Changing Nap Time To Rest Time
A girlfriend of mine recently told me that her two kids, both under five, have stopped having a naptime. It’s been given a new name: rest time. I didn’t think that was a big deal, and asked her what was up with the name change. As it turns out, it’s much more than just one word being changed. It’s the whole idea.
Here’s how it started – both of my friends kids started being quite opposed to naps around the age of two. For her older boy, it would come to tears. He just hated nap time. But he was tired. So so tired. Grumpy, emotional – all the things that come with lack of sleep. She had no idea what to do because she knew this little boy needed some shut eye (and of course, she always used nap time to get some chores or work done). But he balked at the simple notion of being forced to nap.
So she changed the game on him. Instead of nap time, there was quiet time or rest time. Simply calling nap time something else took the pressure off mom and baby. She didn’t force her son to nap, and he didn’t have to nap if he didn’t need one that day. This mom would shuffle her kiddo off into his room, where he’d stay with minimal stimulation. Often times he’d fall right to sleep. On the days where he didn’t actually get to sleep, she’d make sure to put him to bed a little earlier. Mom sets up the environment, and the little one choses what to do. Whether they actually sleep, or just rest their little muscles and minds, is up to them but they will appreciate the fact that you aren’t trying to force them into a nap.
When you aren’t invested or tied up on the idea of nap time, you won’t feel so defeated when it doesn’t happen. And your baby won’t feel the pressure to nap, or your disappointment when the nap just doesn’t happen. And with the addition of quiet time or rest time, you’ll still get a few moments to yourself to use as you please. Go ahead and fold that laundry, or write that blog you’ve been thinking about, or edit those pictures for grandma and grandpa. You’ve got a baby monitor to warn you if your minimal stimulation rule is being violated (but it’s better not to tempt fate, so put away any toys or books).
Rest time is great for older kids too. After school, if your kiddo is grumpy and it’s not something a snack can cure, often times they are just tired. Encourage them to slow their minds and relax their bodies for a half an hour before hitting up homework and dinner. In fact, if you ever get a chance to indulge in rest time yourself, jump on it (for me it’s while nursing my baby in the afternoon). A well-rested mama is a happy mama, just like a well-rested baby, toddler, even teenager, is a happy kid.
