2nd DC, nap routine and school run

[Bluepolkadots42]

Is there a secret to this? I am really struggling with my 2nd DC getting proper naps in because they're 3.5 months and still on loads of naps a day. My understanding has always been the first nap of day is most important and sets the tone etc. However due to school run my 2nd DC is usually overtired and having to nap in car for the 15 min journey, then will wake as soon as removed from car so I can walk my 4yo into school. He will sometimes go back off to sleep for another 20 mins on way home and I will sit in car on drive until he wakes. I then feel confused as to whether that counts as nap 2 or part 2 of nap 1 and either way it's a shite nap length of 35 mins or 20 mins depending how you look at it. Its then really hard to know when to offer next nap and night sleep is now being impacted because of crap naps across the board. Wiser more experienced mums of 2 or more DC please share your secrets?!

I didn’t worry too much about naps as the school run had to be done.

I agree, with baby no 2 it often won't be possible to get them on what seems like a good schedule on paper due to other responsibilities.

Oh I had this. I bought the adapters for the car seat so I could put her down in the car seat and transfer her to the buggy without waking her (sometimes). To be honest, she was just crap at napping until about 8 months when I went back to work! But I had to wake her for the school run on my day off until she dropped naps. She caught up on nursery days in the end. She also did a poo on the school run every day for months 🤣. I think my advice is, just don't worry about it too much and do what you can.

Is there any way to do the school run by walking? That way, the baby won’t wake up as they’re being transferred out of the car, as they will be in the pram or sling the whole time. That’s how I managed it - kept them in the sling until they woke up after the school run.

Baby 2 just follows school times of kid 1.
Otherwise you'll stress too much and life becomes hell

Yup, there's no schedule with babies 2 & after!
Mine were close together so it wasn't until I had #3 & my first was at school, second at preschool that I really experienced this.

Baby naps...wherever! Yes, it can be tricky juggling it all with an over-tired baby but they'll adjust.

Thanks for all your replies. It makes me feel better there isn't some secret way round this that I've been too dense to fathom and that basically crap nap life is just the way it goes for dc2! I was v regimented with sleep for dc1 (probably too regimented)so this whole sleeping on the hoof thing is totally alien to me!

I think the journey there and back would count as one nap then put them to nap 2 hours after end of that last bit of nap when they wake.