Monday, June 18, 2012

The Nap Dilemma

Say it isn't so. I'm not ready to cut this proverbial cord. The weaning of the one and only afternoon nap. So Braden is 2 years and 4.5 months old, if we want to be exact. Normally he naps from about 1-3 every afternoon still. Sometimes after a lot of hullabalu in our life, he'll go on a 3 day nap strike but then happily get back into the napping cycle. Well, the problem now isn't the napping. In fact, he's been napping great. He had two 2.5 hour naps last week. BUT....(and it is a big but)....that meant not falling asleep until after 9 o'clock both those nights. I know that is *the* tell tale sign that most kids are ready to give up their afternoon nap. Both of those days he did have later naps and woke up at 4:15 and 4:30...so I think I will try to put him down between 12-1 to see if that helps so he's up between 2-3, but if not, I think it's so long and farewell, my dear 2-hours-of-toddler-free-time in the afternoon.


Haven't done one of these in awhile. Chilly, rainy night! Sleepy boy!

It is nice that on a day like Friday, when we went to the mall, that he can tolerate being up and about all day without *needing* to have a nap every.single.day. Not only that, but tolerating it as well. Not getting 100% cranky pants on us, only about 30% cranky pants! I know it won't be a cold-turkey nap stopping, there will probably still be 2 or 3 days a week where he will nap, and boy will I cherish those days. He's a great, great kid...but man do I ever enjoy my free time in the afternoon...I think we all do! I do plan on having Quiet Time though, after lunch still. I'll tell him he has to stay in his room until Mommy comes to get him. He can have a nap, read his books, or play with his trains. Yup, his train table is in his room and he does fabulously with it in there.

So, I guess we'll see how this next week pans out. Wish us luck. I'm not ready for this milestone. Someone hold me!
Sarah

8 comments:

  1. Good luck!!! Evie still naps but also has a 45 minute quiet time in the afternoon. This keeps her from losing her shizz around 6 pm and she is happy until 8 at bedtime!

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    1. Yes, when the nap days don't happen, there will be an hour quiet time every afternoon. He has his train table and lots of books in his room so he'll be very happy.

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  2. Ah! Hubby and I were just talking about that today. I love naps! I love to nap when G naps! No naps = scary! :/

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    1. I know! Every kid is different! Some finish at 18 months or younger and some still nap when they're 4!

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  3. Ugh I hated when Xander dropped his nap. It happened way sooner than I was ready for it. Now the only time he falls asleep is when we are in the car later in the day which turns into a 3 hour nap and wanting to stay up very late. Good luck!

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    1. Haha yes, it's a blessing and a curse the car seat naps, hey? Braden very rarely has a car seat nap.

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  4. My BIL/SIL stopped naps for both of their kids before they were each 2, scares me! I like the quite time but lexie turns into a terror at 530-6 without one, we're dealing with starting bedtime at 8 and usually crashing between 9-10 :(

    I love the idea of quiet time, when I baby sat as a teen one family did that and it was great, they did it all the way up until the kids were in middle school lol

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    1. Uggh, before 2 is way too young for me, but sometimes it's not up to the parents! We have to do the quiet time for sure, more so for me than for him!

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