How strict are you with nap times?

kreeper611

We're going to the ILs this weekend and they want us to go see other family Sat afternoon - after lunch.  DS usually naps from 12-2:30.  We'd be leaving right in the middle of his nap for a 45 min drive.  He could possibly sleep in the car, but it will be a packed car full of noises and stuff for him to look at, plus a 30 min nap will just piss him off.

They planned the time based on other things the family needs to do later that evening.  I would ideally like to wait on him to take his nap...but that just puts everything in a mess.

Would you insist on your LO finishing the nap, or just suck it up and plan on a long (cranky) afternoon?

biochemgirl

i'd personally let my DD sleep-no way would I wake her from a nap for that.  could the other family come and see your IL's?

tabi_ja

I'd say just suck it up.  He may surprise you and be okay with it.  And if not, it's only one day.  It may be rough, but in the great scheme of things, it won't be a big deal, and you'll avoid family drama.  Always a perk!

ACR

I'm not overly strict, particularly if there is an event we're trying to make. For instance, church always is during his normal nap time, but we just power through & he naps when we get home from lunch.

I try to stick with a schedule, but not adhering to it every now and then doesn't bother me.

chick730

I'm not very strict with naps.  She can and will fall asleep anywhere so I don't worry about it too much.  And she does fine with short naps, 20-30 minutes and she is good to go.  I guess "technically" she isn't a very good napper...

uofibabe

I would let the LO take a nap for at least an hour before making the trip otherwise I would think LO would have a melt down ...at least that's my experience.  My LO can really only last a couple of hours before needing a nap.  Would he be able to nap at wherever you are going? Just a thought....

sharmurph18

DH and my in-laws call me the "Nap Nazi"--I say let the baby sleep!

MelodyMoonstone

My LO is only good for about 1.5-2 hours before he needs a nap.  We've been so busy this week that he's been going for 3+ between naps and we're paying for it at night.  I say, if it's only once, go ahead, but I need to be stricter with naps myself, so if you have a nap-reliant baby, then let he kid sleep and go late.

planeNsimple

MelodyMoonstone:

My LO is only good for about 1.5-2 hours before he needs a nap.  We've been so busy this week that he's been going for 3+ between naps and we're paying for it at night.  I say, if it's only once, go ahead, but I need to be stricter with naps myself, so if you have a nap-reliant baby, then let he kid sleep and go late.

Same with my kid.  But I would definitely go!  I'm not supper strick with them and try to work things around his nap, but really...life can't always stop for nap time.  My DH and I really want our LO to be flexible (still having routines though) with daily life.  My sister won't go anywhere when it is nap time and she misses out on so much.  Also my niece will only follow strictly to her routine and gets so upset and won't stop crying.  We are trying to avoid that!

planeNsimple

Damn...sorry for the spelling errors!

Flyswmer

Well.. with my first I was strict... This time around I don't have the luxury.  I"ve noticed she's more flexible than my son b.c she has to be.  I'd say in the situation to suck it up.

daisy_dueller

I wouldn't wake him up from a nap to go somewhere...unless he was having a SUPER long one (he usually only naps 45min-an hour)...I am OK with being a bit late to things. But if he's just tired, I would just stick him in the car and go...but DS sleeps through anything.

nealbl

we don;t have a schedule at all. LO naps when she gets tired