Comments on: The No-Nap Monster

By: Photographer Lori

Photographer Lori — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:04:31 +0000

This client is patient, so no worries here! :)

By: Bethany

Bethany — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:31:57 +0000

Aw, that No-Nap Monster face looks so sad, I just want to give her a hug. I am sorry to hear you've reached this dreaded nap-transition. I will tell you what my good friend Heather, mom of two, tells me all the time when I am venting about something: this is only a season. It seems right now like it will be this way forever, but it won't. Soon enough you will both settle into the new routine (whatever it turns out to be), and this will be a distant memory. I'd also like to second what Gretchen said above, about moving her afternoon naptime up an hour or two. That might help. And you just have to expect that she will fight sleep like this for a while, but keep persisting in having a naptime. Explain it to her as a quiet time, nap optional, if you like, and give her books or quiet toys in her crib (like nikkapotamus above). When Annalie first switched from two 45-minute naps a day to one nap, for weeks it was only a 30- or 45-minute nap, and I thought I would lose my mind. But eventually she settled into taking a 2-hour afternoon nap and sleeping a little less at night. I don't know what BB's schedule will end up looking like, but it WILL get easier. Hang in there! I'm praying for you! :-)

By: rachel

rachel — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:21:48 +0000

Hehehe, that is such a cute pissed-off face. I can’t believe how blonde she is now.

By: Madhouse Wife

Madhouse Wife — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:31:50 +0000

My little girl will be 10 months next week and gave up the morning nap a few weeks ago. Now she takes a long one (three-ish hours) at 11:30 or so. But she sleeps 13 hours a night (7p-8a), so I guess it’s OK. I know what you mean about keeping them out of the car, though. If we go anywhere in the morning, she’ll take a short nap and then think it counts.

My little boy is three and a half; he usually still takes a nap, but everytime I mention that, people always say, “He STILL takes a nap?” I’d go crazy if he didn’t, so I pretty much make him.

By: My Buddy Mimi

My Buddy Mimi — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:45:44 +0000

I don’t know that this will work for other kids, but we have had some success putting Mimi in the crib with a couple of books that she can “read.”

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:35:19 +0000

I was going to suggest laying down with her… But I see you found that already works.

Something else to try… have an earlier afternoon nap – like if she’s used to napping at 10 and then again at 2, try having her nap at 12:30 or so. My guess is she’s getting over tired and having a hard time falling asleep. Just a guess…

Also, for my kids – if one of them got up too early from nap – say after 30 minutes instead of after 100 minutes – I’d bring them to my bed and lay with them. 95% of the time they’d fall back asleep.

Alas, now, we are losing all our naps. My Toddler is 3 and takes a nap only every other day or so. The other two are ‘so over’ naps… But I still need one some days…

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:09:05 +0000

I’m going through this right now with my 15 month old. He is so messed up these days and it makes me so crazy that I have to eat lots of ice cream to keep myself sane. Oh, wait a second, I was supposed to be eating all of that ice cream because it’s hot outside. Whatever. It’s hot and he doesn’t like to sleep anymore. It is like the best ever.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:22:04 +0000

Sleep issues do stink. My daughter (also 18 months) just switched to the 1-a-day naps but if you drive anywhere, that 15 minutes totally counts at that day’s nap. Not fun.

Remember this though… when they drop that last night (at 3 years for my son) – that blows your world to smithereens. It makes the going to 1-nap look like a cakewalk.

I’m totally cheering you up, aren’t I?

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:52:47 +0000

Why are babies so cute when they cry? Because she is just a doll.

My kids all gave up naps at around 18 months as well. I had to choose between skipping the nap and having their normal 6:30 bedtime, or giving them a nap, and have them up and jumping around till 10:30. Skipping the nap was a much better option for us. I work from home too. I had to get a mother’s helper for two hours a day so that I could get something done during “business hours” and then I work at night after they’re in bed. Hence the early bedtime.

I hope she is just bluffing and that she resumes her napping for you…

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:50:57 +0000

Aww, that face is priceless though! :) Good luck with the napping situation!