When you stay at home with two small kids, the Nap becomes a sacred thing. You plan around it, careful not to push it too late for fear of missing the "napping window." Some days you look forward to it. Other days your mental health relies on it.
Not that I do anything fun during nap time. I usually freelance or clean up the house. But it's that moment of quiet, the hour or so of being able to regroup and prepare for the next part of the day, that I look forward to. I need it to be a good mom.
I also tell myself that Lila needs that nap. She's not yet three and she doesn't sleep very late in the morning. By my calculations, she still needs a nap. Lila, however, has other ideas. For the past few weeks, she's been fighting it. It's turned me into somewhat of a crazy person. I only have about an hour overlap between Rosalie's nap and Lila's nap but it is precious time that I'm not ready to relinquish yet.
Attempts to encourage quiet time in her room have failed as did all the tactics I'd picked up from countless Nanny 911 episodes. Back rubbing once worked but now fails. I've even tried -- don't laugh -- hypnotic-like talking where I tell her she's getting very sleepy and that her legs are feeling very heavy. I'm desperate here, okay?
My sister swore by playing classical music. It knocked her kids out when they were this age. I wasn't convinced it would work, but I was willing to try it out. So yesterday after repeated attempts to get Lila to settle down and sleep, I took a small radio into her room and turned on the classical station and told her we were going to play this to help her sleep.
Instant tears and hysterics. Turn it off! Turn it off!
It wasn't until the radio was physically removed from the room that Lila was able to catch her breath. I got her calmed down and then told her she had to stay in her bed and rest for a bit. Of course, she was up on her feet and opening the door moments after I left.
I don't know if I had a moment of brilliance or bad parenting but that's when it hit me: threaten the classical music.
"Do you want me to turn the classical music back on?" No! "Okay, well stay in your bed then."
And you know what? She did.
And last night when Ted was struggling with getting her down, I joked he should threaten the classical music. He did. And it worked.
I don't know what exactly it is about classical music that strikes fear into my child but she's napping right now thanks to three seconds of it being played in her room this afternoon. I'm pretty sure this puts a whole new definition on "musical therapy."
Friday, October 09, 2009
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11 comments:
About a month or so ago I read a whole conversation about this on a parent's message board I go to. A few of the moms said that their 3 year olds were fighting naps. A few said they had some luck saying "OK, you don't have to go to bed but you have to have quiet relaxation time" and made them sit in bed with some books or quiet toys and set a timer. Most of the time the kids would fall asleep but even if not, the moms said they got at least an hour of quiet and alone time. Might work? Or it might be one of those things that you read and it sounds like a good solution but doesn't actually work. Just thought I'd pass it along.
Thanks, Jensational. Yep, we tried that route with Lila but she just can't unwind and be quiet or still or anything even remotely close to that. I think it's a great idea for the right kind of kid. Lila isn't that kid unfortunately.
just persist. yes, they need naps. if only because their life is in danger if they don't give you a break. my guys all did this at some point (fought the nap). I didn't let them get away with it (save a few weeks of frustration). and in the end I won. oh and ps: if I had discovered my child hated something so much that the threat of it scared them to sleep, I'd totally totally totally exploit that shit.
this is hilarious -- well, not the part about you having to deal with nap loss, but the part about the threatening classical music. I think it pretty much guarantees that she's going to grow up to professionally play in an orchestra or become a concert pianist. And they'll be printing this story in the program notes, right? ; )
I find it pretty hilarious that she hates classical music so much. Maybe it will work when she is older too! ;)"Do your homework or I will start playing the classical music again!"
Nice tactic! I live for parental threats. And bribery. And trickery. And mental hypnosis. And lunchtime cocktails. Kidding, but I may start implementing that last one. For me, silly!
Stop judging me! Or I'll bring Lila a Lord of the Dance cd (watch, she'd totally love it!).
I once knew a guy who had a little girl who was TERRIFIEd of vacuums (Anna sort of is also) and so when they would have big family gatherings and there was lots of cooking and people around hot stoves, he would bring out the vacuum and just set it near the kitchen door. Not turn it on, just set it there so that Zoe wouldn't go anywhere near the kitchen.
Personally, I think that the loss of a naptime warrants whatever tactics are necessary. It is too early to give up a nap, Lila!! Too early!!
With my boys, when nap time no longer worked out, I lied down with them in my bed and they looked at books and snuggled with me. I was able to nod off or just relax for 1 hour. It was awesome. I miss those days.
OK, that is hysterical!
I love it! Who ever thought classical music would be so hated? Or used as a bargaining chip!?
Very funny! My oldest cold trukey gave up naps (against my will) at age 4. Had these lovely visions prior that children gradually reduced naptime as they aged. You know, like maybe he'd be 6, come home from 1/2 day kgarten and take a 30 min nap. Nope. 2 hr nap one day, no nap again the next day.
Naps are soooo important.
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