Advice on new nap schedule

melaniedel

Im not ure what to do. DS2 has one nap a day right now. He typically gets sleepy around 11:30 or 12 and naps until 2 or 2:30. If he is in the car around then he is out. The problem is my DS1 just started camp 9-12 three days per week. So DS2 is knocked by the time we pull up to the camp. Then he only sleeps for maybe thirty minutes while I'm toting him into the school, etc. I try to keep him up (we always run errands, go to library class, etc), but it doesn't matter if we are two minutes away he is asleep when we get there. I try singing, talking to him...anything to keep him awake. When we get home at 12:30, he is wide awake and ready to play with his bro. Then beyond tired by 4:30, which is too late for a nap. What should I do? Try the nap again when we get home or wait a few hours? He typically sleeps from 8-7am. I did try push his naps back by 15 minutes each day in preparation for this, but it did not work. If we are in the car, he is sleeping around 11:30-12. Please help. I am not ready to let him drop a nap (DS1 did very early).

littlebean510

I had this same issue for a while.  I couldn't keep DD awake in the car if we were traveling near nap time.  I gradually started pushing her nap later by 15-20 min a day, and intentionally stayed out of the car close to the time she was supposed to sleep and eventually her awake time lengthened and now she is going down for her nap a whole hour later than she was before so we actually get to eat lunch before nap.  I don't know if this is possible in your situation since you have to pick up your other child.  I've not tried this, but I had other parents recommend screen time with an iPad or tablet or something else to really captivate their attention for that short period until you're able to get home.  Good luck!

melaniedel

littlebean510 said:

I had this same issue for a while.  I couldn't keep DD awake in the car if we were traveling near nap time.  I gradually started pushing her nap later by 15-20 min a day, and intentionally stayed out of the car close to the time she was supposed to sleep and eventually her awake time lengthened and now she is going down for her nap a whole hour later than she was before so we actually get to eat lunch before nap.  I don't know if this is possible in your situation since you have to pick up your other child.  I've not tried this, but I had other parents recommend screen time with an iPad or tablet or something else to really captivate their attention for that short period until you're able to get home.  Good luck!

I never let them, but that is worth a shot! Thanks ladies!