Getting out and about with a overtired baby

[Rara88Cas]

So my little boy is 6 months old, we currently have a schedule with 2 hour wake windows.
If he's awake for longer than 2 1/2 hours he gets overtired and hysterical!

This hasn't been a problem but now friends are pressuring me about getting out and about with him, he won't sleep in his pushchair or for very long in his car seat, how do I get round this? Or do I just need to wait until he's older and awake longer?

Clueless first time mum - please be kind!

What pressure are you getting?

If you've got 2 hour wake windows you can easily go for a little walk in that time. Though at 6 months I'd expect them to be going a bit longer between naps.

With mine I'd try to get out for a walk in the morning and they'd nap in the pram at that time

If they are pressuring you then they will have to work around your schedule. If you leave the house as soon as your little boy wakes up then you should have a nice chunk of time to do something.

My little girl is 8 months and will quite easily sleep in the car or pram which definitely makes like easier. It must be really tricky if your little one doesn't. Is there anything you can do to recreate a bit of what helps him sleep at home so he may sleep in the pram or car? Give him a dummy, muslin cloth or toy that he associates with sleep time? Play white noise in the car? You can also buy things called snooze shades which you can put over the pram to make it dark.

Hope you manage to find a solution.

Unless you want to be nap trapped for years, I'd focus on trying to persevere with naps out and about now, before he gets much older.

The more you do it, the more likely he is to start sleeping better when out.

What about a sling, would he sleep in a sling? I second PP, it is super hard to go out but you need to find a way to make it work for you as it will not get easier any time soon (it's nap schedule, then weaning, then they are mobile and it's hellish).

I'd try sling, deffo make him sleep in the pram, and if all else fails have friends come over so you can socialise while he is awake and pop back in for his naps?

They probably just don't get it as most babies do sleep in their pram easily. I had a friend who had this problem and it was a nightmare for her!

I don't see what you can do to make him sleep in the pram if he won't, it's not one of the things you have influence over. Probably just stick to shorter outings now and go for longer one when he's older.

I would just go out soon as he wakes.
How many naps is he having in a day?
Whilst I would expect the wake windows to be longer, they are all different and I wouldn’t feel pressure to spoil your routine for them and distrupt your LO

@Twizbe

What pressure are you getting?

If you've got 2 hour wake windows you can easily go for a little walk in that time. Though at 6 months I'd expect them to be going a bit longer between naps.

With mine I'd try to get out for a walk in the morning and they'd nap in the pram at that time

Just interested, why would you 'expect' this? Op knows her baby and knows when it gets tired, bit mean to make her worry about nothing. My baby was the same at 6 months, you don't know all babies needs, just your own

@user7891011 ok ... no judgement. I'm also not the only one who said expect.

I'd expect it because most babies I've known including my own, and the terrible sleepers I've known, have been down to 2 naps at that age. Which meant they were at least away for about 3 hours between sleeps.

Thanks everyone.

Thanks for the suggestion about white noise - he has that in his room so I may try it in the car!

If he's awake for longer than two hours he gets overtired and hysterical, I'm hopeful that as he gets older that he will last longer.

We do go for little walks everyday as we have dogs, just feel bad I've never taken him to the seaside or to special places further afield.

We're going to try a few more local places and see if we can get him to sleep in the car, thanks everyone for your suggestions - I guess it's just tough that they aren't one size fits all lol!

@Rara88Cas ignore that comment about expecting wake windows to be longer...mine was exactly the same at your age as were a lot of my friends’ babies. RE going out, I’ve got a seven month old who is also at their worst whilst tired. Prior to now, I’ve suggested times I know will roughly suit me and also not committed to full on days out (although mine will sleep in the pram). I still overthink and worry about being out but now try and opt for places a little more casual with nice spacious outdoor dining areas so if he is tired and cranky at least I don’t look an idiot picking him up and dancing about with him. I still have friends who think they can come and visit and we will go for leisurely cocktails and shopping days and won’t be affected by baby’s presence. I’ve had to be straight and just say it how it is so they know what to expect...I’d just be direct with friends and say you have a hysterical baby when tired and hopefully can just work around wake windows instead! Maybe get yours used to napping in the pram with walks before more outings as well?

@Rara88Cas not sure I have much advice but I'm happy to see your post because I have the same issue here, although my LO is a bit younger. I also feel like I should be going out and about more, seeing more people. But it's hard to fit around naps. My mum tells me just to get on with it, baby can't rule the roost etc. Good advice... But I don't want to be stuck with an overtired crying baby!

Mine will nap in car or pram but not reliably, especially if we're out somewhere new with other people.

I've decided I'll keep trying a trip or two each week and see how it goes. But otherwise I'll stick to our routine. As you say perhaps it'll get easier with time, they change so quickly.

Also worth thinking about what you want to do- if you're happy with your routine at home then stick with it for now.