I recently decided that I was going to reinstate nap time with CamCam. Everyday he starts to fall apart soon after lunch. By 3PM I find myself wishing that I had put him in for a nap earlier, but by then it’s too late. He’d be up all night if he went in at 3. So I started feeding him an earlier lunch, and bringing him up to his bed a little after noon.
The first time I did this, CamCam fell asleep very quickly. One o’clock is when “The Baby” goes in for his nap. Suddenly I had two hours with just one kid up. I was amazed at the amount I was able to accomplish!
It really was making a huge difference in the rest of CamCam’s day. He woke up refreshed, and the number of afternoon meltdowns was greatly reduced.
Obviously this is being met with great resistance. And with each passing day, the resistance is growing. CamCam kept coming out of his room and saying he didn’t want to go to bed. I finally came up with a solution to this as well. All morning I do laundry, and as it comes out of the dryer, I throw it into the hallway, which also happens to be right outside CamCam’s room. Then, during his nap time, I sit there and fold laundry. The first time I did this, he was pretty shocked to slyly open his door and peek out, only to see me sitting there already.
However, CamCam must get the final word in. I can put him into bed. I can make him stay in his room. But he says he “Don’t wanna go bed!” and he’s sticking to that.
Ooohhhhh...I remember the days of naps (my ruggers are 4 and 7) and now that neither kids naps, weekends seem mighty lllloooonnnnggg sometimes! Great blog! Love your header. Thanks for stopping by my blog too :)
ReplyDeleteHe is cute! I have a love hate relationship with naps. My son napped FOREVER...until he started school. Both of my daughters gave up napping at 2. Now Toots is at that stage where if she doesn't take a nap she is special all afternoon, but if she does, she doesn't fall asleep at night until 11pm!
ReplyDeletewe LOVE love naptime here and have always had at least 1, thankfully my sweets will grab her lovey bunny and crawl into the rocker for me to rock her to sleep and then proceeds to sleep for 2-3 hours..not in my arms of course but in her crib, i don't know what i'd do w/o that time in the day.....we'll see how long this lasts, she turns 2 in Oct.
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