I really miss the good old days when Ella was on the 2-3-4 nap schedule. It used to be I could glance at the clock and know exactly when to put her down, resulting in a lovely 2-2.5 hours each day when I could relax and get stuff done.
Nowadays we are dealing with something I call the nap window. In a nutshell, it means each day there is this magical window of time when my kid will actually go to sleep instead of screaming/blowing raspberries/jumping up and down/banging on the wall/whatever else she does instead of sleeping.
Here's the problem: it's a total crapshoot figuring out when exactly the nap window is each day. If I put her down too early, she isn't tired enough to go to sleep. If I wait too long, she is overtired and somehow manages to derive more energy from her sleepiness. Either case results in her not napping, one tired mama, and a seriously cranky toddler.
There really is no point to this post other than I am frustrated with trying to figure out when in the heck to put her down for a nap. If anyone has suggestions on how to solve this problem I'd be more than happy to hear them. Or if you want to reassure me that trying to understand your toddler also makes you want to pull your hair out, I'd be more than happy to hear that too.
I can't offer any advice as we have a VERY specific nap window that MUST be at the same time every. single. day. God forbid you miss it.
ReplyDeleteThere is no wiggle room. No "Let's squeeze in a trip to the store and move nap time back 20 minutes."
I can commiserate on my toddler making me want to pull my hair out, however.