An hour and a half into nap time and there was no napping going on. Forget about napping, I don't even think there was any laying down going on. I am pretty sure she just cried and yelled from a standing up position for the entire time, save from when I was in there attempting to get her to lay down.
At 2:30 I was fed up and stopped what I was doing, put on my coat and shoes and went upstairs and plucked her from her crib. She stopped yelling, but she was confused. We walked right out the door to my car. "Jacket?" she asked. I shook my head. "Socks?" she said, pointing to her bare feet (obviously having removed her socks during non-nap time). "Shoes?" she asked incredulously.
We drove to the Dunkin Donuts drive through. I got a caramel latte and turned around to go home. She was out.
I pulled into the driveway and promptly dropped the almost full latte onto the driveway. At least she was still sleeping.
When LP was AK's age I think I let her cry for the entire naptime until she fell asleep. I don't even think I attempted to get her to settle down. I am not sure why the change. I think it might have something to do with needing some peace and quiet. And to having some general sense of routine. I like to pick LP up early on my home days - a little after 3; which requires AK napping around 1.
Starting next week I will be sending both girls to day care on Mondays. I won't be going into the office, but I will be using the time to get work done and run errands. I am sure I will feel guilty, but damned if AK doesn't go down for her nap around 12:40 whenever she is at day care! They wear her out; I drag her around.
Time changes everything.
Showing posts with label nap time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nap time. Show all posts
Friday, March 12, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Miraculous
Today I am home with both of my daughters. LP has a cold, it is snowy out, and well, why do we need an excuse to huddle together, really?
Last time this happened on a week day, nap time was an issue. I am not saying we have everything worked out, but things are going more smoothly. After returning from an excursion to Stew's I let them both know it was nap time. I reminded them that we had purchased popcorn as the 3 o'clock snack and if they wanted some they would have to nap.
First, I put AK in her crib and left her to try and relax while I read LP a book and told her a story. Nor surprisingly, LP still wasn't sleeping. I told her that she could play quietly in her room during nap time and she agreed.
I then went into AK's room to settle her down.
A few minutes later I heard LP open her door and steal out of her room. I wasn't sure if she knew I was in AK's room and hoped that she wasn't looking for me. Fortunately, she wasn't. Instead I heard her walk to the bathroom, turn on the light, slide the door shut and use the potty. And then wash her hands. And then return to her room and shut the door. Quietly. Without even saying a word.
When I finally managed to put AK down, I crept down the stairs. A moment later, I heard LP's footsteps and thought, "Uh-oh..."
I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to report that she said, "Mommy, I am going to nap in my chair." I gave her the thumbs up. However, seconds later, she was back at the top of the stairs, "Mommy, when I close my door with my flat hands and not the handle, it doesn't close all the way." I let her know that she didn't have to close the door.
Now it is silent. And I am not complaining.
Last time this happened on a week day, nap time was an issue. I am not saying we have everything worked out, but things are going more smoothly. After returning from an excursion to Stew's I let them both know it was nap time. I reminded them that we had purchased popcorn as the 3 o'clock snack and if they wanted some they would have to nap.
First, I put AK in her crib and left her to try and relax while I read LP a book and told her a story. Nor surprisingly, LP still wasn't sleeping. I told her that she could play quietly in her room during nap time and she agreed.
I then went into AK's room to settle her down.
A few minutes later I heard LP open her door and steal out of her room. I wasn't sure if she knew I was in AK's room and hoped that she wasn't looking for me. Fortunately, she wasn't. Instead I heard her walk to the bathroom, turn on the light, slide the door shut and use the potty. And then wash her hands. And then return to her room and shut the door. Quietly. Without even saying a word.
When I finally managed to put AK down, I crept down the stairs. A moment later, I heard LP's footsteps and thought, "Uh-oh..."
I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to report that she said, "Mommy, I am going to nap in my chair." I gave her the thumbs up. However, seconds later, she was back at the top of the stairs, "Mommy, when I close my door with my flat hands and not the handle, it doesn't close all the way." I let her know that she didn't have to close the door.
Now it is silent. And I am not complaining.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Magic Elixir
Several of my friends are in the process of "Ferberizing" their infants. I always felt so lucky that AK would just go to bed without a fuss. Sure, sometimes she falls asleep while nursing, but more likely that not, she just gets a nice buzz going from it and lays quietly in her crib until she falls asleep.
And then there is nap time.
When at day care, it is unusual if AK, the amazing crawling wonder, takes more than one nap. And typically her one rest is in the morning (10:30-12:15 or so). This is so strange to me, especially since she wakes up at 8.
On Mondays and Fridays it doesn't seem possible that she will nap that early. If we are out running errands she might fall asleep in the car around that time, but at home she will just freak out if I put her down at 10:30.
What ends up happening is that I attempt to put her down after lunch. She wants none of it. Screaming, crying, etc. Which is really unlike her. So it kills me a little bit every time.
I know that if I nurse her for just a few minutes she will calm down and go to sleep. But if it isn't time for her to nurse, I don't want to get her into the habit of only getting drowsy at the boob. Today I tried to ignore her cries, I really did. But after 15 minutes of listening to her cry and 15 minutes of holding her until her eyebrows stopped being bright red and her tears dried up, she was still exhausted and still not sleeping.
So I whipped out my magic elixir (also known as baby crack). Less than a minute later her eyes clouded over and I transitioned her to the crib.
I should totally sell my stuff on eBay.
And then there is nap time.
When at day care, it is unusual if AK, the amazing crawling wonder, takes more than one nap. And typically her one rest is in the morning (10:30-12:15 or so). This is so strange to me, especially since she wakes up at 8.
On Mondays and Fridays it doesn't seem possible that she will nap that early. If we are out running errands she might fall asleep in the car around that time, but at home she will just freak out if I put her down at 10:30.
What ends up happening is that I attempt to put her down after lunch. She wants none of it. Screaming, crying, etc. Which is really unlike her. So it kills me a little bit every time.
I know that if I nurse her for just a few minutes she will calm down and go to sleep. But if it isn't time for her to nurse, I don't want to get her into the habit of only getting drowsy at the boob. Today I tried to ignore her cries, I really did. But after 15 minutes of listening to her cry and 15 minutes of holding her until her eyebrows stopped being bright red and her tears dried up, she was still exhausted and still not sleeping.
So I whipped out my magic elixir (also known as baby crack). Less than a minute later her eyes clouded over and I transitioned her to the crib.
I should totally sell my stuff on eBay.
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