Thursday, March 6, 2008

The great nap debate.

Charlotte is getting to the age where it is harder and harder to get her to lay down for a nap. Yesterday it was impossible. By suppertime she was a basket case and collapsed into bed a full hour and a half earlier than she usually does. She was up at her normal time this morning. I am in the midst of a battle with her to stay in bed as I type this.

I am wondering if I should let her win and keep going with the earlier bed time? Is sacrificing a break for me in the afternoon worth my while to have more adult time in the evening?

7 comments:

April said...

My sister-in-law just went through the exact same thing. She's really enjoying the extra adult time in the evening, even though its a long stretch during the day. Plus, with no nap they have no trouble at all getting her little boy to bed--due to exhaustion! (like you said).

Tara said...

I am having the same problem with Maya. What I have been trying is making her nap every 2 or 3 days instead. This way she still catches up on some sleep. Some days she is so exhausted I find her sleeping on the couch, and amazingly, in her bed all by herself. I am not able to get her to bed earlier in the evening though because she wants to be like her older siblings.(They go to bed at 8:30pm). I find this works for us right now.

kitten said...

KB went through that. I went with the going to bed early. It made my life easier. Good luck and hope it works out for your good. Sometimes it takes a while to get use to change.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. Momma is better. She is on Home Health Care. Next week will be her last.. (They only put her on for 3 weeks) We have a nurse that comes 2 days and a Therapist 2 days, but they only stay about an hour and we have to stay the rest. I’m not really sure she will be able to stay alone after her time is up, but maybe I wont have to stay as much.
I sure have missed along with many others.

Mommy Jo said...

I'm just glad am not the only one on the planet earth having nap issues! I like the 2 to 3 days a nap theory.

O the joys of parenthood!

Heather said...

I regret to say that I have had these problems and that I gave into to my children each time. I let them sleep when they are tired, but don't make them when they aren't. It makes for some very long days sometimes, but days that are filled with more peace. When the kids started getting to that crabby, cranky point I would ask them if they wanted to have a rest and would go along with their choice. Eventually ( by about age 3-4) they got to the point that they knew when they were tired and would ask if they could have a nap. My 9 year old will still ask if it is a good time to rest when she is tired.

kitten said...

Hows the nap issues? Just wanted to drop in and check on ya.

Unknown said...

Naps come and go--I am just letting her decide when she wants one and things are going alright that way. Just don't expect me to be reliable with afternoon plans right now!!!

Thank you to everyone with the good advice and well wishes!!