She sleeps great through the night. That used to be an issue, but we got that taken care of and she goes to bed great and sleeps through the night.
It's the nap. Naps are tough. I did the cry it out thing at night...and that worked. But for naps, she has the determination of a 2.5 year old with the development of a, perhaps, 10 month old. If I do the cry it out method for a nap, she can be in there for hours. Seriously. Do I let her stay in there all day? That just seems cruel to me. Or maybe I should just tough it out longer. I mean, she'll eventually stop taking naps all together anyway. But, I know she can do it. We've had periods of wonderful napping. Anyway. That's all. It'll all get figured out. In the meantime --
Get out there and vote!
If you haven't done so already, be prepared to wait in some lines.
It'll be worth it.
If you haven't done so already, be prepared to wait in some lines.
It'll be worth it.
13 comments:
Even though Amy is a bit younger than Samantha, she has had her days of fighting naps. If she's crying (screaming is more like it), I just get her out and let her play some more. In a few hours she's then ready to take a nap. Some days she's gone without a nap, but she was back to normal napping soon. You'll get through it. I think kids just go in phases where they don't want to nap - even though that's frustrating to the parents.
I've given up on Maggie having a nap, but since Sammy is still in a crib and not climbing out of it and running away, I would just put Sammy down for an hour, try to take some time for yourself while she's screaming and if she's awake at the end of the hour, then get her out. If she's asleep then good. Either way you tried to help her get some rest.
thanks! i like that idea. put her down for a bit, and if not, oh well. i just need to not stress about it probably. thanks.
Holy cow, where have I been! Four or five new posts--yikes! Halloween did done me in this year. I wonder if you put something in Sammy's bed that is warm and snuggly like you, she might not mind so much. I don't know--also, Peter really liked sound machines and other music. We would play a sound machine of birds singing at night and then at naptime, it just conked him out--I guess they associate it. Later on we got him one of those Fisher Price toys that attach to the side of the crib. It has low lights and three different kinds of music and other things to play with--so he would play with it for a while but the music would just put him out. He had to have that playing to sleep at night for quite a while. I think that particular toy was $25 but it was worth every blessed cent. I personally love the melodies on it.
Let me just say....my 2 year-old and 4 year-old don't nap anymore and it's been that way for a while...they do however go to bed at 7 and sleep till 7 to make up for it. They act as though they need sleep during the day sometimes but it's such a battle...and they wake up crabby...etc. So, I wouldn't force it...some kids stop napping early....but I don't know Sammy like you do...anyway good luck.
I just have to say try try try not to give up on the naps. I really like that idea that someone had about letting her cry for an hour while you have your own time then maybe eventually she will give in and start taking naps! Try to do it every day at the same time so she knows it is coming. And if she doesn't ever take a nap then maybe you can put some toys in her crib and she can play with those for an hour. Then she will learn that mommy needs an hour for herself. Oh I feel the pain. i am so sorry! I am afraid I might have to try some of these tricks on Madilyn someday.
~by the way I voted!!! Don't you love election time! I am getting excited to stay up late and watch the results!!!
Greta quit taking daily naps even though she needed them - it made me crazy! I finally decided that if she doesn't take a nap, she just doesn't. It makes it hard by the end of the day and I'm REALLY ready for bedtime, but if I don't plan on the nap time, it makes it easier. Now she takes a nap sometimes and not others. It's a tossup. When she doesn't nap she sleeps better at night. Anyway...I like Heidi's music idea and Teri's idea about letting her play longer. But it's hard, huh? Every kid is so different! Would she fall asleep and stay asleep if you took her for a quick drive?
I have the same problem with linc. I use a sound machine and it usually soothes him enough to let him relax and fall asleep, but I also like the idea of putting her in the crib for a while and doing something for a while. I do that and usually he doesn't fall asleep. but at least I am relaxed enough after that to deal.
Sophie is way younger so maybe this won't apply, but lately I've been singing Primary songs to her. She used to sleep fine, but then her teeth were coming in and she wouldn't take a nap unless I held her and sang while I rocked her to sleep. So... probably more so a 9-month-old thing, but I found that singing calmed me down too.
Every once in a while Christopher goes for a week w/o a nap and I tell myself he's done w/naps, but then the next week he acts like he needs one and takes one. On days he doesn't take naps I make sure to take him to a park to run around. And he has alone time in his room for at least an hour (if he falls asleep, great.) Maybe you could try telling her: first we eat lunch, then we read books, then we take a nap. When nap time is done we get to.... This works with Christopher, who knows, Samantha might like to know the schedule of the day too.
I completely agree w/ Stephanie! Singing hymns has always been helpful for us. I also found rubbing Savannah's back while singing helps her to relax. I only do this for the duration of one hymn, or the equivelant to 3 verses, then I leave the room but stay in her sight. (Of course it helps to have a really little house to do this.) :)
If you can't be in her sight when out of her room, try sitting across the room from her. Try not to have any interaction with her. Read a book or do something that appears mundane or uninteresting to her. After a relaxing song and back rub, Savannah will usually dose off while watching me be boring.
Of course, this is coming from a mother of (currently) one. I'm sure to change my tune once the nameless one shows up. ;p
I'm assuming Callie naps at the same time? If not, perhaps Samantha thinks she'll miss out on something?
Whatever you decide to do, Good Luck!
So you already have lots of good advice but I thought I would add my 2 cents... My 4 year old has been growing out of his naps for a while and he even goes through several months where he does not take a nap but then will get back in the habit when he goes through his next growth spurt or starts preschool--something to wear him out so I am glad that I keep him in the habit. With him, I call it a rest and not a nap. He has to lap down and often he drinks a sippy of milk and I give him a time like 4 minutes but really about a hour. Many other comments here said you need the hour which I totally agree with but in Elliott's case and I think Samantha's too, she needs to hour of break. If Elliott doesn't take a nap, than I actually encourage him to watch TV so that he is getting down time. It makes a difference in his behavior later in the day. Even with a nap he still sleeps the same at night so I know he needs it. I like the idea of toys, music, or books in her bed while she is taking her rest. And then if she falls asleep good. Good luck!
Derek turns 3 in December, and he naps maybe 4 days/week. Might try waking her up earlier, so she is more tired at nap time. If she's determined to not nap, then you probably can't force it.
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