And also, they're crazy.
L needs to nap, but it's a struggle. She gets wiggly and giggly and squirmy and can't lie still without me sitting in the room next to her, coaching her through it. "Close your eyes... just relax... no, close your eyes. Without your hands. Lie still. You can't nap if you're picking your nose... close your eyes. You aren't napping if you are making noises with your mouth. No, I know you're not napping... No, you're not. If you're arguing with me, you are not napping. Because you are not."
And so it goes.
I have found it more expedient to bring in some rewards and consequences to the napping experience. Reward: a star on her sticker chart if she rests. Consequence: I start removing Princess crap from her room until she lies still. First go the box of dress up costumes ("No, no not Snow White and Belle!") and then the collection of Princess books. It usually doesn't get that far. Once the gowns leave the room, she can usually settle down.
Today, we were in need of some consequences at nap time. Princess gowns were carted out of the room. Wailing commenced. "No, no mama, bring back my costumes. I NEED Belle and Snow White! Don't take the books! Bring back my Princess lamp!!!"
"L., you can have the dresses back after your nap. And you don't have a Princess lamp."
"But I need one! I need a Princess lamp! For next Christmas, I need a Princess lamp!"
Only my child could turn a punishment into an opportunity to beg for more branded Disney crap.
Once L. finally went to sleep (about 5 minutes after this exchange. I may be ruthless, but I am also effective.) I went in to check on her sister, who had been punctuating our naptime routine with various babblings, exclamations, and gurgling. When I poked my head in her door, she looked up at me and smiled with joy. She had removed her sleep sack and her pants, and was rolling around in her crib, half naked, in only a diaper and shirt. Unfortunately, she is too young for my gestapo nap tactics.
I called their father at work. "I blame you," I said.
And so it goes.
I have found it more expedient to bring in some rewards and consequences to the napping experience. Reward: a star on her sticker chart if she rests. Consequence: I start removing Princess crap from her room until she lies still. First go the box of dress up costumes ("No, no not Snow White and Belle!") and then the collection of Princess books. It usually doesn't get that far. Once the gowns leave the room, she can usually settle down.
Today, we were in need of some consequences at nap time. Princess gowns were carted out of the room. Wailing commenced. "No, no mama, bring back my costumes. I NEED Belle and Snow White! Don't take the books! Bring back my Princess lamp!!!"
"L., you can have the dresses back after your nap. And you don't have a Princess lamp."
"But I need one! I need a Princess lamp! For next Christmas, I need a Princess lamp!"
Only my child could turn a punishment into an opportunity to beg for more branded Disney crap.
Once L. finally went to sleep (about 5 minutes after this exchange. I may be ruthless, but I am also effective.) I went in to check on her sister, who had been punctuating our naptime routine with various babblings, exclamations, and gurgling. When I poked my head in her door, she looked up at me and smiled with joy. She had removed her sleep sack and her pants, and was rolling around in her crib, half naked, in only a diaper and shirt. Unfortunately, she is too young for my gestapo nap tactics.
I called their father at work. "I blame you," I said.
Haze needs to nap everyday too, and gets crazy "wired" right at the point where she should be settling in for rest.
Something that's helped us is a contract. Before naptime, we sit down together and draw up a contract. Something along the line of "If Hazesl sleeps, and gives her body the rest it needs, then she gets one frozen yogurt tube (a "treat" in our house), and her choice of movie when she wakes up. If Hazel does not sleep, she gets no yogurt, no movie, and will go to bed early." It's working well. For now.
When all else fails - bribe. That's my theory.