are doing fine - she is napping when she is tired, which is better than letting her cry it out if she is not tired.

I agree, the 10 minute naps are the worst. Best for him. Worst for me.

Sometimes, when she wakes, you can cradle her and get her back to sleep by rocking her. Some say this is pampering/spoiling her. I say this is sanity for him AND me.

Good luck!
M.

Alison,
At this age, one nap a day is the norm. I wouldn't put her into her crib to keep her occupied while you mop the floor or do other chores, I wouldn't let the crib be a play area or a time out area or anything other than a sleep area. If you need to keep her contained, I'd use a pack n play/playpen or baby gate her into a safe area. You need to nap your toddler when she needs the sleep, not when you need a break. Often when kids go to one nap a day, the nap gets a little earlier, so often an early lunch and napping at 12:00 or 12:30. Your daughter isnt' a tough child, she is hitting normal milestones for this age, which means napping once a day and not anytime mom wants to put her down to get something done or to have a break.
Good luck

Hi Alison, I can understand how tired you are but you can only work around your baby. There is little hope in trying to plan because each day is different. Plans need to be flexable and subject to change. By the time my first was 16 months I had another child. I not only survived but I went on to raise 5 children. You will get through this... just don't try to control,you will only get frustrated. My best, Grandma Mary

Try and get an time inbetween the 2 naps if possible. My son, now 3, naps at about 1pm but only in the last 6 months. Before that from ages 12 months to 2.5 years we did naptime at 12 noon (give or take up to 30 min.) before about a year he did 2 naps 10:30 or 11 am and again around 4 pm. Missing naptime or getting 10 min in the car are the worst! I finally got the hang of planning around it...then had another baby. Many times I planned outings so he would have an hour or so to nap in the car (or an hour each way) or we would leave someplace near bedtime with him in PJs and having had that bedtime bottle.

My son was the same he woke at 5 am and went to bed at 6 pm from the time he turned 18 mths. He is 3 and a half and has the same schedule!

If you are at home start getting her used to staying in her own room with the lights dimmed. Either in her crib with a couple of her fav. toys or wherever she is comfy.

This way even if she does not sleep she gets to have quiet time. She may resis but persevere. She will cry a couple of times, go into her room and sit with her but do not respond to her. Say it is quiet time Mommy cannot talk and then after she is calm leave.

Repeat until she is used to playing quietly for an hour or so.

I would try doing lunch and nap a little earlier like another mom suggested 11-11:30 and then nap at 12. This worked for my daughter until 18-20 months then it slowly started getting a little later now at 23 months she goes down between 1 and 2 for an hr, hr and a half and still 11-12 hrs at night. I always had to avoid being in the car around nap time or she would take a 10 minute snooze and couldn't go back to sleep and that made for a horrible rest of the day for both of us!

Eating lunch at 11 and napping at 11:30, 12:00 sounds right to me for her age.