Nap attack
July 28th, 2010 | 
Author: by Brook , Contributor, babyandsofia (@babyandsofia)
When I was pregnant, I had big ideas and big plans on mothering. I read every baby book out there; I wanted to be informed and prepared. My baby was going to be on a strict feeding schedule from day one. I was not going to introduce any solids (including rice cereal) until exactly six months of age. He was going to sleep in his crib every night. And be on a perfect sleep/nap schedule. You get the idea.
Predictably, my plan did not exactly work out.
I was able to keep some semblance of a feeding schedule. But only because Paolo was an excellent nurser from the moment he was born. (I was very lucky, I know.)
When he was about four and a half months old and waking up to eat a lot every night, the pediatrician told me that Paolo was hungry, and I should probably start giving him some rice cereal as “desert.” I couldn’t believe it, I mean, everyone-including the AAP, says to wait until the baby is six months old. Aghast, I waited about two weeks, until exhaustion beat my stubborn streak causing me to break down and feed him the cereal. He loved it, of course. And I got a little more sleep every night.
And as for sleeping in the crib every night: HA! Against ALL ADVICE, I would bring Paolo into bed with me on the nights he woke for a 3am feeding. I mean, this way he can nurse and we can both sleep. Call me crazy, but I thought it was glorious. And eight months later, I still do.
One thing that I have never worked out is regular a nap schedule. The best I have ever been able to do recognize when my baby is growing sleepy and start my naptime routine. Which basically includes a diaper change and a nursing session. He usually goes down two times per day, but sometimes one and sometimes three.
I have never been able to just put him down and wait for him to fall asleep when he was not ready for a nap. Mostly because I have never, ever let Paolo “cry it out.” I know this is a hot topic for parents everywhere, but I simply cannot let my baby cry. Lucky for me, Paolo is a very happy baby and rarely cries. But, this method does not lend itself to a regular nap schedule.
As a stay at home mom with only one child, I can afford to have unscheduled naptime. I don’t have any chores that need to be done at a certain time everyday and I don’t have any other children that need my attention. At least not yet. And my baby is a happy, rested, flexible child. He doesn’t have to be in his bed to fall asleep. Any crib, bed, car seat, or stroller works just fine for his naptime. I love that I am not a slave to his sleep schedule.
So genre of naptime is best? Scheduled or unsche duled?
Despite what I had always imagined, I think that unscheduled naptime is the best. I am happy and so is my baby. We will have to see how I feel when I have more than one little guy to manage, but for now, this works just fine.
What works best for you? Any nap tips to share?
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I was quite the opposite when baby arrived. He was sleeping with us in our bed as often as we preferred, from 6 weeks he ate rice cereal and there was no feeding schedule at all.
When he did get bigger and we wanted to move him into his crib and to get him into a feeding routine, we had the struggle of our life’s. It was like hell broke loose.
With the second we had a bit more routine and she slept in her crib from the beginning.
Nap tips: I’ve always tried to keep nap times plus minus the same times in day and night but also let it go if the baby did not want to sleep at a specific time each and every day. Be flexible with your baby and nap times and the world will be a better place for both of you
Thank you so much for your advice. Our co-sleeping experience is kind of a joke in our family.
My parents were visiting us when the baby was born. My husband and I had taken a ‘babysaver’ class at our hospital. In this class, it was drilled into our heads that we were basically murdering our baby if we let him ANYWHERE NEAR our bed. So when my dad asked if the baby could take a nap with us, we basically bit his head off. We were like, “Are you CRAZY?”
He just laughed when the next day Paolo started sleeping with us at some point every single night.
Anyway, back to nap time. Naptime is a bit of struggle for us right now, but I am trying my best to get my little guy onto a schedule.
Wow. It’s like I couldve written this post myself!
I agree that not letting baby ‘cry it out’ lends itself to less regimented naps, but to me, it’s worth it. A is 7 months old today, and she’s never been left to cry it out, despite me subscribing to the practice pre-baby.
She has recently fallen into a nap schedule somehow, but even then it’s flexible. But she manages to get the sleep she needs, and we’re all happier for both a rested, and happy, no-tears, baby.
Thank you, Brijtaylor! It is so great to hear from like-minded moms. I think we are the minority out there. Most people look at me like I am a naive mother when they find out that I have never let my little one cry out it. I just can’t do it, even if it means slightly less sleep for me!
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I have 9 children and I did this with all 9 of them. Good job.. keep it up.
Thank you so much, Debbie. I mostly get a lot of negative feedback for my ways. I just can’t handle the idea of letting my baby cry it out, even though the extra sleep would be glorious. And hats off to you, with nine children! That is amazing. Both of my parents come from families of nine children, and it sounds like it was so much fun. Your children are blessed!
The thought of a scheduled naptime would be a dream but also a nightmare. I can’t imagine being a slave to it. Max is learning to sleep anywhere which makes our busy schedule a little easier. Plus, I work part-time so he is constantly going between home and daycare so I can’t really enforce a set naptime.