Naps for baby with a toddler

[DappledThings]

How do you do it? I have DS 2.3 and DD 5 months. Because of where we are living at the moment we are out and about all day everyday which is fine and it means DD has had 95% of all her naps in the buggy.

Today for the first time in ages I needed yo wait in til the post comes so have tried to get DD to nap around 9 as usual. Couldn't settle her in our room because she's not used to it and I couldn't keep trying to settle her because DS was jumping all over the bed and demanding a story.

Moved to lounge and put Gruffalo on for him. DD eventually fell asleep on me, which was fine for 20 minutes then Gruffalo finished and DS jumped up next to us and woke her.

It's not his fault, he's two and wants to be running and playing and doesn't understand / have the impulse control to be quiet for an hour. It's not even the noise, he wants to cuddle her all the time which I'd lovely but of course is going to wake her up.

Is she going to be having all her naps in the buggy forever? How did any of you get the time and space to get a baby cot napping with a bouncy toddler in tow? I should add she goes down at night very happily whereas he was the opposite. Napped in cot with no help from small but was harder at night.

That sounds really frustrating OP. I'm afraid I don't have any advice for you - I'm currently 38w pregnant with DC2 and there will be an identical age gap between them so I'll be watching this thread with interest - but have a bump!

I have no advice except to say that my pram is permanently set up in the living room for naps for Ds2 who is four months. I rock the pram while reading books with ds1 and then we potter about while baby is sleeping. although ds2 is a velcro baby so this is day four of independent naps.

Oh, and ds1 is 16 months

DS is 14 months, he has had all his naps in the buggy for this reason. It suits me actually - I keep the buggy in the kitchen, I'm not tied to the house or the bedroom at nap times, and I can pop him outside to sleep in the fresh air on nice days.

Can't get pram in here! Part of the issue is going to change next week when we finally complete our purchase. Had to sell our house first so in hospital accommodation flat (where DH works) on 2nd floor with no lift.

Managed to get him interested in Gruffalo's Child as well and she conked out again. So she's had 2 x 20 minutes which could be worse. Going out now!

Can you do bouncer naps for the next week?

Do you have a carrier or could you get one? Then baby can nap in there if you need to entertain your toddler. My 6 month old naps in his cot at home but when I'm out at playgroup with baby and toddler I pop the little one in the carrier for his nap so I'm still hands free and able to move around.

Never managed a bouncer nap with either of them past about 2 weeks old.

I think we'll just carry on heading out by 9ish. I just keep feeling I ought to be helping her nap at home and don't get a chance. I don't know why really!

Yes, I have a carrier, a good one but she doesn't sleep in it as well as he did.

This might not necessarily be anything to do with you being out and about all the time. It obviously could be of course.

DD1 only used to nap in her car seat until she was about 4 months (awful I know but nothing else worked) and then buggy until 5/6 months. DD2 only napped in the sling until she was 7 months old. I tried (A LOT) get them out with both of them but they knew what they wanted. Then one day it just clicked.

I think keep trying when you're at home but try not to worry about it. You could wait until she's a bit older and just do the napping on you thing, or have her in the buggy indoors (when you move).

You're actually quite lucky. Conversely DD2 rarely sleeps in her buggy when out and about. It's not like we've ever been restricted to the house either, but ever since she was very little she used to wake as soon as the fresh air hit her. It was very frustrating and limiting. She's 22mo old now so I'm less worried if we miss a nap or two.

DD is the same age and needs stimulation to nap too!

You could try putting on white noise when she’s napping at home. It works here to extend DD’s naps if she wakes prematurely and smoothes out background noise.