Evening routine - help!

[doggiesayswoof]

Dd is nearly 1 and goes to nursery 4 days a week. Recently I've started giving her tea when we get home from work - about 6pm. Problem is, she has decided that she doesn't need to have an afternoon nap any more so she's too tired to eat. She falls asleep in the car on the way home then does not want to wake up. Evenings are tense, dd is upset, then about 7pm she gets really perky and has trouble going to sleep. Any advice - what works for you? I'd love her to eat a half-decent meal and get back to our relaxed evenings.

Ooh - bump - have I put this in the wrong place?

what does the nursery think about the lack of nap? She plainly does need it.

thats precisely the reason why I didn't put ds into nursery for full days. I know he'd not nap and then fall asleep in the car on the way home etc etc. She obviously does still need a daytime nap. could you finish work earlier and pick her up about 4ish for a short nap?

Dinosaur, they have always put her down for a nap (in "her" cot so it's familiar) after snack at about 2.45pm. She used to sleep happily for about 45 mins but now she just creates merry hell until they pick her up! CM, she sure does need it but won't admit it methinks. TracyK, sounds great but not an option for me - I work til 5 so I can afford my precious Friday off.

PS she does have a midday nap too, usually about an hour.

perhaps her morning nap needs to be longer - or maybe 2 naps in the morning?

Think you need to talk to the nursery staff, and try and work something out with them.

A 1 year old does need quite a lot of sleep.

It is tricky - I would be grumpy too if I wasn't getting my dinner til 1 hour before bed and I was tired. I think hunger's a problem as well, but short of eating her tea in the car I don't know how we can bring her tea earlier.

can she have a snack before she leaves nursery? or could you give her some fruit or something in the car, just to keep her going?

could the nursery push her in a pushchair to get her off? when ds has had nap problems a few days of 'mobile' getting to sleep has sometimes helped re-establish a sleep.

Oh I thought she didn't have ANY nap - so she has one after or before lunch? Do they wake her or does she wake naturally? could she have a longer midday nap - thats what they aim for isn't it? a good 1.5 to 2 hour nap at 12.30.
Sounds as if she may not get the chance to have that long a nap if there's lots going on.
Could you take sandwiches or garlic bread to eat on the way home. I do this for ds after a late swimming class and it keeps him fed and interested for the 35 mins needed to get home.
Or could you consider half day nursery, half day childminder? Cm could pick up dd after lunch and let her fall asleep - then bring her home to you after work?