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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

MissTinaTeaspoon · 27/07/2011 09:18

Thanks for this thread! I wanted to start a similar one recently but I was worried I'd get a flaming! I work nights too and like to try to get an hour or two before going in to keep me going until 9 the next morning, dd (3) usually has a nap too but on the days she won't I set her up with duplo or something and try to doze. I feel so much better now, I was thinking I was an awful mother

GrownUpNow · 27/07/2011 09:19

Gosh no, I've had to spend much of the last month asleep on the sofa as I've been so ill. There have been incidents, but mostly my three year old entertains herself or watches telly, I've only had to clean up three tubes of toothpaste and a couple of juice spills. You do what you need to to get by.

mandoo · 27/07/2011 09:19

Thanks wossitface for this thread. I am 4 months pregnant and often have a snooze in the afternoon whilst my DS aged 3 is watching a dvd. Have felt really guilty about it, but it seems half of Mumsnet is snoozing around the same time!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/07/2011 10:14

I definitely agree about having the ability to sleep whilst remaining fully conscious. We co-slept for 3 years and I perfected the art of sleeping whilst still awake!

Michiem · 27/07/2011 10:17

Me too :) she also can log on to the computer and plays with the cbeeies site (it's a link on her user area) I often wake up to her shouting at the zingzillas :) maybe a bad mummy, but it's educational

MumblingRagDoll · 27/07/2011 10:22

My DD is 3 and she actually loves it when I lie on the sofa! It's nice to cuddle.

allhailtheaubergine · 27/07/2011 10:26

I do this most days. 1st trimester. Couldn't survive without a snooze.

I bring my pillow and duvet down to the sofa so I'm right there if they set fire to themselves or decide to shave the cat again.

I also make it clear to them that they are extremely lucky that I'm letting them watch a film during quiet time, and if they do anything even remotely naughty I will remove tv privileges and they will be required to lie quietly on their beds for the whole of quiet time.

TheOriginalFAB · 27/07/2011 10:30

I have a similar dilemma in that I really need to have a sleep this afternoon but my kids are coming home today and I am not sure I can trust them to behave while I rest. They are 6, 7 and 10. I am so tired though.

As long as neither child can come to any harm and the doors are locked, and you would wake immediately should they need you, it is probably fine.

DontCallMePeanut · 27/07/2011 10:45

I do this quite regularly once in a blue moon. My sleep patterns are weird, anyway. I doze from around 9pm to half 9, 10pm, then fall asleep properly at 3 am regardless. DS wakes me up at 7, half seven. Usually convince him to let mumm have five more minutes while he watches Octonaughts on the PS3. Gives me time to readjust a bitf. Then, when I feel myself getting groggy, if he's not at nursery, stick on Cars, Toy Story or The Little Mermaid, and nap through a bit of that... Find the Little Mermaid's the best bet, as he'll sing along to that, thus keeping me a bit more awake...

blewit · 27/07/2011 10:53

I used to do this when mine got up at 4 or 5am in the morning and I had to go to work. I think it's fine, if your dc are contained, your house is safe and you are aware of what they might get up to. I got quite a flaming on here for saying so a while back. Someone called me "lazy".

michelleseashell · 27/07/2011 11:16

I wish I could do this!

Indith · 27/07/2011 11:24

I nap most days at the moment, pregnancy tiredness! Show Me Show me is my saviour. 1pm after lunch, TV goes on and I go to sleep while the dcs watch Chris and Pui.

TimeWasting · 27/07/2011 11:31

I just woke up.

That being said, 10-20 minutes of DS trying to open my eyes is hardly that restful, but it takes the edge off the pregnancy weariness.

whatsallthehullaballoo · 27/07/2011 13:02

YANBU at all. Sounds lovely and is completely necessaries for your sanity

FreudianSlipper · 27/07/2011 13:12

i thought it was the norm

a perk if you are at home. i tried to get ds to nap yesterday afternoon, though he woudl need it after having a very busy weekend. no such luck so i put finding nemo on he watched it, i snoozed but was aware of his running commentary

Lilithmoon · 27/07/2011 13:19

Ooo good idea.... now where did I put the Toy Story 3 DVD?

msbuggywinkle · 27/07/2011 13:41

I do it too. If I didn't prepare to do it, I'd go to sleep anyway with the DDs rampaging round the house! I bring the potty downstairs for DD2, shut both living room doors, make a plate of snacks, fill their water bottles and put a film on. I can usually then have an hour of dozing before someone needs something!

whackamole · 27/07/2011 13:59

My two are 2.6 and I regularly have a little doze on the sofa while they watch Mr Tumble. I don't work nights, but I do work and am very fatigued at the moment as I am pregnant.

Normally they sit on top of me so I know exactly where they are, just need to be a bit more wary as DTS2 stuck his finger in his nappy and wiped shit up the wall

YANBU, just keep some wipes to hand

LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn · 27/07/2011 16:02

Damn only problem with today's is that dd fell asleep also [shit]

Indith · 27/07/2011 19:31

That has been a problem here too LoveBeing, I woke up to find that dd had come and snuggled under my blanket with me and was fast asleep. The benefit of the nap is somewhat wiped out when the bouncing child then refuses to go to bed due to having slept!

I have also woken to find dd very nicely stripping the cushions off the sofa ready for cleaning after doing a massive wee on it.

Perhaps I should rethink this napping strategy!

Animol · 27/07/2011 19:36

had a lovely snooze on the sofa once - woke up to find that DS2 (about 2 at the time) was drawing on my face with a felt tip pen!

ajaybaines · 27/07/2011 19:41

I/we do this with my 13 month old in the mornings.

She is an evil 5.30ish AM waker and we bring her straight into our room to save waking up her sister (who REALLY needs her sleep) throw some kind of food at her and give her a drink then once she's safely finished eating leave her to it with the big box of toys we keep in our room (though she prefers goin g through Daddies tie drawer and throwing them everywhere).

cerealqueen · 27/07/2011 19:48

I've been doing this recently as am 6.6 months pregnant. DD loves it as we go up to our bedroom, have a snuggle and maybe a DVD. DD doesn't nap anymore (2.5) I don't sleep as such, but the lie down is essential right now!
If its a weekend, DP joins us. .

MrsChemist · 27/07/2011 19:49

Pregnancy tiredness means that I've been dozing mid-morning for maybe 20 minutes, and then also napping when DS has a nap in the afternoon.

Can't get more than twenty minutes though, before it's interrupted by "MAMAAAAAY!!!" and then something hitting my face, or him jumping on me.

The sofa is possibly the comfiest place to sleep at the moment as well. it's squishier than my bed, so doesn't hurt my hips.

LeoTheLateBloomer · 27/07/2011 19:52

I'm very

I managed this for the first time the other day when both DD and I were ill. I snoozed on the sofa and she spent her time either pottering about or cuddled up with me. It was bliss

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