Nap obsessions?

[Tway]

For months now, I've been obsessing over DD's naps. At first it was about figuring out her naps, then it was about figuring out how to put her down, and now it's about getting her naps in at the right time. I even plan our days around her dang naps.

The problem is that I hesitate before doing anything new. We have a BBQ on Sunday, and already I'm trying to work out the math: DD goes down at 12, then up by 1, so we can get there by 2... she'll be good till 4, then I have to figure out how/where she can nap over there or else come home...

ARGH! I was hoping by 10 months I'd have left my obsessive-tendencies behind. It would be nice to just go with the flow and not try to control her sleep.

Anyone else got napping on the mind?

[Angelorum]

me! We used to have this nice little routine, I knew when he needed naps, how to put him down for one, and when he would wake up. Now, at 13 months, I have no idea! Sometimes he seems to need 2 naps, sometimes he's fine with 1, and the night sleep is terrible. Either we have an insanely late bedtime (after 11 pm) or he goes to bed early and wakes to play for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night. He wakes up in the morning at about the same time no matter what happened the night before. And he still wakes every 1-2 hours all night long. Mama is tired! And also expending a lot of energy thinking about naps.

[boatrat]

Nak

Anyone else got napping on the mind?

I'm the same way! IMO, part of my responsibility is to ensure quality sleep. One thing that helped for being out and about during naptimes was an ergo. Ds1 would take naps in there until he was over 2 yo. Hth.

[Tway]

DD will take her first nap at home or on the go. Not so much her second, though. I used to be able to put her down in the afternoon by walking around the park, but if that happens once every 2 weeks now, we're lucky. Unless she's nursed down in bed, she just seems to be able to go-go-go...

[munchymum]

Yep, I worry about being nap-obsessed. I plan my day so I can be at home for the nap. My DD is nearly 2 so she's only been taking one nap per day for several months now, and that makes things easier and a little more predictable. Back when she as having 3 naps a day it was really hard to make any plans at all. But I figured I had a choice - respect her need to nap and have a happy baby, or do what I wanted when I wanted and have a grizzly one. I guess it all depends on how easily you baby naps on the hoof.

I think it's kind to yourself to be home for naps as well. It's the only time I get to myself so I like to eat, read and generally relax. There's nothing worse than walking around with a sleeping baby on your back and getting home just as she wakes up, when all you want to do is sit down.

[MeredithK]

I am the same way. DS is not a good napper and I have the tendency to get really obsessed about naps. Like you, I am doing the math all the time.

But, lately, I'm starting to get a little bit better. DS has been refusing some of his naps over the last couple of months which has forced me to become more flexible.

DS only sleeps at home and only nurses down. So, that pretty much limits us.

When he started to refuse naps, I saw that he was a lot more adaptable then I thought he was. So, now, if for some reason, there is something that we really need to be at and it's going to make him miss a nap or take a nap later, I just go with it. He may get fussy or be a little unhappy, but mostly he has surprised me.

So, I say, go to the BBQ. Give the first nap as you stated. Then, see how she is doing. Maybe she'll be nice and distracted and won't seem sleepy. Maybe she'll fall asleep on you. Maybe you'll find a good place for her to nap. Maybe you'll end up going home. But, you won't know until you try. Use this BBQ as a good reason to try some new ways of thinking of naps.

Believe me, I know how hard it is. I'm trying to plan an play date and part of me just wants to cancel because I don't know when DS will nap. But instead, I'm going to work around it.

Good luck!

[Tway]

Originally Posted by MeredithK

Maybe she'll fall asleep on you.

That's exactly what she did. She got fussy, so I held her and gave her a paci, kissed her between the eyes so she'd close them, and Poof! She was out for her usual 40-minute nap--despite music, screaming kids, pool splashing, me chatting away, you name it.

More proof that I should go with the flow, cause DD will, too. But oh, how I still watch the clock...