Support for "Dropping that last nap"

[VickyB20]

Hiya ladies.  I'm very interested to find this thread.  I've been having 'issues' with Ella for a while now, which sound very similar to what some of you are experiencing - namely if she naps, then she doesn't go to sleep at bedtime until 8 or even 9ish and then has NW or EW.  If she doesn't nap then she is definitely O/T by bedtime and NW because of that.  Urgh!!  So frustrating!  Seems like I just can't get the balance right.

She has also had to fit in a lot around her brothers' routine (as they do hers) so I guess I'm not always able to be as attentive as I should be ot her needs.

At the moment, we do something similar to rinajack... she's only allowed her dummy when she's going to sleep so if I think she's tired, I offer her the dummy (in the buggy, on the sofa, in the car) and say absolutely no talking whilst she has her dummy.  She will often nap then but not for as long as she would in her bed, which would then mess up bedtime and night-time.

Hey-ho!!  Pleased to find I'm not the only one having these dilemmas!!  Just wish she wouldn't get up at night-time. 

Vicky
x

[*Natasha*]

We had a major suprise today - Zara went to sleep at about 7:40 with no fuss

 

[Mom to M&M]

No-nap girl was quite cranky by 5pm (and quite hyper prior to that) - seems she can do ok with one day of no nap but not so well the second. Had her in bed at about 7:50 and she was asleep by 8...

[aidenmc]

Hi again,

So we had another bad night last night with Aiden but he was so sick it was pretty expcted (was wheezing, coughing and having a hard time breathing). DH was going to put him to bed but he was complaining about his throat hurting and he actually turned off his light and asked for 'pat bum' before we had a chance to do stories or anything. So I did and he was asleep at 7:30. Up a whole pile of times through the night then at 6:30 (way nicer than 5:30!). But he didn't fall asleep for nap (again in car) and he woke after less than 45 minutes and was pretty grumpy for awhile. I had to work tonight so DH had his 1st official night of putting him down. Apparently it went pretty well. Aiden only got out of bed once and DH had to go in maybe 4 times to fix blankets etc. There was crying and asking for mommy but he fell asleep on his own by 8:10. It is 11 now and he has been awake for about 20 minutes. No real crying, though. DH has taken the tactic of keeping his door open at bedtime and rather than sitting right outside of his door he is on the couch. DS has called out about losing his blue car (yeah, he was wide awake and first asking for mommy), but DH has managed to just call out to him. It is all pretty low key right now although I would definitely prefer he didn't wake up at all. But if this is a process of re-training I am all for it. I have a suspicion that he may protest more tomorrow night but I may just go out to avoid it all  . (I think he's asleep - yipee!)

It's funny, though, that DS responds so differently to us. DH has been a softie too and gone in and patted his bum, etc. But for me to train Aiden again to be more independent and stop playing the bedtime games I would have to face much more protest. This has happened in the past (only when Aiden goes through periods of fear at bedtime, which he has a few times) does he start getting really upset and dh hasn't been the magic parent  . I would have to take over bedtime. I am really hoping that this will continue to work with DH because things were getting pretty hairy around here. Of course I must not jinx things....

Have a good night everyone.

[rinajack]

Zara went to sleep about 8:45 last night, after a 1 hr nap. Slept til 6:50 (I think, not 100% sure what time we woke up, but it was after 6:30). She did wake a couple times in the night but went back to sleep with little fuss.

Today, put her to bed to nap at 1:20 (that is when she fell asleep), then Hugh cried loudly and woke her at 1:40.  I fed Hugh, put him to sleep in the cot next to the bed, layed down with Zara, and we were all asleep by 2pm - and we didn't wake til 3:50PM!!!!!

Wow, I feel fabulous, since I never usually nap! Have no idea what time she will finally drop tonight though, that is a huge nap, and it ended quite late

Oh well, it means she is rested and happy to play with daddy for a few hours

[Mom to M&M]

Wow Becky - hope things continue to work with your DH getting Aiden to bed. And Rina that sounds like such a long lovely nap for you all!

As for us, yesterday DD didn't wake for the day until around 8:30-8:40 am (well she was up muttering around 6:50 but I jumped in the shower and when I got out she was sound asleep again). That was after falling asleep by 8pm. So I figured no way would she nap and she was in quite a good mood. But I put her in her crib after lunch around 1:45/1:50 anyway and she did at least stay in there (singing, counting, jumping) for about an hour so at least I got some time and some stuff done. She was getting really tired and cranky/hyper after dinner and her bath took a long time due to a meltdown in it but we still had her in bed by 8:10 and she was asleep by 8:30 or a little before. It's 7:35 now and I think/hope she's still asleep. If so I guess will keep just putting her in her crib after lunch and hopefully she'll at least stay in there an hour even if she doesn't sleep.

If this really is her giving up her nap for good I'll have to laugh (and cry of course!). DD has always done everythig overnight - like she was late to walk (14.5 months) but when she did she walked all the way down the hall and never looked back; she was late to talk but now she's a chatterbox and talks more/better than many 3 year olds; she basically potty trained herself within a week after not seeming close at all. She's an odd one... I do miss the naps and my afternoon break but it is nice to have my coffee time alone in the morning and have her more rested most of the day...

[rinajack]

Karen, glad it is going well.

Zara fought bedtime tonight (suprise suprise).  Put her to bed at about 8:15 or so, after having to go back to her several times, DH ended up laying with her, and she was asleep when I went in to wake him at about 9pm, but I don't think she had been asleep long..

