HOW TO MAKE NAPS WORK WITH 2 UNDER 2

I might sound like a crazy person for admitting this, but one of my biggest worries about having 2 under 2 was how to get a baby to nap with a toddler around. There are a lot of other things I could have stressed about – things like, for example – how the heck I’d get out of the house in 6 inches of snow when neither kid could walk on their own… but no, for me, the major stressor was naps.

IF YOU’RE HERE LOOKING FOR THE SUPER FAST ANSWER TO THE 2 UNDER 2 NAP STRUGGLE, IT’S THIS:

Consistency with naps, multiple loud sound machines, giving your toddler your attention, and car -naps for the desperate days. For more details on how I make it work, read on!

HOW TO GET A BABY TO NAP WITH A TODDLER AROUND

MOST babies are easy-ish to put to sleep when they are new. And the more you encourage good newborn sleep habits, the better they WILL sleep in the long run. I honestly think that one of the biggest things I did wrong with my first was that I didn’t put him to sleep ENOUGH. If your newborn wants to sleep 20 hours per day, LET THEM.

I do think that the success or failure of naps for 2 kids under 2 hinges mostly (unfortunately) on the attitude of your toddler. If you make your toddler feel included, and let them “help” with the baby, chances are much better that they won’t act out to get your attention.

1.  TALK TO YOUR TODDLER

I am the most anti-routine person I know… but our day revolves around the 1:30 pm nap. Every day around “sleepy time” I announce that we will have a snack and get ready for sleepy-time, and remind them that sleepy time is coming every 3-5 minutes for the whole 15 minutes. I don’t spring a nap on anyone, ever!

2. ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

This was REALLY nerve-wracking for me because my toddler was only about 20 months old when I had to start leaving him alone to put his sister to bed. But baby wasn’t nursing to sleep anymore, and this was basically my only choice.

3. TAKE THE BABY TO A DIFFERENT ROOM TO PUT THEM TO SLEEP.

SWIPE UP FOR MORE INFO!

FOR MORE MOMMY ON PURPOSE CONTENT JUST CLICK THE LOGO BELOW.

Arrow