Would you like to have me answer your toddler nap question in my next video? If so, scroll down and submit your question in the comment section below. I will pick several questions a month to answer and post them here on the blog!
If you would rather read than watch my above video then here is the transcript of this week’s toddler nap video:
Hi, I’m Kim West, the Sleep Lady and in this video blog I’m going to answer Natalia’s question. Here’s what she wrote in:
“At the moment, my 19-month old sleeps in her own room/crib, but I take new naps with her. I’m three months pregnant with my second so I’m feeling really tired and love that we can take naps together in the same bed. It gives me bonding time especially since I’m currently sleep coaching her and don’t put her into our bed at all.
“I used to do it at 4, or 5 a.m. because I felt like she had plenty of rest. Sleeping from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. but now I know that’s not true. My question is, is it wrong that I’m napping with her? Also will this affect my soon to be new born? I plan to have all three of us nap together at the same time but sleep separately at night. My 19-month old seems to understand bed with Mama is only at naps but crib is at night. What do you think about this toddler nap question?”
You know what? I think if it is working, leave it alone. Meaning, your daughter’s obviously progressing well with sleep coaching at night. Additionally, she’s still able to take a good nap with you in the afternoon. I will leave it alone. The only thing is is that it might not all wind perfectly with the new born. Sometimes when you have more than one child, getting them to nap at the same time feels like all the stars have to be aligned (and then you to hope nobody rings the doorbell or calls you or disrupts it).
Just remember be open and know that that might not happen all perfectly and you also have quite a bit time left, still 6 months to see how things go with the naps with her. For example, if you know she stops napping when you’re lying with her then it might be time to occasionally have a nap in the crib but other than that I think that what you’re doing is fine. I know that when I was pregnant with my second child, my older daughter and I used to occasionally take a nap together. My daughter did know the difference, and she knew that it was like a special thing and I really enjoyed it too.
But my daughter had learned the skill of putting herself to sleep, so that when the baby came she could occasionally take a nap in her crib if it didn’t all work out for me to lie down with her and my newborn, too.
Okay, good luck!
Kim West,
The Sleep Lady
Video filmed by In Focus Studios
If you have experienced problems deciding whether to nap with your children, feel free to share your experiences and support. Please click the “reply” link under this article and leave them a comment. Supporting each other makes parenting so much easier!
