Margot had her 3 year doctor's appointment last week. I know it's a little late, but there were no shots this year, so it's not that big of an issue. As usual, Margot's in the 90th percentile in height and weight and doing great on everything else. Not much else report on that front. She's just awesome.
That said, she's also three. The nap issue is not resolved yet, and most days the only thing that gets her to sleep is a ride in the car. Since we neither have the gas money to do that, nor want her to get used to it, she often goes napless. But yesterday, since she had an interrupted night on Friday, we decided that it would be a good idea if she went with Mommy to drop Missy off and perhaps fell asleep on the way home. Meanwhile, I would sneak a nap.
As it has often been said more eloquently, it didn't work out. When she got home, instead of moving sleepily from the car to the couch for a nap, she took the opportunity on the car ride home to practice being cranky so she could scream and cry when she got home. By the time Lauren put her in her room for "quiet" time, she was hysterical.
Wailing, sobbing, weeping: any term for crying you could think of, she was doing it. For a while, any thing I would suggest would bring on the crying. Trying to move her a little and she would bawl. She was so tired, but it seemed like nothing would ever calm her down.
I had been suggesting books (always to a fresh round of screaming tears), but I finally just started reading. It took a few books, but finally she calmed down and was soon smiling and playing. Then I left her to her quiet time to get a little quiet time of my own. Unfortunately, it was by then about half an hour after her quiet time usually ended, we didn't have much time.
Today we had some minor hysteria again, but at least she's finally napping now. Avoiding the hysteria at quiet time is obvious: don't let her get so tired.
On days when she's appropriately tired, her "quiet" time is usually playing loudly with toys. I can't think of any way to get her to play quietly unless I sit in there with her and tell her to play quieter. How do I get quiet time be quiet?
2 comments:
I do not envy your household right now! As you know I too have been fighting a battle in the name of naps and I don't think the parents ever really get to come out ahead . . . but good luck!
I have no idea, but if you figure it out, let me know!! :) Millie hasn't napped for a long time, so I've tried to introduce a quiet time too, but it only occasionally works. In my mind, "play quietly in your room until the buzzer rings" doesn't seem like too much to ask, but I guess it is to a three-year-old! :) Good luck!
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