Thursday, November 20, 2008
To sleep or not to sleep
Lately, unfortunately, Will has chosen not to sleep. He used to be so good about taking at least a 2-hour nap every single day, but for the past month or two, he has decided that naps aren't for him anymore. This creates quite a bit of stress for all of us. For one thing, nap time is pretty much the only time of day that I have to get much done or have quiet time. Also, if Will doesn't take a nap, then by about 6 or 7 that night he is tired and cranky, which makes life hard on all of us. I have tried to read to him quietly and sit with him in his room for 10-15 minutes, but that doesn't seem to be working anymore either, because as soon as I leave he gets right back up again and starts playing. I know how important it is for children to get as much sleep as possible, I just don't know how to fix this problem. Anyone have a suggestion?
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4 comments:
Oh, oh. Here goes a mother's dilemma. He is getting ready or has to give up his nap. Some children do this even earlier and they can't be forced except to tell them that this is quiet time. You are doing the right thing by reading quietly and then if he doesn't sleep, he is not tired. Then, of course, they will need to go to bed earlier. My son John gave up his naps even earlier while the others still would be napping. Jill said the same thing: how different it was for her children. Goind to bed earlier in the evening will have to happen because by then, they are tired. Good Luck.
We have a deal with Taylor (well, as much as he understands us). He naps during the day, or he goes to bed at 7 instead of 8. I know nap time is oh so important for us Mommies, though.
I wish I could help you with some advice, but as an MIT student, sleep isn't really up there on my list of activities either. You could try reading some technical journal articles to him. They always put me to sleep.
Good Luck!
As Grandma mentioned, all kids are different. My 5 each chose their own sleep patterns after a certain age...and it's okay! So Ron and I put them to bed earlier and then that was OUR time. Or some of my kids would go a couple days without a nap and then crash on day 4 or 5. We adults are the ones that miss nap time more than the kiddies do....darnit!
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