Scheduling the Day around Naps
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Scheduling the Day around Naps
June 2004
I have been trying to figure out how to manage an outing around
my 16 month old's nap, and have been very frustrated by it.
Often, if I wait until he falls alseep for his nap, it can get
to be so late, that by the time he wakes up, it's nearly the end
of the day. If I take him out before he naps, he often is very
fussy, or falls asleep in the car, and he since doesn't stay
asleep in the car very well, he will wake up after 30 (or 45)
minutes, then be unable to fall asleep again and spends the rest
of the day very fussy. How do other people handle this? I didn't
see anything about in in the archives, which surprised me. I am
starting to feel pretty stir crazy, as I am a full time stay-at-
home mom.
Help!
Jennifer
You don't say when your baby naps--is it twice a day, or just
once? Seems from your message to be one afternoon nap--if that's
the case, then try to get out in the morning, as early as you
can. If you spend the morning out, then it doesn't matter if you
go anywhere in the afternoon (that's my ''do one thing a day
rule!''). We try to be out of the house no later than 10. Then
we can come home for lunch (or picnic out, then come home), and
be back in time for a solid nap for my 1-year old (and a rest for
my 3-year-old). If they get up early (like, by 3 or 3.30),
there's still time in the day to get an errand run, or go to a
park (especially when it's light outside).
Good Luck, the juggling can be hard!
Donna L.
I hear you. We spend most of our weekends at home waiting for
out older kid to wake up from his smack-in-the-middle-of-the day
naps. It gets easier when they get a little older--you can
adjust the naps a bit more. My approach is to be grateful that
he sleeps so well and accept the fact that nothing is fun when
we mess with his naps because he is miserable. My strategy is
to decide what I want to do in the morning and have everything
ready the night before, hit the road immediately, and plan to be
home for the nap. Then, during his nap I prep for whatever it
is I want to do in the afternoon and get moving as soon as he
wakes. I also plan activities such as phone and e-mail for
while he is sleeping. Some moms get frustrated by kids'
inability to sleep!
Elizabeth
i have a two year old and many friends with a child of around
the same age. all our kids generally nap around 2 hours a day,
from noon to 2:00 give or take. we all have outings either in
the morning, making sure to get home before nap time, or after
the nap. we use the nap time to rest and/or get things done.
if you leave the house around 9 you would have a good 2 - 3
hours out, or could go out from 3 - 6 or so?
hope this helps
I have a 2 year old who naps from about 11am to about 3
pm. During the school year I force myself to get right up and
do errands with him in the morning -- the earlier the better,
or wait until after my husband gets home from work and
leave them together.
During the Summer I have a little leeway, because my other
kids are old enough to babysit, so sometimes I go DURING
nap time. Maybe that would work for you? Can you hire a
teen to sit in your house while your baby sleeps so you get a
break and your errands get done? With a cell phone you
could arranged to be called if/when the baby wakes, too, so
you'd need a responsible, but not necessarily experienced
babysitter.
Heather
Naps should be at the same time everyday and if baby sleeps best
in one place, make sure you are home for nap. I am home everyday
by 12-1 at the lastest so my son can take his nap. We do
everything in the morning between 9-12. Only on special occasions
does he miss his nap and then he's in bed by 6:30. Protecting a
childs sleep is the most important thing you can do (Weissbluff,
Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child).
anon
My advice to you is to find out what places are open early and
get out of the house early. Grocery stores are open at 8:00 am
as well as Target, my dry cleaners, the ATM, the park etc....
The baby needs his nap and I always gave that a priority. I
needed it too. Some places you won't go to for awhile or
perhaps you can sneak out in the evening by yourself and leave
well-rested baby home with someone else for a few hours.
HL
I trained my child to ALWAYS nap in his stroller, which fully
reclined. This meant that we could go anywhere (museums, store,
walks in the neighborhood, shopping, see friends, etc.). It gave
me a lot of flexibility, and I never felt tied down to the house
(waiting for nap to be over). However, this also meant that he
had to nap in the stroller in the house too! I would often carry
him out of the car, if he fell asleep there, and stroller him
around to put him back to sleep. The gently bumping and rocking
of the stroller worked well.
stroller mama
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