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.
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!
