home-based professionals who are stay-at-home parents, our work and our parenting are very much interconnected. One common area of concern for work-at-home parents is nap time. Some parents are blessed with excellent nappers who get down to business quickly and easily at the appointed time each day and nap for a couple of hours. Other parents have children whose nap schedule is less predictable.
My son is generally pretty good about napping and usually takes a nap during a fairly predictable window of time. There are some days that he does not nap at all, though, and I have been wondering whether or not that was okay. When my issue of Parents magazine came in the mail this month with an article about napping, I found a few tips that may be of use for myself and other home-based working parents who could use a little help in the nap department.
The first piece of advice that I saw in the article was about routines. Since my son was born I have realized the value of having a fairly regular schedule of events so that we both know what to expect each day. If the word “routine” has you running scared that you will become locked into a rigid and imprisoning schedule, think again. Routines can consist of just a few things that are done at the same times each day. There will still be plenty of time for spontaneity and fun. Look at how your days are going now and use that as a baseline for figuring out what works and what does not.
Anther great tip is learning your child’s cues that he or she is ready to nap. Sometimes the cues are obvious (yawning and eye rubbing) and other times they are more subtle. Creating an environment that invites sleep is also important – think cool, dark and quiet. Your child’s activity level during the day may also play into whether he or she naps well. Be sure to include plenty of active play and general liveliness in your day – you just might enjoy yourself a little more too. As your children get older, they will no longer need their daily nap. When this happens, it is time to make the transition to having a daily does of “quiet time” around the same time that they used to nap. Spending a half hour to an hour doing things like reading, drawing, or working puzzles can provide your children with a break from a busy day and renew their energy so that they can enjoy themselves throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening until it is time for bed.
Like all parenting tips, these naptime hints are only effective if they work for your child and your family. Home-based professional parents have the sometimes tricky task of balancing work and parenting in a way that works for their family. Sometimes trying something new just may make the difference that you are looking for.