How do I get daytime naps sorted given other DC's and unpredictable days?

[camdancer]

DD2 is 10mo. I was going to post to ask for any ideas to sort out DD2's dreadful sleep, but I've read enough here that I know that the first thing people will say is to get daytime naps sorted. But I have a problem. No two days are the same. We do have a fixed routine, around taking and collecting DS from school but between that every day is different.

So how do I get DD2 to nap for the right amount of time at the right times. (And what are the right amount of time and right times for a 10mo?) Some days we go out in the car, sometime in the buggy, all things are at different times. We do usually have lunch sometime between 11:30 and 12:30, but sometimes DD2 is asleep then so has it later.

At the moment I just let her sleep when she seems tired. If we are out she'll be in her buggy or carseat. At home, she'll fall asleep on the boob and I will put her in her cot. She tends to have 2 sleeps a day. One of about 45 mins and the other about 1 1/2 hours, but those can change. She has a nasty habit of falling asleep about 15 mins before we have to go out to collect DS from school and she doesn't transfer to the buggy well, so that cuts that sleep short.

I can't leave DD1 (just 3) alone for too long, so can't do a long go to sleep routine. I'm not one for leaving anyone to cry. It's now the Easter hols so everything is even less predictable. We are going away for the long weekend. And did I mention that DD2 is teething?

I think that's all the information you could ever want to know. (Sorry for the essay.) Any ideas how I can sort this out? I really need to get her sleeping better at night and it does seem that getting naps sorted could be the key.

My two children are 17 months apart and I was ruthless on sleep routine and limiting activities to the right times where possible, when no naps were due. It just worked better for me and the children were happier. At this age mine slept at 10.30am for 90 mins and then a short one at 3pm for 45 mins and then bedtime was 6.30pm. Luckily with the older one being age 3 you have no school run yet, so you can find a routine and stick to it if you want.

You can keep a record everyday of when they wake and sleep and see if there is a pattern over a week or so.

I could usually shush/ pat mine a little to sleep by this age and it didn't require much effort, but if she is still fed to sleep, then leaving the 3 year old with some CBeebies and a snack with a stairgate to keep her safe and a well childproofed room is the best plan imo.

Thanks. I think I'll try the Cbeebies and a snack thing. It is good to hear what naps others were having at the same age.