[Mom to M&M]

She may well start napping again soon hence why I'm still putting her in there (plus I need the break) for now. But with these 12+ hour nights I don't see her napping soon. Plus like I said she tends to decide overnight she's doing something at that's it. So I have a feeling she may drop naps now unless she dozes in car or stroller. But will keep putting her in there in case! We'll have lunch together at 1:30 today, then I'll put her in there and hopefully get an hour and can clean and start cooking for tonight!

[aisling]

I know what you mean Karen.  I thought Nello would be in a big bed come easter, nope xmas, I thought he would be toilet trained by summer, nope Januray!  I thought we would be struggling with naps come May, nope Feb. Grrr. Minds of their own, the nerve! lol!

We have also been having great nights since the time change and with later wake ups.  Yesterday was a no go nap day, after a 12.5 hour night with a 2 hour nap in the day as well on Tues then we had a slow, boring morning that was his choice, "Stay home Mummy"  watched his Curious George DVD, played, painting etc...so we had him in bed at 7:30 asleep by 7:45 and up today at 7:40 am.  This a.m we went out to the sugar bush/maple syrup farm, so loads of fresh, snowy air and walking.  Still he needed 6 hours awake time and finally went to sleep after playing quietly on his own an hour before that.  We let him nap in our bedroom btw, he watches tv and plays in there and then crashes, I was so scared that we would have another no nap day and we have never experienced 2 in a row...scary.  Not sure if I should wake him? He has been wanting to do 1 hr 45 min-2 hour naps last week with later bed. Was thinking of waking him at 2:30-2:45 as he fell asleep at 1:30. I think he has caught up on his sleep form being sick last week.  I think the key is if they have a really busy a.m and outdoor especially, a nap is much more promising. Bring on Spring!

I look fwd to warmer weather when we can be out in the evening.  I would love to do a nap in the buggy and I could get a walk/exercise in too.....

[Mom to M&M]

LOL Aisling! And I agree - bring on Spring! Maybe wake him by 2:45 and try for 8:15 bedtime?

Well she's actually napping today. Even thought she slept about 12 hours last night and woke at about 8:25 today. After 3 days straight of no naps and long nights - put her in her crib at about 1:45 and started exercising. She was talking and all in there and by 2:15 starting to whine so I tried to finish as quickly as possible. Then it got really quiet and when I went to check on her at 2:25 she was asleep! Guessing she fell asleep at about 2:20 so I guess will wake her at 3 and hope for the best and try for 8:30 bedtime (knowing she'll likely not fall asleep until 9 or later) and just see...

[aisling]

I will am off to wake him up.    Good luck tonight.

[aisling]

Really? N loves his Graco stroller and his McClaren Quest umbrella.  We also have his wagon.  He loves to go in them and they all make him fall asleep just like the car. We're off now to the market, he walk there and then take a ride home in buggy which also serves as a carrier for fruit and veg. I can't imagine life without them, I dread it.  Although there is always the wagon I suppose.

[aisling]

We haven't strapped N in his buggy since he was a year and his feet hang over, but no bother. We can push our wagon, don't strap him in that either, he sits facing what he feels. Step 2 wagon.

[PeepersMom]

Hi all!  Well, fancy seeing you all here... weren't we all in the the 2-1 transition together?

Ok, well really just marking my space.  Not sure we are ready for this but for sure PJ is reorganizing his sleep.  I am not exactly sure what he is doing - he has actually been napping longer than he has - most naps over 1.5 hours these days with just a few totally skipped,  but he is resisting falling asleep for nap and totally dependent on me at nap to sleep. It is taking 30-45 min for him to drop off and it has taken as long as 60 min at its worst.  It used to take 5-15 min.

I took 2 days!! to read through the whole thread and am so happy to see there a others with the same issue I am having and find it kind of ironic how so many of us have slipped back into ap to get our little ones to nap.  UGH!  I have gotten to the point of 'whatever works' and found that most of my real life mom friends are mostly doing the same things to encourage nap - driving, strolling, rocking, laying down with the lo.

Well, PJ has been sick these past few days so it hasn't really been an issue, but we'll see what happens when he starts to feel better. I *think* he wants a shorter night and longer nap.  I am not sure I am up for that. I was loving my early evenings (Stacy might remember that about me)  he also takes quite a while to fall asleep at night - he is like most of the others here and will party for 45min-1.5 hours sometimes before finally drifting off at night, so I often struggle with what time to put down.

Stacy and others who mentioned this - I think you are right on with waiting for bb bed until they drop that last nap.  Hadn't thought about it that way before, but it totally makes sense to me!  I was just hoping to make it to 3 years old.  He hasn't yet even attempted to climb out of the crib.  I tell him every single time I go to get him that only I or Daddy can get him out of the crib. I guess he must believe us!!  ha ha

Anyway, thanks for the thread.  Hope to only be a lurker for a few more months, but we'll see....


funny (or not ) as I type this he is waking up from a 40 min nap.  These kids really keep us guessing.
Meg

[rinajack]

After that lovely long nap that ended too late yesterday, Zara was awake in the night for almost two hours, just tossing and turning and asking for water and tossing and turning...well you get the picture .  I know this because I was awake anyway with Hugh, I had the most dreadful night

Then slept in til 7:10am.  And boy was she in a foul mood, wouldn't share with Hugh AT ALL, yelling MINE and taking all toys from him, even though I actually had 6 different games out for them to play with .

So, I put her back to bed with some books and her dummy (I think she needed to soothe herself) and she has played quietly in there for 20 min or so, and is whinging now, so better go tend to her.