I always believed that I could control my child’s sleeping habits. I’m the mom and I’m in charge right? Ya RIGHT is more like it! I learned quickly about the witching hour , and how I really didn’t have much of a say in my son’s bedtime. Then finally he started to take regular naps after weeks of frustration. I was so excited to get these naps! I felt sane again, and I got some time in both the morning and afternoon to do what I needed to do. I know full well how important this time is for my sanity, and that is why against my better judgment I have become a nap slave.

Before having Christian I believed that my kid would work on my schedule. I thought that it would make him more “flexible” in the long run. I now believe differently. I believe that it’s important to a child to have their own schedule, and I now work my schedule to fit his. Not ALL the time…but most of the time. And that is what I do with his naps.

My son currently goes down for his morning nap between 8:45 and 9 and will sleep anywhere from 10:00-11:00 (yes, I know it’s a large range). During this time I do my work (I’m a work at home mom). It’s very hard to get things done when he is awake so I use this valuable time to do my job. If things are slow I will clean, blog, and relax with a nice cup of coffee. I love this time in the morning. The afternoon nap happens around 2:15 and he sleeps anywhere from 3:15 to 4:30. I do the same things I do in the morning, but on some days I will even indulge in a nap. I truly cherish this time. I get to make a living and reset at the same time. After that I am ready to put my full attention back into my son.

Everyone is different, that is a fact. For me, I feel that what works best for me and my son is to have a sleep schedule. He wakes up happier, and a happy baby makes a happy mommy. It’s very funny how my previous notions sometimes go right out the window. I am learning very quickly that Christian makes the rules these days. Someday the tides will turn, but for now I choose to be a nap slave.