Our fabulous babysitter* is better than me at a few things: consistency, routine, and getting Owen down for a freaking nap. Sure, some of it is probably out of necessity–she has three kids of her own, and when she started taking care of Owen, her youngest was four or so months old. She said that it didn’t always go so smoothly, but that she spent the first few weeks establishing a consistent bedtime ritual the kids could get used to. I can only imagine that without a firm routine, naptime at her house would resemble a pack** of drunken squirrels trying to escape a burning tree. But from what I’ve heard, it sounds like it goes off without a hitch. And I’m more than a little jealous.

That’s not to say that our house is total chaos. But, we’ve given Owen some leeway–probably more than we should have–when it comes to how/when he goes to sleep, so on the occasion that I really NEED him to go to bed at a predetermined time, it’s almost impossible to pull off. When our sitter told me that, at her house, Owen not only goes down for a nap willingly, but actually yells “Yay! Naptime!” and puts himself in the bed, my curiosity was more than piqued. I decided to get to the bottom of it by consulting Owen himself, and this is a transcript of the conversation we had.

ME: Owen, Melanie (sitter) says that you take good naps at her house!

OWEN: Yeah! Melanie has house!

ME: (realizing I have to break this down a little) Right. When you’re at Melanie’s house, do you take a nap?

OWEN: Yeah! Tessa takes naps! (Tessa is her three-year-old)

ME: And Owen, right?

OWEN: Oh! Yeah! Owen (unintelligible) every day!

ME: Okay. Melanie said that you say “yay” at naptime and get right up in the bed.

OWEN: I say YAY!

ME: Right, you say “yay”. Do you like naps?

OWEN: I play with Tessa!

ME: Uh-huh. So, (changing tactics), why do you like your naps so much at Melanie’s? Do you like your bed there?

OWEN: I have a bed!

ME: Right. Where is the bed?

OWEN: I eat a cheese sandwich!

ME: Yes, you eat a cheese sandwich before bed. What do you do after you eat the cheese sandwich?

OWEN: You make me a cheese sandwich?

ME: We don’t have any cheese. (lie). Now listen, this is important. Do you think, next time I tell you it’s naptime, you could say “yay!” and put yourself to bed?

OWEN: I say “YAY!”

ME: Yes, you say yay! When I say naptime, you say “yay” and go put yourself to bed!

OWEN: Oh! Ohtay! Put myself in bed!

ME: Okay, Owen. Guess what? It’s naptime!

OWEN: Um, no.

Sigh. I guess this bedtime situation is going to require some hard work of my own, not just riding my sitter’s coattails. Oh well, it was worth a shot. And an important reminder: don’t ever entrust a 2 1/2 year old with relaying important information. Unless it involves cheese sandwiches.

*I can’t bring myself to call her a “nanny”, though maybe that is more accurate as she takes care of Owen for three nearly-full days each week? I dunno–what’s the difference between a nanny and a sitter; the actual job they do, or the effect the parent hopes for when he/she refers to them by either name?

**I’m not sure that squirrels actually run in packs. Maybe it’s gaggles.