As a proud mom I have to report that my perfect little girl is now taking three (yes, THREE!) naps during the day! I think it was last week I was talking to an online buddy about how my darling daughter doesn't take naps and within minutes was educated on the cry-it-out method.
I've always been nervous about the first time I leave Emma to cry in her crib, fearing mostly for myself and the amount of Kleenex I'll need to make it through. But, truth be told, it wasn't as hard as I imagined. We put her down after a diaper change, book and kiss and 40 minutes later she was in snoozeland. Sure she cried, but I think I knew it had to be done and had prepared myself enough for her cries. Sure, she finally fell asleep but it wouldn't last, right? WRONG! Almost three hours later our little bundle of joy woke up as happy as can be.
I was in shock.
So, the next day I tried it again. Surely it couldn't happen again. So, upstairs we go for the mid-morning nap. Diaper change, check. Book reading, check. Kiss goodnight, check. Sound machine on, check. I closed the door, prepared for 40 minutes of crying and headed to the kitchen, monitor in tow. Will you believe me if I tell you she fell asleep in nearly 10 minutes and slept for 3 HOURS!!!!! Good Lord in heaven I must be super mom.
Later that day it was time for nap 2. Surely she couldn't do it again, right? WRONG! An hour and half later and by God I think she's got this nap thing down pat!
I am so proud to say that since then Emma has learned to take naps. And long ones too. She's now taking three 1.5 hour naps per day and still sleeping 11 hours at night. And the best thing, NO MORE PACIFIER!!!! It's been on my nightstand for three days now and hasn't been touched. I'm pretty excited about this new nap schedule, but to break the paci habit at the same time is downright miraculous. Score one for mom.