How do you manage naps?

[Mamabear04]

DS is 9mo and just dropped to 2 naps. He's pretty predictable in that he'll nap at 10am and 2pm every day for approx 1.5 hours each nap. I also have a 3yo who goes to nursery at 1pm weekdays so it's making getting out and about very difficult as she needs her lunch before starting nursery ie baby naps 10-11.30am, DD has lunch 12noon then nurserydrop off for 1pm, DS naps again 2-3.30pm.

DS will only nap well in his cot and will only ever nap for max 40 mins in the pram and will wake up as soon as the car stops. He just gets so distracted when we are out that I'm not even sure he would fall asleep and when I have DS and DD out, DD goes on the buggy board and distracts DS.

Hence all these things are making it very difficult to get out and about. DD is pretty patient and will play with her toys, we'll do crafts when the baby sleeps etc. I only have one full day with DS and I was attending a baby class in the morning but now with the nap change its making it impossible to get out and I just am starting to feel so lonely, stuck in the house, waiting about for naps. I had DD during lockdown so she always slept in the cot and last week my mum made a comment about how I was so strict with naps with DS. I guess I am strict in that I'm worried if DS doesn't sleep well during the day it will have an impact on his night sleep. Can anyone offer advice? I'm sorry it feels like I've just been rambling...should I just put up with this until he drops to 1 nap? Or am I being too uptight about it?

Sorry I can't offer advice about how to manage, but I understand being strict. When mine was that little I was fairly rigid about his naps (my husband commented), but it was because of all the problems that we had! At the end of the day you do need to ensure that your child has adequate sleep.

I'm not so strict anymore (20 mo) because we've outgrown/dealt with our issues, so we have the option of being flexible. But for a 10 mo who is still learning to nap I probably would be strict again. It won't be forever.

@DragonbornMum thanks for your reply. It's hard to know if I'm doing the right thing letting DS have 90% of his naps in his cot. I know a lot of people think the baby should sleep anywhere but I guess what else can you do if they don't? I also learned to put my first baby down to sleep in the cot because there was no other option during lockdown so I guess that's what worked and so I just did the same thing again with my second baby. I guess it's hard to know what's the right thing to do...

Years of being a childminder and loads of children with set sleep needs but they all have adapted generally takes 2 to 3 weeks but they do.

@jannier can you explain more?

Sleeping in a buggy is such a useful skill - even more so when they’re on one nap, so having to do it in the cot makes day trips really difficult.

Id preserver with getting him used to the buggy. Perhaps with a snooze shade to stop distractions?

My first napped anywhere. My second only liked to nap at home, and cot/sling naps were always shorter. When she was in 2/3 jaos a day, I ensured thay one nap was a 'protected' nap, and the other/s could be on the go. She dropped to one nap during lockdown, so I dont know what I would have done then.

She's still napping daily for 1-3 hours now at age 4 (she has health related fatigue issues) and I ensure she's at home for the vast majority of those, as she really needs protected rest time.

Some kids adapt to naps on the go, others don't.

Maybe try using the first nap out and about, go to parks, out for the morning etc, and if its a rubbish nap, they can make up for it later perhaps?

Life should not be ruled by naps. I've been in your position. I used to let one nap be on the move, even if it was short, and try and get the other one in the cot. But at the end of the day if you're out and about doing something fun they two short naps is better than two long ones and a boring day

Similarly I had DS during lockdown so he pretty much had all his naps in the cot and he was a great sleeper.

When DD came along strategy was the afternoon nap was the most important one (close age gap so they both napped still) and 99% we'd be at home by 1pm.

To get out and about I was more relaxed about the morning one. If out and about it was generally shorter and unpredictable or maybe even two power naps if we were driving. But we'd be back for the afternoon nap so I knew there would be one good sleep in the day.

I'm a bit rigid about naps too, I like the predictability but yes it can present some difficulties sometimes!

I would definitely work on the pram naps, try a snooze shade and a Rockit.

X

Thanks for your replies everyone. I just signed back up for my morning baby class that starts when DS usually naps. Goodness wish me luck! It's only for a 5 week block though. For those of you who were brave enough to accept rubbish morning naps, did it affect their night time sleep? DS is doing so well and I'm terrified it messes it up!

@Mamabear04 not really. DD has been good at sleeping through though. Earlier riser but always has been and hasn't changed since she went down to 1 nap