dilemma...
It has now been about ten days since we took Brooke's pacifiers away (technically, she "gave" them to us). It has been a rough time. She has finally been able to get herself to sleep at night without them, and sleeps without waking up and crying for them. That is a huge victory. BUT...naptimes are still a huge battle. Right now she is sleeping (I think), but it is the first nap she has taken all week. Sometimes she'll fall asleep for 15 or 20 minutes, but then she's up and won't nap any more.
She is just over 2 years old, I'm definitely not ready for her to give up naps yet! She is also still in a crib, so she can't go anywhere during that time. For that reason I just leave her in the crib for a while during naptime. She usually just talks and plays, but whatever she does usually involves some loud shouting and talking. This makes it hard for me to get anything done or to rest just because it is so annoying! And I'm always afraid that she'll wake Hailey up since she's right next door.
So I am having this dilemma about what to do. I really don't want to give the pacifiers back, but I'm wondering if she'll ever learn to fall asleep for a nap again without them? Will she just get used to not taking naps anymore? Last night she was up way later than usual, so maybe that is why she seems to be napping today. So maybe I just need to have her sleep less at night to keep the daytime nap.
Anyone out there have any advice? How old were your kids when they gave up naps completely? Any thoughts about how to get her to settle down for naps?
All of this is worse right now because I have not been sleeping well at all at night. My back pain is really flaring up and the only way I can sleep without pain is to sleep sitting up. That only allows me to doze off and on as it is not very comfortable. I could REALLY use some quiet during the day so that I can try to get some rest, too!
I did finally join the YMCA, which will help, I can do the water fitness and yoga/pilates classes that really help my back. I have been missing those classes terribly since I no longer work at VillaSport.
Well, hopefully I'll have some progress to report in this area next time! Thanks for your thoughts/prayers/ideas on this!
6 comments:
I don't know if this will be an encouragement or discouragement, but here it goes... Jenna did nap regularly for about 6 months after Sophie was born. I think she did okay for a month or so and then she just stopped. I had to move her back into a pack and play, from her toddler bed, just to keep her confined. I was determind as well that it was too early to give up naps. She stopped napping a few months after she turned three. If I were you I would stay strong on the passie. Give her a few books in her bed and ask her to be quiet for you and for the baby. Maybe you could even call it quiet time instead of nap time. That might not make a difference, but it could. Turn on noise machines or box fans in her room, yours and the baby's and know that this too will pass. :) I very much remember these times, desperately needing a nap and not being able to get one because of an active toddler. You are doing a good job.
Thanks, Corrie, for your insight! I appreciate it and will continue to try to make this work. I am glad to see that this, too, will pass! :)
Hey there, I am so sorry about this... it is so hard. My back has been out for over a week now and it stinks! So I am feeling your pain, I couldn't even pick up Jasper.
My kids are thumb suckers and by the grace of God we just told Eli to stop at around 3 or3.5 and he stopped. Jasper didn't suck anything until 1 week before he turned 1 and decided to suck his thumb... so weird. Now he sucks it just to sleep and when he is tired.
Now Eli is 4.5 and STILL takes a nap. I love it. He sleeps for 2-3 hours a day. And jasper just dropped his morning nap and sleeps for about 3 hours in the afternoon or longer. We did babywise and so they are used to their crib/bed and just lay there until I get them.
I would agree with the previous post and NOT give in... you can do it. I know it doesn't seem that way especially when you are tired, but if she is fine in her crib, just leave her there. Many families I know who have dropped nap time, still have "quiet or rest time" where the kids have to be on there bed for 1-2 hours and they can read or do something quietly and every time they get mom or make noise, they have 5 minutes added to their time (unless it is an emergency). So, don't get sad about loosing this time, make it happen and you will get to keep it :)
hope this helps... it is so hard with a newborn. I understand. Jasper is 18 months and I am still feeling the newborn stages at time with his constant need of attention because he is always in things he shouldn't be.
hugs from afar
i took away ryan's passie, and he found his thumb instead. sigh. he's 4.5 now, and still sucking it. both my 'big kids' still have 'quiet time' at while the little ones nap in the afternoon.
I don't have any advice. But, I will pray! I guess, I would say, do what feels right...whatever that is. Follow the insticts God has given you as a momma... That is the best advice I ever got. ;)
Praying! You are doing GREAT!!
http://www.ruththemom.com/2009/01/no-cry-nap-solution.html
I thought of you when I read this! Ruth, the blogger who wrote the post, is one of my best friends. :)
thanks, all, for your insight and advice on this! I posted an update to our situation on the blog today. I hope that we are back in the groove of naptime! Yay! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for us!!
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