Having a child that naps makes going out hard

[modernlifestrife]

I prefer to time long journeys with when littlest DC tired. Family members don't seem to understand that a napping child is preferable that a screaming, moaning, bored one whilst you're trying to navigate the motorway. Older children no prob, can watch their screens. So I guess I'm just in a rage that I've made plans to travel over the lunchtime nap period today and now they've moved the goalposts and can't understand why I can't cope. Apparently I'm inflexible. Maybe IABU but having a child under 2, plus older ones is a balancing act.

I embrace the nap and always have.
He naps in his cot at home for a glorious hour or two of freedom. I see people any time between 8 and 11.30ish or 2ish and 5/6.

If people decide they want to meet at 12.30 they can crack on but I won’t be there!

Disclaimer to say obviously for events and occasions he’d just nap on the go or not at all, and for long journeys he sleeps in the car.

But the vast majority of the time he’s in his cot and I sit down, eat shit and watch Netflix. It won’t last forever so I make the most of it.

Clearly with more than one child that’s not going to work, but essentially I would do what you want to do and not feel guilty about ducking out for your own sanity!

Don’t worry TakeYourFinalPosition! i’ve never heard of the things that go round their heads, they do sound dangerous

I feel you OP. Nothing compares to the torture of a screaming toddler on a long car journey who just won't fall asleep. I flat out won't do it.

I’m having flashbacks to those days. I remember one journey where one dc screeched got the first half and then the second one screeched the rest of the way.

I was lucky with my family who made me a priority when the dc were small. My db would even hold a parking space close to the door of restaurants etc and drive away to find his own space when I arrived, just to make life a little easier. Now my df’s needs are higher so we plan things around his capabilities. It’s always been easy going and relaxed, or as much as it can be.

We took a holiday with dh’s family and it was so stressful; I was constantly criticised either for being awkward, or for the dc being tired and fractious.

I wouldn't even be thinking about this, just get in the car and go, and don't faff about thinking about things. I travelled a lot with my two when they were babies,or youngies,, and well before gadgets in cars were available for them to stare at.. I was fortunate to not have screaming and crying children in cars. They napped or fell asleep, whatever, or stayed awake and watched the world go by from the car windows.

God some people are smug. If your kids sleep, good for you. Mine didn’t, and a hardcore schedule was the only thing that kept us sane. If you’ve not been in that situation you can’t possibly understand it and will just think ‘oh relax, they’ll sleep when they are tired / in the car / look out the windows.” If it were that simple, we wouldn’t be wedded to nap times!!

OP mine are older now and it is so much easier. The nap is a blessing and a curse. I hear your pain! Good luck. In a couple of years none of this will matter x

@1forAll74

I wouldn't even be thinking about this, just get in the car and go, and don't faff about thinking about things. I travelled a lot with my two when they were babies,or youngies,, and well before gadgets in cars were available for them to stare at.. I was fortunate to not have screaming and crying children in cars. They napped or fell asleep, whatever, or stayed awake and watched the world go by from the car windows.

I mean, that’s really brilliant for you. But you know all kids aren’t the same, right? I have 1 child who would happily look out the window, 1 who would sleep on any car journey and 1 who will scream and cry and try and wrestle his way out of the seatbelt.