Naptime
Ugh!
I'm kind of flipping out here. I'm afraid that my 3yo twins are working themselves up into giving up their nap. they've been great sleepers so far, usually a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, then down by 7 and up at 6am.
Thing is- I hate the idea of losing that time I have alone and blissfully quiet. Especially now that they are super whiny, tantrum-throwing three year olds. Selfish, I know. But dag howdy... even an 8 hour day feels pretty long right now!
Any suggestions? Thoughts? we don't have any insurance right now, so drugs(for me!) are probably not an option. 
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Oh, wow. My kid gave up naps completely right around his second b-day, so I'd say you've had a pretty good run! I know it sucks to lose that quiet time everyday, but I really don't think there's much you can do. If they are ready to quit naps then you can't make them keep taking them. But you could maybe make it "quiet" time for a couple of hours in the afternoon, where they have to play quietly in their room during that time. I don't know, I didn't really do anything differently when he stopped, just went with it. But I also didn't have two to deal with, so you're in a whole different boat than I!
I'm guessing the transition could be rough, no matter how good the outcome is...so hope one of these helps:
1) take turns with partner (or friend or someone) to have time one or 2 days a week or on alternate weeks for a while?
2) definitely agree with bleu(sorry i can't recall your full screen name, I hope that's right!) that instigating 'quiet time' is a great idea - it's not going to hurt them to learn that mama needs some quiet time too.
3) regular outing at that time?
4) Ummm...oh yeah this is difficult. Can you find one or two nights a week that you reclaim as yours (no chores, no people-time unless that's what you want)?? Or get a day off on the weekend (again, this depends on a partner or family person/friend being around....i don't know if you have a partner or not).
5) Any external care options?
I hope there's something they can do together that takes some of the burden off you being involved with their play lots. They're old enough to have regular swim classes and stuff I guess??
anyway, hang in there! hope it's not as tough as you're anticipating.
When mine started threatening to give up the naps that kept me sane, I signed them up for karate and got them bicycles. An hour of bicycling or karate a day kept them napping for an extra year.
When they got to the point that they could bicycle or karate AND still remain napless, then I had to admit defeat. Of course, that was only three months before the first one went to kindergarten, so the timing was perfect.
Good luck!
Glamorous
Memory is a crazy woman that hoards colored rags and throws away food. ~Austin O'Malley
wow. my kids were tag-teaming me from the get-go....probably explains why I'm so crazy now.
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius"--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
my kid didn't want to sleep in the middle of the day, so we just made her bedtime earlier. no big whoop. it was an hour extra quiet time in the evenings.
My personal vote is for Kindergarten or Day Care. DD gave up napping right after her second birthday and I started working one year later but it was only one child at that time that needed me and I could bear it. With two I might have gone insane. As a day caretaker I need the lunch rest from 1 to 2:30 or even 3:00 PM. Anything else is horrible... And I DO love my daycare children, really.
...the lover, the dreamer, and me (Jim Henson)
oops, double post. Maybe it was a bit too much white wine (therefor the problems with the keyboard...)...
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