As probably all of you who read my blog know, I've had trouble with Addison taking naps her entire life. As a newborn she would stay up for hours during the day and not sleep. And it just never got any better. I read books and talked to everyone. She was growing so well and so healthy that her pediatrician didn't care because she didn't show any signs of being sleep deprived. And she always slept at night time, but just not during the day. I've been through my ups and downs of dealing with it. Addison's nap schedule basically went from three 30 minute naps, to two, the just one! And when I went to one, they stretched into about one 40 minute nap. You really have no clue what it's like to have a baby that doesn't nap until you actually have one. It's so hard!! I have zero time to get things done around the house that need being done because I'm always entertaining at the same time. And when she does go to sleep it is almost never enough. It's long enough to eat lunch, or put on a bathing suite and tan one side for 20 minutes and have to come it shortly after flipping, or to fold a load and load another one, to sweep but not mop, etc.
I've tried so many different things...warm or cold room, blackout curtains, just blinds closed, dressing her different ways, different times, full stomach or not so full, noise or no noise...and none of it makes a difference. The only difference is if she is laying down by herself and or with someone else! Like today, she slept in her bed for about 40 minutes and woke up crying. So I waited to see if she would go back to sleep an watched on the monitor. (14 months, still haven't given up hope!) And then I went and got her and laid down with her in my bed. She slept for over two hours!! A three hour nap! And she slept for two and half hours straight in our bed Sunday afternoon when all three of us took a nap. So she can nap, just not alone. But that doesn't give me any time to actually do anything and I don't want her to become dependent on having someone.
A girl I know came and took Addison's pictures yesterday and was telling me about how she has been frustrated lately because her boy who is a few weeks younger than Addison is down to 2 two hour naps and she had gotten so spoiled with his longer ones and doesn't know what to do now. I tried my hardest to sympathise with her. Another mom recently told me that she is disappointed her daughter no longer takes a morning nap and only takes one three hour nap. Again, I try and understand. But inside I'm thinking, "Lord I wish I could complain about things like that!!" or "I could accomplish so many things in 3 hours!".
I have gotten used to it because this is my only child and I don't know what it's like to have a baby that naps. People say they don't know how I do it and I just explain that if you have no other choice it's easier. Like the mom who has twins the first time she conceives and people have no idea how she makes it, but she has only ever had twins so she just does it. Sure we wish things were easier like the other moms we see. Several months ago when I was really struggling with her not napping and I was still pumping, I would cry sometimes because she would wake up before I was even done and then I would think about the people who can't have children or who's babies have cancer and how ungrateful I would seem to them and it helps me have a COMPLETE heart change! I may have a baby that doesn't nap. But I have been blessed with everything I could have hoped for in a little girl. She is healthy, extremely smart, beautiful, fun, lively, happy, sweet, cuddly, and so much more. And the fact that she is able to keep such a great attitude on not sleeping, is just another example of how great she is! :)
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