Hug Naps Are The Worst (And The Best)

Shortly after posting my last entry about a typical day with Benjamin, I lamented to some cyber friends how the only times Benjamin wants to sleep during the day is when I pushed him in his stroller or let him pass out on my shoulder for a while as I remain immobilized on the couch.

I have logged many, many miles pushing my Uppababy Vista this summer and I love it because it gets me out of the apartment and moving. And, occasionally, B sleeps soundly enough that I can even sit in the park and do some reading/browsing.

Unfortunately for my relaxation intentions, but perhaps fortunately for my waistline, there are days when I have to keep him continuously in motion because the slightest pause in movement makes him wake up.  He does this on car trips too - sleeps the entire time we are on the highway but startles awake when we are stopped at a light.

And sometimes I just can't push a stroller all day so we relax on the couch and he'll pass out on my shoulder in a sleepy tiny hug.

I love the hug naps, but after a few minutes I remember all the bottles I could be washing or the lunch I could be making, or the thank you notes I could be filling out (cringes, three months later)....and I long for the days of a few weeks ago when I could plop sleeping Benjamin in his Rock N Play or just down on his Boppy next to me on the couch, and he would continue to nap.

Those

were

the

days.


As time went on, though, Benjamin would start waking up the minute I tried to transfer him anywhere but my shoulder.

My cyber friends all had great suggestions, like nap routines that are similar to our bedtime routines including swaddling for naps like we do for bedtime and we are trying to make some changes.

Yesterday, however, while we were riding on a train on the way back from staying with my parents, I sort of had a naptime epiphany.  I walked through three cars trying to find two open seats so I could sit Benjamin's car seat next to me to no avail.  He woke up when I had to take him out of his seat and screamed.  I was so stressed out but luckily he calmed down after a quick bottle and then proceeded to fall asleep on my shoulder.  For two hours.  Every few minutes he would sigh and hug me closer.  As each minute went on, I grew less and less anxious about his crying disturbing a train full of people and came to realize, shit, I was the luckiest person on that whole damn train.

I don't really know the secret to naps and we completely are without a "schedule" for how we spend our days, but I know these hugs won't last forever so I'm just soaking them up for now.