To just not go anywhere with DS?

[Ablackcat]

The above is not entirely serious but I am struggling with this at the moment.

If I go anywhere with DS (18 months) at any time between 9 and 11, so when a lot of toddler groups are on, there is a high to medium risk of him falling asleep in the car.

This then throws the whole day out of whack as he refuses to nap as he’s given himself a second wind but is a tired, angry ball of whingey rage.

But it’s obviously also not good for us to spend all day in the house - I’d really appreciate some advice on managing this, if anyone has found a knack?

On the way there on back?

On the way to the activity " wakey wakey sunshine we are here"

Way back "wakey wakey youre going to miss your lunch"

Car snacks?
stay local?
loud nursery rhymes in car?

Afternoon activities until his nap moves up

He does wake up. That’s not the issue. The issue is he won’t then go back to sleep, so all day you have a grouchy child!

I think I will have to knock morning activities on the head for now. It’s a complete pain because there isn’t much on in the afternoons compared to mornings!

Don't go by car perhaps?

Ah yeah I get it OP - DD is the same age and we don't go out by car much but there's always a risk of a pram nap throwing the whole day off schedule. We're lucky that toddler activities are close by so tend to just limit activities in the morning to local playgrounds and soft play. It is hard though!

My son is 18 months and will often nap in the car between 9 and 11 too. I just keep morning journeys to 10 mins and under (I appreciate am lucky I can do so).
He will then nap at about 12.30 for 1-1.5 hours.
Not sure what to say if your son then won't nap at all after a short car nap. I guess I would stay home or not use the car and try and get him to an earlier nap but would be very limiting and dull - you have my sympathy.

Do you have to use the car?

I totally get it! That stage is a definite pain. And neither of mine would ever transfer from the car, or make up the rest of their nap later, so it was not a fun afternoon for anyone! And we couldn’t walk anywhere.

I just used to keep the car windows open and blast music at them to keep them awake. And snacks. Or letting them watch a video on my phone also worked sometimes.

If that failed then I was lucky that I could park the car in the garage and leave the door open and they could at least get 45 min sleep in the car seat. Obviously not everyone can do that! Also I’ve definitely sat in my car outside somewhere and chilled in peace with a napping child (that one is more difficult when you have more than one kid though!)

Sometimes allowing a short nap around 9/10ish on the way somewhere worked well because then they’d take another nap a bit later than normal at home.

Hopefully it’s not a long phase OP

If it's far, how about bus or train? Play or read or draw on the way?

I have a similar issue and had to look for afternoon activities. There aren’t too many but found one baby group at 1 pm on happity.co.uk.
Pop your postcode in and find local activities.

I’d have just gone out earlier, it’s worth it to be out of the house! But whichever works best for you, if it’s easier to just not leave the house in mornings I’d say it’s worth it to avoid danger naps.

I used to do this on purpose when DS was nap resistant, keep him awake on the way with window open, conversation, songs, snacks, then drive the long way home, he'd fall asleep, I'd go to Starbucks drive through then go and park up by the sea. Read my book for an hour in peace and watch the waves, then drive home. This was as opposed to pacing or rocking him for an age to get him to nap

My ds is exactly the same, plus hardly any groups etc in the afternoon so I have to get out in the morning for my sanity. Windows down, nursery rhymes blaring, a quick tickle of the head at the traffic lights if he's dropping off. He then falls asleep on the way back and as long as I'm quick I can transfer him out. It's a pain because he gets tired and grumpy so we're on borrowed time and always end up leaving early, but better than not getting out at all.

Thanks. I definitely couldn’t go by bus / train - it would take up the whole day. We only have one bus an hour from my village.

Rather than driving to groups can you look at those scooters/trikes with a handle/ balance bike and go to local park/woods/field with a ball?

Can you go earlier and kill time in a playground/library/similar?

Or could you cycle? Mine has been known to try to doze off in his bike seat but it ain't easy!

Could do @Classicblunder bur would probably still nod off on the way back. Days would just be so lovely if we could get up, have breakfast , go to a toddler group, come back, have lunch and then nap. As it is, we go out, fall asleep, grumpy then for the rest of the afternoon. I’ve messed up twice this weekend with naps!

@RewildingAmbridge I used to do the same, scenic route home with lunchbox packed for me and park somewhere.