As a child, I was absolutely not a fan of naps. Even in my pre-parent days, I found them to be a pointless interruption of more enjoyable activities like reading, snacking, or binge-watching a marathon of The Real World. Then, of course, I had kids—and everything changed.
Research shows that naps are essential for children’s growth and development. However, what studies often overlook is that parents also desperately need those precious nap times for their own sanity!
Like every other kid out there, my little ones tend to resist napping with great fervor. To complicate matters further, there are ten distinct types of naps that children engage in, but only one of them is truly a blessing. Can you guess which one it is?
- The “I Need” Nap: This is the type of nap where your child is suddenly in dire need of something every few seconds. “I need a drink,” “I need to go potty,” “I need a story,” ad infinitum. By the time they finally fall asleep, it’s practically time to wake them up for dinner!
- The Cat Nap: You finally get your child to fall asleep, and just when you think you can take a breather—bam! They’re awake after a mere 15 minutes. Seriously? You just sat down!
- The “Not Really a Nap” Nap: You put your little one down, close the door, and enjoy a moment of silence, thinking they’re asleep. But a quick peek at the baby monitor reveals they’re wide awake, happily playing with toys instead of snoozing.
- The Accidental Nap: You’re busy in the kitchen making dinner while your child is supposed to be watching cartoons. Suddenly, you glance over to find them slumped in their chair, pacifier in mouth. This nap can also happen in restaurants or during outings when you least expect it.
- The Car Nap: You know the scenario. You’re almost home, and after a morning full of chatter, your child suddenly drifts off in their car seat. Pulling into the driveway feels risky because you know if you dare unbuckle them, they’ll wake up refreshed and raring to go when you’re still not ready for it.
- The Early Nap: This one often pops up when your child is transitioning from two naps to one or is going through a growth spurt. It’s 9 a.m., and they’re rubbing their eyes. If you let them sleep, you know you’ll pay for it later when they wake up way too early from bedtime.
- The Late Nap: This is the sibling of the Early Nap. Maybe you were out running errands or a playdate ran long, and suddenly it’s 3 p.m. and your child is just falling asleep. Guess what? They’ll be wide awake during dinner and will keep you up all night with their energy.
- The “Disturbance in the Force” Nap: You think you’ve got thirty minutes of quiet to tackle chores, but then you hear the unmistakable sound of a meltdown because your child just woke up from a poop-induced slumber. Honestly, I can’t say I blame them—I’d be upset too!
- The “Never Gonna Happen” Nap: You know deep down that your kids are never going to sleep, but you cling to the hope that maybe, just maybe, they’ll surprise you. Spoiler alert: they won’t—and you’ll find yourself letting them out of their room a few minutes later, yawning.
- The Real Nap: This is the holy grail of naps. You prepare everything—a bottle, a favorite toy, maybe a bedtime story—and they peacefully drift off to sleep. It’s blissful, it’s serene, and it’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of. If you guessed that this is the only truly good nap on the list, congratulations! But wait—you can’t celebrate yet because… your kid just woke up.
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In summary, while naps can be a mixed bag for both kids and parents, knowing the types of naps your little ones take can help you prepare for the inevitable chaos. Embrace the good, the bad, and the hilarious moments of parenting!