Alicia Steffann
Latest posts by Alicia Steffann (see all)
- Kids Nap in the Darndest Places - January 14, 2013
Just to be clear, I have absolutely nothing against naps that happen in beds. In fact, I’m a fan of pretty much any nap, wherever it should occur. Although I started out as a new mom by doing my darnedest to get my toddler to sleep in his bed on a regular schedule, I had to let that go when my second child came along. The struggle that ensued each day at naptime was so draining and created so much tension between us that I decided to let my two-year-old crash wherever he could. As it turned out, that was just about anywhere.
Now, as an enthusiastic member of what I call the “organic napping” movement (cough cough) I have two boys who choose their spots, nap heartily, and awake refreshed. So what if there’s drool on my couch cushion or a little schmutz on their cheeks? A rested child is a happy child and mommy is happy, too.
It turns out that kids all over the place are capable of a righteous choose the snooze.
For example, what’s not enticing about the warm boards of the deck on an early summer’s day? It’s, you, know, like that sauna you pay so much for at the gym. I call this picture “Ding Dong, the Deck’s a Bed.”
Sometimes, you just need a few winks after finishing a meal. Um, or practicing your harmonica.
If your child is really active in athletics, she may need to take a breather once in a while in order to stay on the ball.
Or on the skateboard, as Wub Boo Mummy’s daughter manages to do so well.
Sometimes acrobatics happen during sleep. Hey, who am I to judge?
Gardening and fresh air are also known to be excellent for the constitution, and very conducive to getting your booty sleep.
We all know that shopping can really sap your energy. It’s crucial to take a break. Why wait until you get home? Or even in the car?
Of course, there are softer places to land. Just make sure you choose the right end of the pillow for your cat nap.
Or just steal that pillow straight from your dog.
When in doubt, though, if the world just gets to be too much, there’s nothing wrong with going undercover(s) and curling up with some privacy.
When it comes to naps, there are no rules necessary. Naps happen. Don’t lose sleep over it.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Envy. My child hasn’t napped since age 2. That was a LONG time ago.
Happy napping.
Kerry Ann @Vinobaby’s Voice recently posted..Rezoning: An Ode to my Neighborhood & School
My son has really napped either since 2 and even when he did, it was NEVER because he put himself to sleep. He is still incapable of doing that :/
Can someone start a page like this for napping husbands?
Lori@TheLyonsDin recently posted..Full circle
These never fail to crack me up!
Ninja Mom recently posted..Children’s clothing: hidden danger or cover for nakedness?
Mine gave up naps at 18months just in time for her baby brother to be born. At least is napping still.
I toss mine (kid #3) and let her cry until she passes out. Usually only takes a few min then I can sneak in a nap without worrying about her waking up and destroying the house before I hear her :-) score!!
In a crib!! Omg I didn’t mean a toss her anywhere lol
Hilarious, Momo3! I read that, and I was like, Wow! I guess it’s true that by the time you have three kids, you really don’t worry about much! Just toss ‘em around a little and they’ll sleep like babies!
So much cuteness!! I gotta admit, I’m a little jealous that my kids are “traditional” nappers.
Kathy at kissing the frog recently posted..Happy Blogiversary to Me
Me too! These are golden!!
Jessica Cobb (@DomesticPirate) recently posted..Primal breakfast with link to Lemon Raspberry Pancake recipe!
These are so funny, and honestly is there any sight more lovely than a sleeping child?
Anna recently posted..World’s Best Homemade Hot Chocolate
OMGosh! These are hysterical! My kids have never napped anywhere weird, I totally wish they would!
Desiree Eaglin recently posted..Easy Turkey Chili Recipe
Oh my goodness. So freaking adorable : ).
Very sweet!
Life with Kaishon recently posted..the Creativity Project :: January 2013 :: Photography Goals
bwahahahaha! These are genius!
I have a lovely picture of the youngest napping in her high chair, bottle of milk still partly in her mouth and another of her hugging a sandwich fast asleep in her stroller.
Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes recently posted..Go in Search for Lost Time and prevent your oven from getting depressed : Madeleines by Pierre Hermé
Awesome. These always make me laugh.
Allison @ Motherhood, WTF? recently posted..S’s Esses
Hilarious, though if I walked in to see my kids in any of these positions my first reaction would be to completely freak out, thinking they had 1. Fallen and broken their neck, or 2. Gotten into my liquor cabinet.
hannah recently posted..Throw the ball. Throw it or I swear to god I will make the rest of your life a living hell.
Mine was practically napping in the pool of his own 3rd birthday party. That’s how excited he had been all day beforehand, that he wore himself out. Luckily, he rallied for cake and presents but fell asleep in the 5 minute car-ride home.
Naps Happen! Love you and your blog, Alicia! I feel inspired to snooze now. If only my preschooler did, too…
JD Bailey @ Honest Mom recently posted..Enough with the homework. I want my kid to play and be a kid.
