Accidental Parenting

[sbekritsky]

Different issue in accidental parenting:
Here's my accidental parenting issue. My 1 year old is more or less on a very nice schedule. My problem is, for nap times, we have a very bad crutch!! We've been rocking her to sleep since she was very little. We were able to break the rocking crutch for bed time (she is an ANGEL at bedtime- we do our bedtime routine of song, book, nursing, and then I pick her up and whisper in her ear that I love her, good night etc, and before I even finish- she often lunges for the crib and lies down on her own!!!)
I WISH she could do the same thing for nap time!!!! I just am getting so tired of the rocking- shes almost 20lbs at this point, and if I give up, no nap!!! 
I wish I knew how to fix it! I keep trying to retrace my steps for what I did with bedtime- I really don't want to do the same thing I basically modeled after Tracy- like what she did with Spencer, Melanie's son- and had to lie her down repeatedly in her crib. I did that for a couple of nights, counting well into the hundreds each time, but eventually she got the point. It definitely was not easy! I know that fixing this problem won't be easy...but I would love a different suggestion!
Any ides for how to fix my accidental parenting issue?
We do have a nap-time routine (song, story, nursing for afternoon nap only), and then quiet crib play time.
Thanks!!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Hi sbekritsky,

I can't speak from experience since Colin was never interested much in rocking, but I personally would do as you did before. You know it works, even though it's not much fun. How are her verbal skills? Would she understand you explaining that she's a big girl now and no more rocking?

[momtonb&ab]

i would agree with Jessica....i think if you explain it and say she is a big girl now so you don't need to rock anymore but maybe you could let her rock her lovie or even take her out to buy a lovie she is going to rock from now on - they can be so good about this change if you give them something new to replace it with. 

something like saying during bath time (before bed) 'now you are a big girl honey so from now on we aren't going to rock before bed because you are such a big girl now.  i think you are such a big girl maybe you should rock your teddy/dollie/lovie instead.  will you show mommy how you can do that?'  then when you get to the rocking stage in her room, give her a snuggle and put her in the rockign chair with teddy/dollie/lovie and kneel in front of her while you show her the right way to rock her lovie.   then pick up, snuggle, kiss and tuck into bed, always praising she is such a big girl.   if you do that a few days in a row with lots of praise and no giving in, i think you will find it isn't going to be as bad as your bedtime transition.

huge hugs!

[sbekritsky]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the suggestions! Sounds like a great idea. I think she might still be a bit too young to understand (she just turned 1 today)- she definitely has some comprehension, but I think she might just be confused if I were to stop altogether...

Thank G-d the issue is only for nap time only...and within a few weeks, I think she'll be doing one nap a day anyway. I still definitely want to solve the problem...maybe within a few months, I'll be able to fix it verbally as you guys suggested (or at least start working on it by planting the seeds now, even if she won't fully get it). I guess I could always do the laying down approach, but it's really torturous for everyone!

I tell my husband all the time that he MUST remind me, G-d willing by the next one- we have to start as we mean to go on!!! None of this habit stuff....

[Colin Macs Mom]

How are things?

[Nauvoo]

You know I had almost exactly the same senario.  My LO is 18 months now.  I weaned the rocking at 9 months for bedtime which went fantastic.  NO problem but for naps I weaned the rocking at 13 months.  She did just fine with WI/WO.  It took about 3 or 4 days for her to get it but because she already knew how to go to sleep on her own it worked great.  Now at 18 months when I do our naptime routine I have to watch her closely or she will fall asleep rocking.  She loves to cuddle and rock so I really have to keep an eye on her so she doesn't fall asleep on me. I do give in sometimes though   I must like it or something.

[sbekritsky]

I know it's been awhile...but just to update: our LO is doing great! Puts herself to sleep for nap time now, in addition to bedtime. It feels so liberating to know that I can do a nap-time routine, and just put her in her crib AWAKE and she will sleep if she's tired.

My issue now is the 2-1 transition...but that's another story!!!

[momtonb&ab]

fantastic news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Great!!!

[sbekritsky]

Thanks guys