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naptime, how we miss thee
By heather | February 13, 2008
Someone, anyone with a child out there please tell me that at the tender age of 16 months, Alex is not done with taking naps.
(Crickets.)
Anyone?
Sleep habits in our house have always been somewhat erratic, except for Brett, who has the annoying ability to fall asleep any time, anywhere, any situation. For example, when the baby wakes up and just wants some company, Brett can go into his room carrying only a pillow, mumble a greeting, then resume sleeping on the floor without missing a snore.
The one time we decided to let Alex “cry it out” at 1am, I laid there as piercing, sad wails tore my skin off layer by layer. More than once I got up intending to scoop him up and comfort him like I was supposed to be doing - aaarrrrgggh. It was during one of those trips that I heard the peaceful snores of Daddy, who had fallen back asleep amid the screams as loud as sirens.
I on the other hand, am a chronic insomniac. I can usually fall asleep, but often find myself awake in the wee hours, thinking about painting over our fish, or work - which is funny, because I don’t think much about work when I’m at work.
Alex has sleep patterns that rotate and reset every 2 or 3 weeks. Last month, good naps and sleeping until 7am. We likee.
For the last two weeks, up at 6. On the dot. Every day. And not napping.
Yesterday he got up at 6, took a 40 minute snooze and stayed up until 7:30pm. And get this - he was happy. All day. I’m not happy all day when I get up at 6 and I’m not supposed to need naps.
I’ve become accustomed to taking naps on Saturday and Sunday when he does. That’s the only way I get through the week. But what if this sleep pattern doesn’t change over? And isn’t daylight savings time coming back around to bite me in the ass soon?
Oh my god. I can’t handle the thought of no more naps. Naptime come back! I need you!
Topics: baby firsts |
February 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
yeah…we lost the nap a few weeks ago. i’ve yet to recover.
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February 13th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I’m sure its just a phase. I hope and pray its just a phase.
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February 13th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I remember when we lost naptime. It was like losing religion only harder.
Hailey stopped napping at under a year. A few months later I started taking “medication”. Coincidence?
February 14th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
He isn’t done, keep being consistent and if he doesn’t go to sleep then he can have quiet time. Sometimes Andrew sits in there for a hour until he falls asleep. Don’t worry, there are some days they won’t nap.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
One word: earplugs. That is just one word right? I agree with the quiet time thing. I’ll give you some tips and tricks that we used. I’ll email them though as not to arouse any child service people.
February 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
My son went through this phase at 15/16 mos. I was so scared that he was giving up the sacred nap. Luckily it passed.
Now my 9 month old on the other hand rarely naps. Never has and sadly probably never will. That scares me.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Don’t give up! I think it’s just a phase and you should still put him down for his nap every day at the usual time. Some days he might play (or cry) in his crib and not nap, but I really think that babies his age still do (and are supposed to) nap. The V-meister only gave up her afternoon nap shortly after she turned three.
I hope you get some sleep soon!
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February 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Fun times! I remember as a single parent trying to get my daughter to take naps at this age. I would ask my son who was just 2 years older to lay in the room (twin beds) so that his sister would not be jealous, want to stay out and play. The room would be quiet from a distance. I would crack the door in 15 minutes or so and find my son, who did not want to go into the room, sound a sleep. Instead, my daughter would entertain herself with a doll or whatever she could find, but rarely ever fell asleep. They all are different and we love them soooo much. Good luck!