Comments on: In the case of a failed nap, treat yourself kindly

By: Drive-through Starbucks = rookie parent's BFF - 510 Families

Drive-through Starbucks = rookie parent's BFF - 510 Families — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:30:05 +0000

[...] Rookie Mom activity: In case of a failed nap, treat yourself kindly by [...]

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:47:08 +0000

Love it! Great advice! There have been many, many days I needed someone to tell me it was OK to resort to the car to get my baby to sleep. And many, many days I needed permission to indulge in a $5 latte! Never thought of combining the two though… hope you own stock in Starbucks.

By: colleen

colleen — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:59:06 +0000

funny, we do this and i almost ALWAYS start with starbucks if it’s One of Those Days. ahhh. rules are he doesn’t have to nap, but we have to do what i want. ‘coz a mom needs to be happy.

By: Lynnie

Lynnie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:45:09 +0000

I know this may sound strange, but when all four of my children were having a rough time taking a nap, I would put them in their swing or crib and run the vacuum cleaner! I would also put them into their carrier and sit it close to the running clothes dryer, they were asleep in less than 5 minutes! And NO, it wasn’t a GAS dryer…Ha!

By: Candace

Candace — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:32:33 +0000

A three year old who doesn’t nap? Mine gave hers up shortly after we brought her little brother home from the hospital (she was just a little over two).

These are great tips for giving yourself some peace and quiet for an hour or two if the nap isn’t happening.

My problem is I work part time from home so driving around in the car doesn’t let me get work done…so I follow Elizabeth Pantley’s suggestion of a “hush hour”. Quiet music, a book on tape for older kids, a sheet fort and pillows…whatever is relaxing and soothing for the kid. Set the timer. And the kid either plays quietly and independently for an hour or drifts off into a nap.

By: Darla

Darla — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:41:08 +0000

I love your site!

I have four kiddos, the oldest is 4 and the youngest is 4 months, so I rarely get a nap where all of them sleep these days. But when I had fewer kids, I could usually wrangle a nap from them on those nap-resistant days by just laying down with them. At the time I felt guilty, but now I wish I could just snooze away the afternoon alongside my sweet toddlers. Nowadays sometimes I can get my anti-nap older two to fall asleep using our timer. I’ll set it for 30 minutes and tell them that if they stay in their room, read books, and be quiet they can come out when the bell rings. They agree to the deal, but sometimes they fall asleep before the timer goes off. And if they don’t, at least I’ve had 30 minutes to myself.

By: Danielle M

Danielle M — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:43:13 +0000

I live in the UK and have just discovered the Rooki Mom’s Website – I think it’s brilliant. Really inspiring and entertaining, we don’t have anything this good over here.

My 18 month old daughter is an angel who frequenly refuses to nap! How good these tips are. My only wish is that we had a few more drive-thru options here as currenly McDonalds is all we’ve got

Thanks for a great Website and such original ideas and tips!

By: April

April — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:52:20 +0000

Reading these comments makes me a smidge worried about what 2 will be like when we get there! My little one is 10 months old now and for the most part, doesn’t fight the naps too badly yet.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:06:42 +0000

Great tip! I also have an almost 2 year old who refuses to nap and instead plays in his crib for an hour and a half! At least he hasn’t learned to climb out yet… I have found that if I plan my morning so that I know we’ll be in the car around his normal nap time, he will fall asleep right before we get home. Then I unload the car while he’s sleeping and am 90% successful at transferring him to the crib.

By: Elisa

Elisa — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:27:36 +0000

This is a wonderful idea! I feel calmer just reading it. ALMOST makes me hope my son won’t want to take a nap soon.

By: Katrina

Katrina — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:27:24 +0000

Great tip! I have a 2yo who has absolutely REFUSED to nap for me since we weaned (parent-led, but gentle) a few months ago when I became pregnant with #2 and was pretty sick. Luckily we found that a drive would do the trick. On a good day, she is out less than a mile from the house and I can come home, park in the driveway, read a book, listen to books on tape, take a cat nap myself, catch up on email, etc.
Sometimes it takes her longer to fall asleep, so we explore neighborhoods we haven’t been to, frequent drive-thrus that I enjoy, or just drive.
She gets the benefit of much-needed rest and I get a much-needed break!

By: Much More Than A Mom

Much More Than A Mom — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:36:46 +0000

I have a not even two year old who hasn’t napped in a month. I’m going absolutely insane because he really needs the nap. I do to, but I’m not kidding about him. Aaaaargh! Looking forward to those tips! (Or just to get the kid to stay in his bed would be nice, so he can have a chance to sleep at all. This applies to night time too.)