We just had a 15 month check up for Oliver.

We’ve been going every 3 months for a while with him because of some concerns we had as parents and the doctors willingness to work with us. After 5 different pediatricians before Oliver was even born, we finally found one we love and who, it seems, loves us back. At least he cares. I won’t start on that. So …

They always ask the normal questions, what’s his diet, where does he sleep, is he talking yet, having tantrums? Then he brought up naps. Is he napping still?
Still?
Have either of my kids ever stopped? Jessica still naps every. single. day. There are days when we’re too busy or out and about and she doesn’t, but if we’re home and her bed hasn’t vanished into thin air, she naps.
So yes, doctor, he naps. He’s still napping twice a day.

He casually mentions that at some point we might want to start transitioning him into a once a day nap routine. Routine. Hmmm. You see. I did the whole routine thing with Jessica. Read the books, stuck to them like my life depended on it – and she benefitted from it. She did. She thrived as a baby and still does as a child on her schedule, but Oliver? Well. Hah. Um. yeaaaahhh. I didn’t crack a single book on routines, schedules, pregnancy, or childhood when it came to his pregnancy or life thereafter.

I kind of let nature take it’s course this time around. Let my instincts lead the way.

But I did try his suggestion, of transitioning into a one a day nap routine. And by 4 he was a puddle of weepy baby following me around, being a shadow. By five o’clock he was sobbing on the kitchen floor, half sleeping, half out of his mind that I wasn’t listening to him. He just wanted his crib.

So I gave him what he wanted. Which turns out, it was exactly what he needed.