Well, it's official. Reagan is no longer taking naps during the day anymore. I thought I would dread the day, but it's really not that bad. I might be saying something totally different once her baby brother is here, but after a rough couple of nights, I decided to see what it would be like if I didn't let her nap. It seemed now matter when I would lay her down 2, 2:30, 3:00 and no matter how long I let her sleep 1 hour, 1 1/2 hours, 2 hours she was always up all night. It wasn't that she was terrible at night, she was actually happy and full of energy which was the problem, I couldn't get her to wind down, she just wasn't tired.
So I had to decide, either I let her stay up until 11pm every night and go to bed when we do (since she is still sleeping with us) or take away her nap, deal with a few fragile moments in the evening and put her to sleep around 9pm. I chose an earlier bed time.
I keep saying she is sleeping with us and that I will blog about that in another post, so let me explain (as best I can) for why she is in bed with us. Over the summer we went to visit family for two weeks in St.Louis and Iowa. We really didn't feel like taking a pack n play on the plane and Reagan had never even slept in one before, so we decided not to take it. Therefore she spent 2 weeks in bed with us. Then we stayed a while in Texas for the summer and even though she had a crib at my parents, she didn't sleep in it, she slept with us. So after 2 months of sleeping with us we had to try and get her back into her own bed. Once we got back to CA, we tried for a week getting her used to her crib again. She would scream and cry for over 2 hours a night before she either got to worked up, or before she fell asleep. We kept thinking, "ok tonight won't be so hard, they say it takes at least 4 days," but she never gave up. Then the next day she was a total grouch because she was tired and would fight me to take a nap. (in her crib) So, we gave up, and since then she has been co-sleeping with us. Or I guess really me since Darrin has been traveling so much lately.
Back to the naps. So for about a week now, we have done away with the naps and night time is wonderful. I start winding her down around 8ish, she takes a bath, we lay in bed and watch one episode of Super Why, she drinks her milk and before the show is over she is out. Usually it's around 9 and it's heaven. I then have some time for myself in the evenings and I'm not exhausted from the usual bed time routine. She is still sleeping in in the mornings and is usually up between 8:30 and 9, which I love.
Yesterday my dad and I took Reagan to the park, it's finally warming up a little outside. She loves to swing, it's the only thing she wants to do when we go. Doesn't she look so big? It's hard to believe she is just a few weeks away from being a 2 1/2 year old.
3 comments:
I am SO glad I just read this b/c just last night I was telling Josh we shouldn't take Grant a pack-n-play to Disneyland/LA and he could just sleep in the bed with us. After reading this I'm afraid he'd get stuck forever in our bed! HA! So, when we touchdown in LA the first stop will be Target to buy a pack-n-play! Thanks for the advice! :)
I have learned it totally depends on the child! Garrett needs and enjoys sleep. He will take a 3-4 hour nap and if I ever skip his nap because we are running errands, then he will end up falling asleep in the middle of the living room or the playroom while he is playing.
Jackson however cannot take a nap or he will be up all night! Even if he just falls asleep for 20 minutes in the car, he cannot sleep at night.
I know it's scary to give up the nap, but I feel you! Like Kelli said about Jackson- if Parker even sleeps for 30 minutes....she doesn't go to sleep until an hour and a half after her bedtime!
Glad it is working and for you to have some alone time I night. I know I NEED this for my sanity! ;)
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