I just said something really mean to get my child to nap...and it worked. FML

[gcgirl]

Yes. Over time, I have become the mean mommy to get my kid to sleep. He's been a lousy sleeper since birth - no rhythm, no signs of tiredness until it's too late, terrible behavior when he doesn't get enough sleep. He has trouble turning his brain off, which I get; I'm the same way. But the difference is, when I didn't get enough sleep as a child, I didn't cause trouble. I played by myself, read books, didn't bother people. He, OTOH, gets cranky, throws things,  hits people, makes an incredible amount of mess and can't even be talked to because his brain functions are essentially running on fumes at that point.

I will spare you the fol de rol of how we got here, but suffice to say, nowadays, I have to lock him in his room (baby gate) to get him to sleep. I NEVER EVER thought I would do that. I even thought negative things about people who did.

Today, after gently coaxing him down to bed (after reading and cuddling and turning off ALL the lights, he still didn't sleep, despite clearly needing to (droopy eye, glazed expression, unable to carry on a coherent conversation). 45 minutes later I told him if he didn't go to sleep right now I would tell Grandma not to bring over his birthday present.  

5 minutes later, he was asleep.

And I hate myself.

[Adaline'sMama]

Oh snap! Got him to sleep, right?



Its hard to deal with needing a break and having a crappy, whiny kiddo just because they are refusing a nap. Quit beating yourself up about it

[pianojazzgirl]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

Oh snap! Got him to sleep, right?

Its hard to deal with needing a break and having a crappy, whiny kiddo just because they are refusing a nap. Quit beating yourself up about it

[MountainMamaGC]

My DD recently started night waking and ending up in my room at 3 am. She kicks and ends up wedged in my spine, so I dont sleep well with her in my bed. I bribed her with halloween candy to stop a couple times, and now she stays in her own bed. I think she just had to train herself to fall back asleep. lol, it worked and I dont feel bad about it.

[Megan73]

I was horrified to learn our DCP tells our son - age three - that if he doesn't take a nap he won't get anything at snack time. I hate the idea of using food as a reward or a punishment. Then, however, I realized that she's getting him to nap and be a cheerful, well-rested kid instead of the whiny, overtired, miserable mess he is at home.
So yeah, it's mean. But it's probably worth it.

[swd12422]

I've BTDT too, in moments (yes, a few) of frustration b/c I just KNEW if he didn't nap the entire afternoon would be a flipping nightmare. One day I was just at the end of my rope, knew I needed some alone time to recharge, and realized he was NOT going to cooperate with naptime that day. I lost it, started screaming at him to go to sleep, and stormed out of the room. Not my best parenting moment. As soon as I was out of there, I calmed down, and of course realized quickly how wrong that reaction was, so I went in to apologize and he was asleep! (I apologized 3 1/2 hours later, when he woke up from the nap he claimed he didn't need.)

Similar happened the next day and a few more times. I didn't lose my temper again, but realized that he was pushing my buttons more and more until I'd get angry, then he'd hide his head and fall asleep. It was weird. So for a few days I nipped the yelling in the bud and went right for stern warnings at the beginning, and of course talked a lot about not liking to yell and yelling not being good for us. We also talked about how he needs to nap so his body can rest and grow big and strong, and that's why I was so hell-bent on getting him to rest. I told him he didn't have to sleep, but he needed to be quiet and still for 30 minutes so he could rest. He finally went back to napping on his own. It was strange, and stressful for me, and I hated feeling like I'd set this precedent where he NEEDED me to yell at him or he wouldn't cooperate, but it didn't last long at all, and he doesn't seem to be scarred for life. (He's now 4, and still naps, and goes in happily.)