Toddler only naps in buggy- expecting a second baby

[slummyyummymummy1]

Hi all,
I am only 5 weeks pregnant but I've already started to think what am I going to do with DD1's afternoon nap when the new baby arrives. DD1 will be 23 months when the baby arrives in December. DH and my mum will be around for the first 4 weeks or so but after that it will just be me during the week.
I've done what the books have said not to do and I take DD1 out for a walk in the buggy after her lunch everyday! I actually enjoy the walk and she falls asleep within 10-15 minutes and I then take her back home to get on with chores whilst she naps for 2 hours in the buggy. The routine works well for us and is less stressful than putting her down in the cot crying.
I was wondering if there are any other mums out there who had to do the same and was it manageable with a new baby? Or did you wish you had got your toddler used to the cot for naps beforehand? Thanks!

Any way you could try to 'wean' her into napping in the buggy with increasingly short walks until she is willing to nap in the buggy without a walk?

Much easier said than done I know!

Couldn't you get a double buggy and do it with both of them? Or a sling? Baby might fit right into the toddler's routine more easily then.

Plus at 23 months she might have dropped the afternoon nap and just have one by then at around lunchtime.

You have 8 months to worry about this - no point stressing about it now when her pattern might have totally changed.

I would just teach her now how to nap in cot. Far easier at home with young baby as them when toddler naps, if baby naps then you can nap also.

Try making her cot fun and safe plae in the day. Put her in it with a book to look at / toy etc whilst you say put her clothes away. Talking to her etc.. Gradually increasing from 2 mins up so she finds it a safe place to be. Then can try naps. Do same routine as at bedtime just shortened. Ie clean nappy, two books, bed. No bath etc obv

You can turn her bed into a den by putting sheet over cot bars so she can play underneath etc

Lots of toddlers drop their naps completely around their 2nd birthday, so potentially this may not be an issue anyway!

Thanks very much for all the suggestions, it's definitely given me some ideas to try.
Littlefoot - good 'weaning' suggestion. I am not known for my patience but worth trying.
BertieBotts and rockchick - I can see myself using a sling alot and also will be getting a double buggy so at least I have the option. I'm a bit of a stresspot but, yeah maybe it won't be an issue by then!
Artandco - thanks, great ideas and will probably give it a try also. It will be easier in the long run, just hope it works!

I'm not sure you need to worry about changing your nap routine. I am still doing pushchair naps with a new baby in tow and it's working fine. I have a toddler (DD, 2.5 yo) who only naps in the pushchair and a new baby (DS, 4 mo). I take both children for a walk after lunch. I get some exercise and fresh air too, and as long as I gave DS a recent enough feed, it's fine. I have a second hand Phil & Teds double buggy (baby bassinet underneath) and a front carrier, so I can use whichever works best for us that day (usually both children in buggy with cover if it's raining, otherwise DS goes in the front carrier). I find it much easier than trying to persuade DD into bed at home while DS is hollering because he's tired too... I am probably taking the wimps way out, but it's working for us at the moment!

Sure newborn will love going out in buggy anyway so double would be what i'd do, especially as you enjoy the walk.

You do have time to encourage naps at home, which wold certainly be easier in miserable weather or whilst you're recovering post birth..but sometimes these things are easier said than done.

Happygelfling- great to hear from someone who's managing well with that routine. That's encouraging and I see myself doing that if all else fails. I'm for the path of least resistance!!

Findingherfeet- thanks for that, hopefully newborn will slot into DD1's routine whatever happens.

DD (2.3) also naps in her buggy, but in the house. Could you try clipping her in and wheeling her around the house til she falls asleep?

ThinkIveBeenHacked- we're living in a flat at the moment so it would be from one end of a short hallway to another! We have tried it at the in laws and it works well! Thanks for suggestion.

Thanks tunnocksteacake- good to know that it worked for you,even if it was a short while! Feeling a bit more relaxed hearing some of your experiences :-)

I've not sure I can offer much advice but just wanted to let you know I am in the same situation - 14 wks pregnant with DD who only naps in pushchair (but will go down at night in cot without a problem!) I am planning on going down the double buggy route as well as an ergo baby carrier and am hoping the combination of those will get me through.

Happygelfling does your DD sleep ok in the phil & teds double kit? Was looking at those but wasn't sure if there would be enough room.

When ds went into his big boy bed at around 15 months he realised he could get out of it and didn't want to nap any more. I was 8 months pregnant at the time and had other ideas so used to strap him in the pushchair and leave him in the kitchen where he'd happily sleep for 2 hrs.

When dd came along I just continued with that routine as it worked: my reasoning being, if it's not broken, don't fix it.

Anyway, after a few weeks, dd just so happened to get tired at the same time as ds' nap so I put her to sleep in her Moses basket and, later, her cot. This gave me a delightful 2 hour break almost every day!

My point is, if it works for you now, there's no reason why it shouldn't work when your baby is born; just take your baby out for a walk at the same time and, with any luck, may fall asleep too.

Congratulations on your pregnancy by the way

Sorry I didn't check this post for ages!
Mrsslippers - hope the pregnancy is going well and hope the nap routine will work out well for you. I'm looking into the double buggy and sling option too. Good luck!

Mumofboyo- thank you. Aaah the elusive two hour break...sounds heavenly! Thanks for the advice.

If you enjoy the walk carry it on! I'm a bit lazier...a quick cruise in the car with classic fm works a treat with my nearly 3yo and 7mo, he transfers up to bed- If baby Wakes I feed him to sleep in bed and then I can nap or crack on with doing things! It's not as easy as having 1, but it doesn't need to change!

not much to add, others have said most of it, but I'm 17wks pg with DC2 and DS still often refuses to nap in cot, so I end up pushing him in buggy, and then bringing him back into the house. He's 22mo now, will be 2.4 yo when baby arrives. Am expecting him to maybe not be napping by then, or maybe not napping every day, so not going to stress too much about it..

good luck with it all! I tend to think of it the other way round - at least I won't be getting into the same 'bad habits' with DC2 as I might not have the time to rock to sleep/push to sleep etc that I did with DS! DC2 will have to fit into my and DS's routine :)