Some of you know that I've had a really hard time for the past few months with Delight being a serial 30 minute napper. She consistently has taken 30 minute naps, almost every nap, since she was 4 months old. This has been a big point of stress in my life and has seemed to make everything harder. I have spent a lot of time online looking for solutions, bought a few books that cover the topic and tried every idea I can get my hands on. Nothing seems to work with that girl. The last few weeks I’ve pretty much stayed home determined if I could focus on getting her on a consistent nap schedule I could have a life again. I think I did the exact opposite. It certainly made us both miserable. I think her naps aren’t so much the problem then me thinking they’re a problem is a problem. I keep looking at the norm, and at what my friend’s babies do that I’ve forgotten that D is an individual and that if she only wants to sleep 30 minutes, by golly, that’s what she’s going to do. I know that when she’s had more sleep she seems like a happier baby. She’s not grumpy all the time or anything, just seems like she can’t stay awake for very long with these short naps before she's getting fussy. I’ve thought on, worried about and cried about this problem for too long! It’s robbed me of a lot of joy and enjoying my little girl. I came to a few conclusions this weekend that have made a huge difference in my week so far.
There’s nothing I can do to make her sleep more. Believe me, I’ve tried it all.
She’s healthy, she’s happy, she’s beautiful and I’m so blessed to have her, so I better stop worrying and start enjoying her!
I have to stop trying to get her on a nap schedule and just let her sleep when she’s tired. She’s tired more often with 30 min naps, so when she starts the eye rubbing, that’s when I lay her down, not when the clock says. I never followed the clock real close, but I would think, oh you can't be tired all ready, and push her to stay up a little longer. Most the time she only stays up
1 ½ hours, but I don’t care now! If that’s what works for her, that’s what works for me.
I have to get over my guilty parent syndrome. Since I don’t get that nice 2 hour chunk of time that babies normally sleep, I have trouble getting things done. Being a big list person, this also stresses me out. I have this guilt that when she’s up I should be spending time with her. It’s good to spend time with her, but I know I need to back off and let her play more independently. When she does have a whiney day and I can’t very far from her, I’ve got my Hotsling and Moby wrap to help me out :)
With all the frequent naps, for me to ever be able to leave the house and have a life, she’s going to have to learn to sleep on the go better. She’s done well lately and I’m encouraged. She slept in her Moby wrap at church Sunday, and I got her to go to sleep in her car seat at the grocery store today.
I’ll tell you, with my new view of things and being relaxed, I’ve had the best couple days with her these last two days that I can remember. I’ve had so much fun with her. She’s at such a fun age right now. She makes me laugh all the time and I’ve just been so happy being a mom. And you know what? She’s napped better too! Today she took a 1 ½ hour nap (thought I would faint) AND a 45 minute nap, on top of her two 30 minute naps she took. Yesterday she took a 45 min nap.
Was God trying to teach me something? Was Delight just needing me to follow her cues better? I don’t know, but both have happened. I know we’ll still have our ups and downs, but I’m glad to put all my worrying behind me and have a new attitude. Maybe she'll learn to take those 2 hour naps someday, but even if she doesn't we'll be just fine.
I’m so in love with my little girl and so thankful that God has entrusted her to Sam and I.
