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Original poster

How to get toddler to sleep in buggy?

17 replies

AliceW89 · 10/03/2022 11:21

We are going away when DS will be just turned 2. Due to a combination of being born in lockdown (nowhere to go!) and being the sort of baby who really struggled to switch off, we fell into the habit of doing the majority of his naps and night sleep in his cot, with white noise and black out blinds. He will still nap in the car and used to nap in the sling (too big now!) He has however never really napped in the pushchair. As a tiny baby he would occasionally fall asleep but we would have to keep moving the whole time. From about 7 months onwards he just refused to sleep and would scream the whole time if we dared try and pull the sun shade over. He loves the buggy and loves looking out from it. He doesn’t link it to sleeping at all, even if we are travelling over nap time in it.

I really don’t want to be tied to DH or I needing to be in the room over lunch time or from 8pm onwards. It would be so great if he could sleep in his pushchair so we could go out! Is it possible to make this happen? Should we get him ready for bed and off to sleep in the buggy before heading out, or head out with him awake and hope for the best? 😬 very keen on hearing from anyone who has cracked this!

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Twizbe · 10/03/2022 11:27

Honest answer... your holiday will be much more enjoyable if you go with their flow and routine.

We went away with DS when he was about 18 months old. We had to take him to the room (and air conditioning) for his afternoon nap every day, but then I had a siesta as well. I was pregnant at the time so quite enjoyed it.

In the evenings we'd put him to bed and then sit on our balcony enjoying the view and some wine.

It was lovely and just life with a toddler.

Butteryflakycrust83 · 10/03/2022 11:33

Following as we have the exact same problem with our lockdown toddler!

I am going to try and walk home from her ballet class on Saturday as she is always exhausted and falls asleep as soon as she gets home...can only try!

HotMummaSummer · 11/03/2022 17:03

I have the opposite problem, never get cot naps so always have to nap in the pram. We've been on 2 holidays when DD was 10 months and 14 months. We did an extra nap at around 5ish (heat and swimming tired her out!)so could do a bedtime of around 10.30pm which meant we could enjoy an evening out.

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Footballsundays6777 · 11/03/2022 17:08

We’ve just adjusted our holidays about the DC when they are little and let them nap in the room over lunch, we nap, and earlier nights otherwise they are just crabby and cranky and ruin the next day.
We actually go on holiday tomorrow, DD is 2.5 she won’t nap in the pram so we will just take her back to the room. DS7 can relax on his switch out of the mid day sun and we will relax and nap too.

Wafflesnsniffles · 11/03/2022 17:29

My son........ (approx 20 years older than yours!) wouldnt ever consider sleeping anywhere except his cot. So daytime outings were usually a disaster if that meant missing his nap in his cot. Plus if we werent home in time for him to be in his cot for bed by 7.........

By the time he was 2 he was dropping his daytime nap anyway. Even if my son did sleep in his pushchair - the minute I stopped walking...... he would wake up!! He still struggles to sleep now.
Id just go with the flow and see how you get on tbh.

Miriam101 · 11/03/2022 17:34

My gut feeling is you will really struggle to do this. If he's really not used to it at all, he'll probably go through a lot of "what the hell are you doing rocking me/pushing me around when all I want to do is be in bed" tears and tantrums (well, my children would- yours might be a lot more well behaved!) If you've got a bit of time before the holiday I guess you could experiment by taking him on a long walk when he's sleepy and seeing what happens- if he just drops off then great- you could try to recreate on holiday. If he doesn't you'll have your answer. (NB Another issue would be how long would he stay awake and how upset would he be if he woke up and freaked out- loudly- just as you were tucking into your dinner...) FWIW we've never done this and always stayed places where we could have the kids in a separate room. Much more relaxing. Whatever you do hope you have a lovely break!

PiesNotGuys · 11/03/2022 17:41

Could you get a bigger carrier and take that do it that way

saltedcaramelanything · 11/03/2022 17:48

For daytime naps, I'd just go with the flow. If he's tired enough, he will nap - even if not for as long as normal / at his normal time.

