The Art of the Nap

The Nap: A critical ritual that seems to be the constant thread throughout my days. If naps go well, a high percentage of the time it will be a fruitful day that produces happy mommy along with happy babies. If they don't there is the potential for very unhappy mommy by the end of the day. Fortunately, the nap fairies have looked down on me kindly so far and blessed me with two fairly good sleepers (for 3 months)... as long as I am attentive to the "Rules of the Nap".

Rule number 1 - naps must be the cornerstone of daily planning. Now this is not to say that I am a prisoner in my own home. But I have already learned the hard way that naps need to occur without fail and they need to occur within a particular window of time. Attempt to veer outside this window and the nap fairies will find "gentle" reminders of Rule Number 1. So as I plan out each day, I must coordinate which outings can realistically fit within the napping window (approximately 2 hours max.)

Rule number 2 - Respond promptly to the sleepy signals. I must forever be on the lookout for the initial sleepy signals so as to maximize my potential for smooth nap transitions (boy do I love smooth nap transitions). They occur when everything is in perfect sync, you, the baby, and the all important napping environment (darkened room, precuddling, soft music in the background, the comfy green glider chair.) So at 3 mos. the girls eat approximately every three hours. So after about an hour and a half of wake time the sleepy signals begin to reveal themselves. (But they can frequently fool you and arrive early if you are not paying careful attention. If you miss them...you are sure to miss the Smooth Napping Boat.) At first, they are subtle (a slight increase in cooing volume, an occasional squak - mainly from Maya). Then, if not heeded in time they will ramp up to an intermittent alley cat howl and overt yawning. Now most of the time, I, the dutiful mother, have successfully launched the napping routine into motion, but on the rarest of occasions I will miss the window, only to be met with all out screaming. This usually only occurs when I foolishly attempt to take on a household project that requires more than 7-10 minutes to complete... live and learn. :)

Rule Number 3 - Swaddling makes for happier naptime for everyone - although sometimes babies don't think so initially. Whoever invented swaddling was simply a genius to behold. And I will be forever thankful that I jumped on the opportunity to have sweet Dr. Wilder teach me his simple swaddling technique, when prior to discharge from the hospital he innocently asked, "Any Questions?" My instant response, " Yeah, you must teach me how you do that swaddling thing, you make it look so easy!" I simply cannot imagine putting two babies down for 4 naps a day plus bedtime (that is 10 count them 10 sleep transitions folks!) without the art of the swaddle on my side. When the little munchkins are in their coordinated yellow and pink Hawaiian print swaddle blankets (thank you to Auntie Elaine in Oahu - what would we do without them) the thrashing and squirming usually comes to a halt within a minute or two. And they just look so very adorable snoozing away in their little tropical burritos.

Rule Number 4 - Anticipate and allow for the 10 minute drop off period. After many a nap ritual I have come to find that even in the very best of circumstances it takes both our babies (in the best of moods) a good 10-15 minutes to complete the full nap ritual - which for me must be multiplied by two and carefully coordinated. So I have given up hoping to try and rush it...for that never works in the end. Once swaddled, we partake in, the 2-3 minute calm down cuddle while we make our way into the darkened nursery. We start the lullabies - (most of which I could recite by heart now), and we proceed with approximately 5-10 minutes of shushing and patting of the back. Finally, when they start to feel a bit heavier and their breath has moved to a softer pace, I gingerly place them down into their cribs, braced for any twitching or fussing.

If I am lucky, they will retain their blissful sleepy faces, with bodies serenely poised for little baby dreams (I do wonder what they dream about as the flashes of smile shoot across their toothless mouths...a beautiful mystery indeed.) As I linger, watching the little sea turtles and Hibiscus flowers rise and fall under their angelic baby breath, all is right with the world. At least for a few precious moments...