Christmas travelling with a non-sleeper - any tips?

[AngelsfromtherealmsofgloryDog]

DS is just turning 2 and really needs the right amount of sleep. Unfortunately he doesn't sleep in the car and I'm struggling to know how to deal with our Christmas travelling.

We have three days when we visit family members for the afternoon/evening. They are all a drive away and are big get-togethers so we can't invite everyone here.

In order to be home for bedtime, we'd have to leave by about 6pm which is way too early. If we put him to bed there, we'll have to wake him up to take him home and he'll be unhappy and awake all the way home and for as long as it takes to get him to sleep once we get back (at least half an hour, maybe longer).

That doesn't sound like a big deal except that his behaviour always suffers the next day as a result. Unfortunately we have two of these visits back to back, followed by another longer trip to visit family. DS is nervous of other people at the best of times, and that will be much worse if he's sleep deprived.

I'm not looking forward to Christmas as it interferes with my daily nap, and DS starts waking more at night when tired/overtired.

Any bright ideas?

Actually, I don't think there are any bright ideas that will help other than going earlier in the day and staying just a short while (which won't work for various reasons) - I feel a bit better for getting it off my chest though.

glad I'm not the only one worryig re naps and Christmas. It's only once a year I tell myself but DD is also a nap resistor at 2.5 weeks so also worried about her becoming an overtired ball of fury, especially when certain family members think that she's wanting to play when in fact she's tired

Ugh, you poor thing. I imagine you'd had enough of all that with your DS when he was little.

I think it'll all be a write-off. We're subsequently staying 2 nights with my parents, who are planning sleeping arrangements which will mean I have to get out of bed when DS wakes, which I'm just not used to, so I'll be tired and grumpy too!

Well good luck and enjoy it..! I didn't realise just how much DS's routine meant to me until it gets thrown out of whack. I used to think I was quite chilled pre-DCs....

Absolutely no words of wisdom, but I'm dreading the advice we'll be given over the holidays over DD's sleeplessness at parents and PILs. My parents tell me to let her cry it out, PILs say - she's not tired, let me play with her until she drops asleep naturally

Ugh, I know the feeling, nectarina. I've come to the conclusion that the best response is just to shut up about it, and give the minimum answer if pressed.

I know, Iggly. I spent most of DS's first year being made to feel completely paranoid over DS's sleep routine (and again, I'd never class myself as a 'routine' type person). Talking to other people with babies, it does seem that the ishoos DS had with sleep are not the norm (hooray!). Even now if he doesn't have a nap, he'll be Wide Awake and wanting to get out of bed 6 times that night. Naps are completely non-negotiable.

Mind you, someone I met recently said his DD was awake for 2 or 3 hours in the night every night until she started school. He and his wife took it in turns to stay up with her. Compared with that, DS has been a breeze.

2-3 hours every night?!!! Eternally grateful for DS's sleep - he's great now apart from having to sit with him as he falls asleep which can take ages but that's only an issue now we've got DD.

MIL said keep DD awake all day so she'll sleep at night. Im afraid I didn't keep quiet at that gem

Will they snooze in a buggy? you could go out for a stroll when you think a nap is needed. They are then removed from all the noise etc, and may crash out for a little while and then you can recommence...