For nighttime, could you go back to the room and do your normal bedtime routine but then put him down in the pram?

We got a blackout cover for mine - the only way he'd sleep in his pram. Was too nosey watching everything otherwise.

Honestly some people will stick to a rigid routine over holidays - but I think that's not really enjoyable for you. If you're flexible and go with the flow it'll be much more relaxing

sunshineandsea · 11/03/2022 18:13

I also have an almost 2 year old born during lockdown who has never been able to nap in the pram! On holiday we just tend to plan our days so she'll sleep in the car on the way back from a day out, or we do something in the morning then go back for lunch and nap and we chill out for a bit, then maybe go out again after. The first time we went away she was 14 months and I was worried about messing up her routine, and there were days when she didn't sleep much and got over tired but it made me realise it's not the end of the world if it goes out the window for a week, and actually they are more adpatable than you think! We have always gone with self catering and separate rooms though which makes life easier for us. Hope you have a good holiday!

UnbeatenMum · 11/03/2022 18:40

I was going for a short drive to get my 2yo to nap last time we went on holiday and then sitting in the car with him until he woke up. Worth a go if you can't get him to nap in the buggy (mine won't).

DelurkingAJ · 11/03/2022 18:44

Where are you going? Before COVID we used to keep the DC on UK time…meant a bit of a lie in in the morning and then they could cope with dinner time. We also had black out blinds for the buggy, which sometimes helped.

thenewbride · 11/03/2022 18:46

With all 3 of mine we went with how their mood was.... they tire themselves out in the day so if you get them settled for bed and blanket and bottle in the buggy he will probably nod off when your walking to where ever your going to, otherwise just let him have fun on holiday? Mine did have late nights an some nights fell asleep in the buggy as we got ready to go out! Last week my 2YO got in my older sons wheelchair at our wedding party and went to sleep real early?
Youl know when you get their judging on your child
Happy holidays ☀️

BertieBotts · 11/03/2022 19:01

DS2 would never nap in the buggy past babyhood, whereas DS1 would right until he stopped napping. He did do car naps, so the car nap suggestions aren't bad.

I think it's down to the child, sorry!

bloodywhitecat · 11/03/2022 19:07

@BertieBotts

DS2 would never nap in the buggy past babyhood, whereas DS1 would right until he stopped napping. He did do car naps, so the car nap suggestions aren't bad.

I think it's down to the child, sorry!

This. Lockdown baby now almost 2, won't nap anywhere but his cot but as dog owners we got out every day in lockdown for good long dog walks and as a young baby he would nap but as he got older? Not a chance, far too interested in what's going on.

CottonSock · 11/03/2022 19:29

Will you have a car? Probably just get a nap on the move then. He might nap later and therefore be able to join you for dinner. Or, if he refuses to nap get him to bed early and get room service or attempt a transfer to pram. Probably got to be a bit flexible so it's enjoyed by all. Or maybe a babysitter?

BendingSpoons · 13/03/2022 07:46

Unfortunately this never worked for us. They slept in the buggy as babies but not as toddlers. We had to plan the holiday round it, which was annoying, but was the best way to avoid a grumpy overtired toddler. We would aim for somewhere with a balcony or terrace to sit on. I accepted the inconvenience for the ease of cot naps in daily life.

If you want to do it, you probably need to practise now. Otherwise it will be lots of frustration on holiday.

EmRho525 · 13/03/2022 09:21

Hiya,

We got back off holiday a few weeks ago with our daughter who is 2. We found that the heat and the longer days tired her out more. We typically went back to the room at mid day so that she could have a nap in the cot. However when it came to us wanting to go out we would do the same night routine (bathing her and nappy changed etc) then we would put her down in the buggy (flat) and put the hood all the way over. She still has a bottle at night so we gave her that and every night except 1 ended up sleeping.

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