Naptime. The word sounds relaxing, doesn’t it? I used to think so, too. And then, my son turned about two-and-a-half. He decided he could refuse to nap. If he wasn’t going to stop playing to go to the potty (see other blog posts), why would he stop to sleep?
I would fight with him, negotiate, offer bribes...It was so exhausting, I was the one who needed a nap after dealing with him. I thought, “maybe he’s outgrowing the nap.” But by 3 or 4 o’clock he was always incredibly cranky, to say the least.
Now he’s four (“and a quarter”). Of course, he has no problem napping at preschool. He naps there for 2-3 hours! But on weekends, no go. And we usually have the weekly meltdown on Sunday afternoon.
Maybe he needs a bunch of other kids on cots in the same room to go to sleep. Unfortunately, I can’t provide that. His little sister in her crib in the next room doesn’t do it for him. So, we’ve decided to just implement “quiet play” in his room on weekend afternoons for at least an hour. It’s not ideal, but at least mommy and daddy get a little downtime, and nobody’s trying to negotiate or fight about naps anymore.
I’m happy to say, my daughter goes down easily for her nap every day for almost three hours. But of course, my son used to do that, too.
Uh oh. I guess I'll get back to you when she’s two-and-a-half.
