WWYD - baby hasn’t slept - should we cancel this afternoon?

[Golch]

Supposed to be going to a family lunch this afternoon. The hope was that 18mo DD would sleep in the car for her one nap as we drove up to the venue (1hr 45 min drive).

Well, she hasn’t slept! And shows no signs of doing so. We have tried music, lullabies, reading a story to her. We even stopped off at the services and fed her. To no avail.

What should we do? I can only foresee the family lunch (smart-ish restaurant) being a complete shit show. She’s never not had the nap before.

She normally has a good 90 min nap which I thought would be especially needed today as she didn’t sleep very well last night. Can’t believe she hasn’t nodded off.

Don’t cancel. Pram, white noise - she will go. Take turns and enjoy lunch!!

Honestly having driven there I would go in, feed her and be prepared to eat swiftly. Do you have a partner? Take it in turns to be on baby duty and off duty so you can chat with family.

Why would you cancel? Sounds like you’re already there?
Every 20/30 minutes try again to get her to sleep in the pram (or other way). As PP said, take turns with another adult.
It’ll be fine. These things happen.

I’d go. You’ve driven all that way anyway.
fuck what anyone else says.
do what you can to get through it.
hopefully she’ll fall during. lol.

i would totally not think twice about resorting to peppa pig

enjoy the meal and if the people
around you aren’t helpful or understanding consider if you want to
spend time with them again.

It will be fine, just go with it. If she ends up seeming grumpy and tired take her for a wander and she may end up dropping off in the pram. It really isn't the end of the world.

My little girl used to do this all the time. I’d be furious and upset thinking the afternoon would be ruined and actually every time she would just manage without the nap and crack on.

You can't seriously be considering just turning around and driving all that way home again without even attempting the meal? If you'd only gone 10 mins from home maybe, but to go all that way then not even try would be madness! If it's a nightmare, and taking turns doesn't work, make your apologies and leave. At least it will show you wanted to make it work!

So you’ve driven 1 hour and 45 mins and contemplating just not going in? Don’t be so ridiculous! Go in and see how it goes, if she starts screaming the place down then obviously take her outside but you might find she’s ok for a couple hours whilst there and sleeps on the way home. You can’t let a child’s nap dictate plans (I know plenty do but there’s no need)

She’s now screaming and crying. We still have 25 mins to go. Cannot believe this!

25 minutes still in the car? She might go off

Honestly, this is just one of the things that happens with babies - just roll with it. Feed and entertain her, be aware she might be on edge but it's still worth going. If needs be you might have to spend most/all of the meal walking her around outside. If you can tag team it, do, if not maybe you'll have a swift dinner and chalk this up to a very bad day. But cancelling everything isn't really a great plan going forward.

By 18 months she can manage to adjust her nap routine a bit surely? Go to the restaurant, order and then you or DH go and walk her around in the pram outside for a bit to see if she’ll go off.

Put radio 4 on in the car and ignore her!

Yes this, or TalkSport - that one works for me too!

What? Why would you not go after having driven all that way?!

I admire the optimism of those who think the pram will do it after the car has failed!

But I agree with PP, you just have to deal with it.

And the person whose family it isn't go out with the pram if the child won't settle in the restaurant.

That’s what families are for- to help!
I would expect to do some pram pushing or carrying as an auntie. Happy to help. Part of life.
Hope it’s ok!

Of course you have to go. One of you just take her for a walk later and she’ll fall asleep eventually. You have clearly been blessed with an excellent napper. My 18 month old often goes through the day on a 10 min nap.