Napping Noontime Nightmares

 

 

Toddlers need their rest. It is important that they get plenty of sleep during the night and they have opportunities for naps during the day. According to an article in Kids Health, “Naps,” it is during the extra rest time our children rejuvenate for the day. It helps with their growth and normal development. It keeps them more focused and balanced emotionally.  Unfortunately, in every parent’s life , the extra rest your child was getting  will end  and napping noontime nightmares begin.

 

Do Children Need Rest?

 

As a father, I know the scientific reasons babies and toddlers take naps. I have begun to believe though science might be wrong. Children are smarter than we give them credit and I think they take naps to give parents a false sense of security. As a baby, sleeping was never an issue for my son. By the time he was two weeks old he would sleep at least 6 hours straight a night.  Xander took naps easily for the first 2 1/2 years of his life. When my son started taking shorter naps he wanted a little quiet time each day too. It wasn’t until he could make complete sentences that napping noontime nightmares began!

 

Work Smarter

 

Fatherhood is a learning curve. If you discover an idea that works with your child you take that idea and you built on it. In the beginning, when my son was taking naps every few hours, I was able to take a nap if I wanted. I could work on projects, pay bills, clean the house and still have time to read. When my son started taking only two naps a day I adjusted my schedule. I felt my son was looking out for me and knew I didn’t need extra rest. Xander also felt I was smart enough and didn’t need to read anymore.

Life changed drastically when we went to one nap a day. As a father, I know my son was looking out for me again he was working on my efficiency. I became very efficient at multitasking before napping noontime nightmares began! I learned I could  read a book (placed on the counter), wash dishes with one hand, dry dishes with the other, listen to music on my I-pod and practice deep stretches (good for running) with my legs all at the same time (okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration but not by much!)

When a child is learning to speak they normally will practice words as they go. My son, Xander, wasn’t normal. Upon occasion, he would say a few words but only if he knew the correct meanings. He had excellent comprehension of words but refused to say them. At some point late last fall this all changed. Listening was no longer the only option for Xan and now he had words to put his plan into place, “napping noontime nightmares.”

I recall we were both sitting on the couch and he looked tired, “Xan, you look sleepy. Let’s go upstairs so you can rest for a bit.”

Xander didn’t move a muscle. He thought he could pretend he didn’t hear me.

I thought I would make one more attempt, “Xan, let’s go upstairs to your room.”

Much to my dismay, “Dada, It no nighttime! It daytime! No sleepy!” he said this with conviction, a slight grin and pointed to the window to show me it was daytime.

It was at that point I knew that naps and resting were over and Xan felt my education on multitasking was complete.

 

5 Signs Napping Noontime Nightmares Are Coming

 

1. When your child can look at you and tell you the difference between day and night. You know that napping noontime nightmares are about to begin.

2. You look forward to your child’s naps more than they do and are counting the seconds before a nap, during the nap and after the nap (guaranteed naps are almost over.)

3. While driving,  your child fall asleep in the car. Stop lights, hitting the brakes and loud music won’t wake them but the second you pull in the driveway they are awake! The will be crabby, cranky and ready for round two with you!

4. Your child will laugh aloud if they hear the  word “tired” anywhere, including on television!

5. Don’t move, if your child falls asleep around noontime. It doesn’t matter where you are, if you breathe wrong they will wake up. If you do wake them you should prepare yourself for screaming, yelling and being blamed for waking them. If they are like my son, don’t even be surprised if you hear an occasional curse word! (see Cursing, Children, History and More)

Be sure to check out Andi-Roo at TheWorld4Realz who is writing about a month of controversy in the A to Z +1 August blogging challenge with me! Today is the letter “N” for Napping Noontime Nightmares!

 

Most parents dread the day their child stops taking naps! It can become a major life adjustment. How did you do when your child stopped taking naps? Did you have any napping noontime nightmares? Be sure to tell me in the comments!

 

Tags: baby sleeping, kids health, learning curve, nightmares, quiet time, toddlers