How to get a baby to nap with a 19mo brother in the house?

[midnightexpress]

I'm worried that 5mo ds2 isn't getting enough daytime sleep. His big brother, 19 mo, is at nursery most mornings, so ds2 will usually go down for at least an hour in the mornings. But after that he hardly gets any sleep until bedtime, by which time he's often getting pretty frantic. If we're out, he'll sometimes nap in the car/papoose, but if we're at home he gets too distracted by ds1 to feed himself off to sleep (he still feeds to sleep) until about 4.30, and if he sleeps that late, we can't get him down in the evening. DS1 is pretty good at playing by himself, and will happily play while I'm feeding ds2, as long as I'm in the same room, but wouldn't, for example, be able to sit quietly looking at books in the bedroom while I try to get ds2 to sleep.

Anyone got any suggestions?

bump

Pushchair (I assume you havev a double?)

A long walk in the afternoon will nod them both off most likely. Then leave them in the hall/garden and you get your feet up for a few mins ! Good for you all to get some fresh air too. Thi is what I did when I had smaller dds (There is 2 yrs between them, but dd1 hung onto an afternnon sleep until she was nearly 3).

Thanks Sassy, yes we do have a double, but he HATES it . It's a P&T and he's not big enough for the sitty-uppy bit, but too big for the newborn position now. He sometimes sleeps in a papoose if we're out for a walk, but it's a bit hit and miss. DS1 has a nap at nursery and is then good to go until bedtime. We do usually go out in the afternoon but I do feel that ds2 isn't really getting 'quality' sleep then, iykwim. Oh, and we live on the 2nd floor so no garden. Planning to move though, asap, which might help!