new nap routine!

Since the girls birthday (3 months ago!), nap time has been a huge challenge. An actual nap rarely ever took place. The girls just hoot and holler at each other, make up games to play while trapped in their cribs, argue about various things, poop, sing songs, and generally be loud. 

It was figured early on that Little Bird was the instigator of this disaster, but Little Pie easily went along with it. Very few times did one ever fall asleep. I would walk in their room after an hour or an hour and a half, arms crossed and a huge sigh.

       Me: "Why didn't you guys take a nap?"

       LP: "Mom, I can't sleep anymore!"

       LB: "Mom, I want to go downstairs. Get out now!"

I understand that two years olds can give up a nap or take them infrequently, but not at all was driving me crazy! I'm convinced that all three of us need at least an hour of silence in the house to rest and relax.

I finally decided that the girls needed to be separated. I talked to Daddy about possibly separating them permanently, but we decided that it was too soon. We'd rather it be their decision to have their own room. (Plus, it would be a huge pain in the rear to clear out the other bedroom and figure out a place to store all that crap!)

So, they are just going to be separated for nap time. But where will they sleep? Pack 'n Plays are out. They are just getting too big for them and they don't sleep well in them. Plus I don't want a Pack 'n Play set up in our other bedroom. 

I thought about what the girls would have to do if they were at a daycare. They would have to sleep on a mat and with other kids around! (How do daycare providers do it?!? I'm in complete awe of them).

So we went to Target and picked out Minnie Mouse sleep mats for each girl. Little Bird was assigned to sleep in the guest room on her sleep mat, while Little Pie stayed in their room on her sleep mat. 

Thursday was our first day. I told the girls they had to lay down on their mat (they were pretty excited) and be quiet and go to sleep. I closed each door and went in my room to wait for all hell to break loose. They were quiet for a few minutes and then all of a sudden:

        LP: "S, you there? Where are you?"

        LB: "I here! HAHAHAHAHHA"

        LP: "Where's mommy?"

        LB: "She downstairs. I in here."

I went in each room, reminding them to be quiet and go to sleep. To my surprise, both of them were laying on their mats. They were just yelling at each other through the walls. They each quieted down for a few minutes. 

This happened a few more times, but after about 45 minutes, both girls were asleep! They each slept a little over and hour. I was so happy. It was so beautiful to have complete silence in the house again!

Little Bird is actually awake in this picture...she just blinked.

Each girl got to pick out one M&M to eat with their snack when they woke up (LB picked yellow, LP picked brown!). They were both so proud of taking a nap (I sort of went overboard with the praise a bit, but I was so happy!).

Today we tried it again, and after about 15 minutes, they were both asleep! When Little Pie woke up, the first thing she said to me when I walked in was, "yay, I take a nap!".

I REALLY am hoping that this new routine continues to be successful!