I’ve heard this advice frequently, and while I do not disagree with it, I’m having a heck of a time making it happen. I have yet to take a nap while by myself with Jack.
There are various reasons for this. One: I haven’t had a lot of luck getting Jack to nap during the day except in the sling/wrap or with me holding him. Seems like no matter how long I wait, to make sure he’s really asleep, when I try and put him down in the crib, co-sleeper or even the bed–he wakes up. Yesterday was my first success at him briefly napping in the cosleeper–and I took a shower.
Two: when he naps I often feel like doing one of the other million things I haven’t had time to do, like, I dunno, eat something, return phone calls, throw in some laundry, etc. Part of me still feels like sleeping during the day is a waste, even if I desperately need it. It’s true I can do a lot of those things with him in the sling, but having total movement comes in handy sometimes.
Three: I am the queen of sleeping in, but I have never been a napper. I didn’t nap when I was pregnant. I just don’t like naps: it takes me a long time to fall asleep and when I wake up I feel disoriented with a bad taste in my mouth. And somehow it doesn’t feel like wasting the day when I sleep in late, but once I’m up, I’m up.
Having said all that, it is definitely a goal for me to get better at this and learn to love the nap. I am hoping Jack will be getting on a somewhat more regular nap schedule sometime soon, which should help.
He’s napping in the Moby wrap as we speak.
