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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To nap whilst looking after my 3 y/o

53 replies

Wossisface · 27/07/2011 02:50

After my last night shift I do not have child care, I have been putting the baby down in her cot for a sleep and then me and my 3 y/o play in the lounge once she is into the game/puzzle/film etc I lay on the couch and doze I wouldn't say I'm asleep fully but I'm not fully awake either, I haven't told anyone about this because I guess I think I'm being irresponsible but it's only for 1 hour 2 max whilst the baby sleeps it just takes the edge off my tiredness. My 3y/o is sensible and our home is secure and baby proofed for the 9 month old,

Opinons please...please don't flame me

OP posts:
SurreyDad · 27/07/2011 03:00

Careful, ss will be trawling these threads and will demand MN give them your IP address and they will come round and bang your door down and steal your children.

TanteRose · 27/07/2011 03:33

Don't be naughty, SurreyDad!

Wossis, its fine - no doubt you would fully wake up if either of the DCs wanted your full attention.

Mare11bp · 27/07/2011 04:47

YANBU. I have done the same, DS same age as yours. Like you it's never been proper sleep and too much movement in the room I have woken up.

Hopefully SS have bigger fish to fry.

ChocolateIsAFoodGroup · 27/07/2011 05:17

Um, isn't that why it's called nap time?!

DS is four, DD one, and we have a family nap time for 1-2 hours every day! Wouldn't survive the pm without it Wink

HairyBeaver · 27/07/2011 06:20

I always have a afternoon nap whilst DD (2.6yrs) is engrossed in peppa pig Grin

howabout · 27/07/2011 06:26

My DD2 was not fit for much in the way of fun and games after nursery and so we used to both have downtime like yours every afternoon. YANBU.

TheFrogs · 27/07/2011 06:31

I dont think YABU, I call it "mummy sleep"...it's almost like having one eye open...the slightest noise and you're up like someone from a toothpaste ad i'm guessing!

Curiousmama · 27/07/2011 06:32

YANBU. If you're still worried maybe you could get 3 yr old to nap with you?

ilovedora27 · 27/07/2011 06:36

Most parents do this. Its not a big deal

GotArt · 27/07/2011 06:41

When I was pregnant with DD2, I did it plenty of times. I would lay down on couch to watch Dr. Phil and pass out and DD1 would wake and crawl under blankets and we'd have a snuggle and I would turn her program on... sometimes we would lay there for and hour or more. I wish I could do that now. I miss our snuggles.

I don't think there's a problem with it. So long as you aren't totally asleep.

I remember my mom telling me once about being half asleep on the couch thinking my sisters were OK playing in their bedroom with Barbie's but then she heard the unmistakeable sound of running water from that far off place between full sleep and wake and when she pulled herself awake, she found they had taken all the towels from the bathroom and rolled them and made a circle and proceeded to 'fill' it because they wanted to a swimming pool. Good thing they only had hardwood floor in their bedroom.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/07/2011 07:23

I can often be found snoozing on the sofa while Peppa Pig keeps an eye on dd. As you said, you're never fully asleep and 3yos are extremely good at bashing you on the head when they want something!

GoodnightNobody · 27/07/2011 07:25

the afternoon snooze is a fine example of 'horizontal parenting.'

CheerfulYank · 27/07/2011 07:26

I nap almost every day and have since DS started taking regular naps. He stopped at about 2.5 (he's four now) but we still have quiet time every day while he watches instant Netflix programs and I doze.

Which reminds me of something my mother said that other day that made me angry. Off to start an AIBU about it...

HairyGrotter · 27/07/2011 07:35

DD is 3 and hasn't napped since she was 14 months, I have a little snooze when required during the afternoon whilst she mucks about. I get a snippet of 15 minutes here and there because she likes to smack my head or make a racket.

Like most mums, you're up within a shot if you hear something untoward

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 27/07/2011 07:40

YANBU, I quite often have a snooze in the afternoon whilst the dd's watch Tangled for the 1000000th time, we get blankets out and all curl up on the sofa. There is nothing better than a cat nap in the afternoon, especially like today when it's grey and murky outside and your warm and cozy indoors.

Llanarth · 27/07/2011 08:07

Yup, do this several times a week. I thought everyone did?!

Shodan · 27/07/2011 08:07

I do this often. Fortunately for me ds2 still has a nap some days (3.8) but on the days he doesn't he gets to watch Team Umizoomi or whatever while I examine the inside of my eyelids. Like you say, it's not a proper sleep but most refreshing...

MumblingRagDoll · 27/07/2011 08:13

I do it with DD2....DD1 would NEVER have let me but DD2 sits next t e and wathes TV/dozes for an hour. Its our "nap time" it;s fine imo

LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn · 27/07/2011 08:17

I do this Blush. I do try to have dd sit with me so I have an arm round her or something so know if she moves.

In fact yesterday I set het up on my bed to watch monster Inc whilst I did sone sorting out and lie down with her for a min to make sure she was ok and..... Yep went to sleep! My excuse is I'm 33.6 weeks pg and dd doesn't always understand when she should be getting up.

hmmSleep · 27/07/2011 08:18

How I wish I could do this, if I dare even think of closing an eye my 3 dcs come and physically prise them open and jump on my head. If they let me I would though, so YANBU.

Esta3GG · 27/07/2011 08:24

If I hadn't done this with my lot I'd be dead by now.
It's perfectly normal to cat nap when you get a chance.
I do think women with kids have the ability to sleep whilst somehow remaining fully conscious!

itisnearlysummer · 27/07/2011 08:49

I used to do this and mine are both fine.

5gomad It's Tangled for us too. Or Enchanted. Get the blankie. Sometimes DS joins us too. DD thinks it's a treat!

YAsoNBU

revolutionscoop · 27/07/2011 08:59

I've done this many times, especially when pregnant.

Hormoneoverload · 27/07/2011 09:02

Absolutely fine.

Original poster
Wossisface · 27/07/2011 09:13

I'm so pleased. I thought I was this awful mum!! I didn't realized so many people did this! So reassuring. I will doze guilt free this morning whilst keeping my ears pinned for ss banging on the door obviously Wink

OP posts:
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