A Letter to my Son

[lls_mutant]

Dear Toby,

Would it kill you to nap? Seriously? Even just for an hour? I could use the break, and you would be so much more pleasant to live with in the evenings. I promise you I will not do anything interesting while you are asleep. (Trust me. I'd be working on my paper. That's not interesting.)

So please, dear, SLEEP for me!

Love,
Mommy

Comments

[busaikko]

* sings very monotonous lullaby (think the phrase 'sleepy boy' repeated again and again) *

Ah, naps! The blessing and curse of them.... Good luck!

[medicinal-mirth.livejournal.com]

*croons softly*

"Hush-a-by, don't you cry, go to sleepy little baby... When you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little horses..."

Man, I remember those days. They suck. But believe it or not, in a couple of years you will wish he didn't nap, because if he does it takes you forever to get him to bed at night. *g*

[aome.livejournal.com]

I can't believe a baby as young as he is doesn't need a nap. When does he wake up in the morning? Go to bed at night? What happens when you try to put him down for a nap?

Ugh. I'd go nuts. I still do when MiniPlu doesn't nap, even though I know she's outgrowing them. My sympathies.

[lady-nimua.livejournal.com]

would you ask the kid I babysit? he's four years old and he wouldn't go to sleep until midnight. he's hyperactive, so he really makes me awfully tired.

[tesseract-5.livejournal.com]

If a baby's napping schedule is any sign of the kid's natural energy levels, whew!

A friend's 2-3 month old sleeps aaaall the time, she has to wake it up for feedings.

[minnow-53.livejournal.com]

Awww *hugs* Your posts bring it all back to me! As nessa_owen said, there will come a time when you don't want Toby to nap or he won't sleep at night.

Then, there's the time when they sleep too much and won't get up for school... :( But you have a way to go till then.

I do hope Toby did have a nap in the end, and you're both sweet and happy now.

*more hugs*

^_^xx

[misscake]

Is there any sure fire method to get him to sleep? Like, in his swing (if you have one) or a car ride? One of the tricks I used to use with my son was plopping him in his swing in front of a Baby Einstein video. The music and swinging were soothing and I knew I'd get at least 30 minutes (or longer if the swing kept going).

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I may need it desperately!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I believe it! In fact, I'm wary of letting him nap TOO long these days (um, when I actally have that problem). But still... just a little one! :)

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I can't believe it, either. He generally falls asleep at 8:45, and gets up sometime between 6 or 7. These days he's been sleeping through the night. But still. Yesterday, not a single nap. Nada.

It's not that he's not tired. He's often yawning and rubbing his eyes and everything. He'll fall asleep in my arms, and then wake up when I put him down in his crib.

I did try to put him down today after feeding him upstairs in his room, instead of downstairs. Hopefully that will help!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Midnight? Wow- that IS late! Toby at least goes to bed at a reasonable hour. I don't blame you for being exhausted!

[aome.livejournal.com]

And you can't put him down awake, and let him put himself to sleep? That often works better than trying to let go of an already-sleeping baby.

*hugs* I hope today is better! Meanwhile, I'm offering calorie-free chocolate for your sanity. :)

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Heh. I read someplace that it's the average of kids like your friends baby and kids like Toby that gives the figure 14 hours of sleep. Toby does best on about 12- 10 at night and 2 during the day.

I'll be curious to see what the baby's like in a few months, though!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid to say yes, because he appears to maybe be sleeping, and I don't want to jinx it! :) But thanks :)

The tradeoff, I suppose, is when they're old enough not to nap they're also old enough to (theoretically) play by themselves for a while, thus leaving me time to get SOMETHING done. (Of course, notice how I'm writing my paper right now....)

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Not really. The car used to work, and he'll sleep for a bit, but a.) he's out of the carrier now, and b.) he often wakes up as soon as we get back. :P The swing doesn't work anymore either- in fact, I think we're about out of the swing. (He went sideways in it yesterday.) But we have gotten him to sleep at night, so I shouldn't complain too much!