I love the one on the cat. Every time I see a child napping on something other than a bad, the Big Green Monster comes to perch in my soul. My kids both stopped napping young, real young, and to this day I have *still* never had the pleasure of scooping up either one of them in a heap of dead-weight sleep to carry their innocent, floppy bodies up to their beds from so much as a carseat, let alone our back deck from a nap on a rainboot!
Jenny recently posted..Top 10 Uses for My Post-Partum Gut Roll
I’m going to show these pictures to my children. “You are getting veeeeeeery sleepy…”
Thanks for the chuckle, funny one!
HouseTalkN recently posted..I’m Going To Haiti
These are fabulous. I was a “get your patootie in the bed kind of mom” although when they couldn’t sleep, I’d put them in the jumperoo, and watch them jump themselves to sleep…sometimes they’d even do a few bounces as they were still out!
Keesha recently posted..10 Things About Me That Suck For My Partner
Yes, my kids are fans of the spontaneous nap. My favorite was when my middle child fell asleep in the carseat with a mouth full of chicken nugget. He just…passed out mid bite I guess.
Myndee recently posted..Reaching the Terrible Two’s a Year Early
Seeing these sleeping kids makes me yearn for a nap. *Yawn*
Stephanie recently posted..The Bane of Ambition
I have pics of my kids alseep on the stairs (tucked nicely onto just ONE stair.), and in laundry baskets!
These are so cute! My 3 year old hates naps! He fights it when I put him in bed but will fall asleep moments after I give up. He will usually fall asleep where ever the dog is at. I guess he just likes his cuddle buddy.
Tanya recently posted..The Best WordPress Anti-Spam Plugins for 2012-2013
Would love to know how I can submit a pic to you! I have one of my daughter who fell asleep while being carried on her dad’s shoulders while we were out site seeing in St. Augustine! It was adorable and hilarious!
Although my kids have rarely fallen asleep anywhere more exotic than their beds or car seats, I saw a kid asleep in the bike seat attached to the back of her dad’s bike. It was like he was hauling a corpse.
Observacious recently posted..List 27: Unique Pinterest boards to follow
Your nappers never fail to make me chuckle! LOVED the naps on the planks of wood.
Bethany @ Bad Parenting Moments recently posted..Find A Penny, Pick It Up, All Day Long, A Baby Will Try to Choke on It.
I love all these pictures, but particularly the one of my sweet little girl sleeping on the skateboard ;)
I too joined the ‘organic napping’ movement when my daughter came along – whilst the majority of her naps ended up either being on me or on the couch, there’s a few more pics of her sleeping in interesting places.
Sue @ WubBooMummy recently posted..Hula hoopla
@Jenn anyone is invited to submit a picture! You can do it at this link on my blog: http://www.napshappen.net/submit/ and thanks for all the great comments. Clearly, you are people who appreciate the importance of a nap at any cost!
Alicia @ Naps Happen recently posted..Welcome, and Have a Nap!
You’ve got the best pics! Can never believe that these kiddos actually fell asleep in these places–too funny!
Meredith recently posted..Getting Our Diaper On at Family Dollar
These are so darn cute! The little girl using a garden boot as a pillow is just darling.
hilljean recently posted..I Dreamed A Dream: Anne Hathaway and the Golden Globes 2013
So funny……….I have a video of my lil guy asleep in his highchair lol but he continued to eat his cheeseburger and one time after getting out of the shower when he was about 3 I found him asleep across the top of the stove at the time I was upset because of how dangerous that could have been but looking back now I can laugh about it. Apparently he was trying to sneak a snack but the cabinet climb must have been exhausting
This is hilarious! My older son napped in his bed pretty consistently, but my younger was left to his own devices. He was creative at times.
Nicole(Whole Strides) recently posted..Home tour: The school room
That poor cat!!! Hahaha! I can totally see my kids sleeping on top of one of our cats. When my 10 year old was two, we moved. The move totally threw him off and he slept in the weirdest places for a while. The worst was when he would fall asleep on a stair in the middle of the staircase. We would head up to bed and I would be amazed that he didn’t roll himself down the stairs at some point!
Stacey recently posted..10 reasons mom can never be sick
Love this post!! Just wished I had thought about snapping some pics of my little ones napping!!
These are hilarious. Once my kid fell asleep on the hardwood floor behind the bathroom door. I don’t really know what he was doing back there to begin with. I wish I could fall asleep that easily – anywhere.
MILF Runner recently posted..Mailbag Monday #2
My idiot in laws said the were going to call cps on me for letting my two year old crash out on the kitchen floor. It’s not my fault that’s where she decided she wanted to nap
LOVE! But the cat anus? No thank you. Of course my toddler will only sleep on *me,* so if she acted like she might be interested in sleeping on the cat (or anywhere else for once) I would applaud it. Quietly. From another room.
These are so awesome. I think the shopping cart is my favorite.
I’m happy I have a baby again just so we can go back to the crazy naps! I’ll be sure to snap some pics!
Toulouse recently posted..Mommy, Will You Marry Me?
I love this.
June O’Hara recently posted..They Scare Me
Mine have napped in weird places too. These are so cute.
Mercy recently posted..Our Trip to Mangalore
these are hilarious!