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Argh naps are the bane of my life!!!!!

3 replies

fruityb · 24/07/2017 11:08

Ds is eleven months and went for a nap at half ten ish which would have been about three hours after waking. He just didn't show any signs before then.

He slept for ten minutes and is now doing a high pitched wail at me as he's still tired but will not go back to sleep. He's now at the stage where he just stands up in his cot screaming when he wakes up. He is a brilliant night time sleeper but a god awful napper. I think this is coming from being at childminder and mainly sleeping on the school run. I can't get him to nap very easily on weekends and today is no exception - summer holidays so I'm off.

I'm wondering if I may have won now im writing this as he's looking asleep on the monitor after three attempts at resettling. Sorry this is rambled I was trying to distract myself while he fought the nap battle.

When does napping need to end as I hate absolutely everything about it - the overtired child, the not tired enough child, the battles, the up and down stairs, the not having anywhere near long enough... they are the absolute bane of being a mum they really are!! I also want to slap anyone that says "well he sleeps all night" - yes he does but it doesn't stop him being a complete grumpy overtired wailing nightmare at times in the day when he just won't have the sleep he so obviously needs!!

Sorry if I sound arsy - it's been a tough month after he spent two weeks being an inexplicable whingebag; then he was ill and went through so many nappies I lost count and then yesterday he decided being wide awake at 4 am was a good idea! That never happens so was a massive shock to the system.

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FATEdestiny · 24/07/2017 13:19

Whine away, it's fine. I face 6 and a half weeks with 3 older children at home to disrupt my toddlers daytime naps. Oh the joy! We shall cope though, as will you op Flowers

Firstly, if you can try to stop stressing about naps. I know there is tip to reduce anxious worry that says not to worry about things you cannot control. I'm not suggesting you are anxious, just employ the same methods. If toddler is a crap napper, there is no benefit to stressing yourself over the crap naps. Just embrace the fact that these things are not fully under your control without creating a battle.

Being a 'slave to the naps' is a way of life for all parents of babies and toddlers. Naps finished around aged 3-4 in our house. Until then planning days around naptime is just the way it always will be.

I don't know if you wanted some suggestions or just a rant (which is fine btw), but if your child minder usually gets baby napping on the school run walk, why don't you keep a 8.30am pushchair walk going through the summer?

fruityb · 24/07/2017 15:47

Thanks FATE, knew you would have some words of wisdom. He slept for over an hour when he gave in! He's been so much fun since - we've been shopping this afternoon and he's never ever a problem when we go out. I would honestly take this kid anywhere as he absolutely loves being out and always has done.

He fell asleep in the car at about three on the way home so I took a long route back, then got him out the car carefully. I considered putting him to bed but I've decided to sit on the sofa and cuddle. He's more likely to stay asleep this way - I just had to make sure I had my phone and the controls for the telly lol.

He'll get back into the habit soon enough I'm sure - today I'm just tired and finding it hard. CM does the school run in her people carrier as she has a few and one is dropped off just that bit too late to walk. I can always plan days round naps as he'll sleep in the car or his pushchair when we're out. At home he just isn't keen on going to bed.

I have read that daytime sleep should be about two to three hours in the daytime at his age and he definitely gets that. Even when he was newborn he was always so alert, he just takes it all in. Hes just a shit napper it seems!

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fruityb · 27/07/2017 20:06

Pleased to report he's been epic all week on naps after a wobbly Monday! He's gone down no problems and had a good length on the sleep.

He woke at 3am crying this morning but with five minutes of cuddles and then me laying beside his cot for a couple of minutes with my hand on his chest he went back to sleep. I actually felt like super woman lol. He never wakes in the night like that - I can only assume it's nightmares or something. He's woken early twice this week so just hoping its coincidence!

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