XP: How would you have done with this day?

MarchABC

Our day out on the town was HARD! I usually go out with DS for 2-3 hour stints when it's just the two of us, but we went out from 10-5 and it was hard on both of us! At what age do you think your LO was able to do a full day of activities without coming home to nap or just have solid downtime? For a full overview of our day, see below...

So, we went to a baby shower today (about 45 minutes away in the town where I teach) and decided to stay and visit friends after the shower. He loved being passed around and seeing everyone at the shower and we were there for about 2 hours. I nursed him and then headed to stop 2. When we got there, he cried bloody murder until I nursed him again and he fell asleep for about 20 minutes. Stop 3, he woke up and was pretty chipper for about a half an hour but then on the way to stop 4, he fell asleep again for about 15 minutes and was awakened by my friend's son. This made him upset so her cried on and off while I tried to soothe him. During the long ride back, he woke up when we hit traffic and was bawling. I thought about stopping to feed him but I thought it would just make him more upset. It had only been about 2-3 hours since the last feeding but he was soooo mad!

I was so hopeful that we could just have a busy day out but it seemed like it was overload for him and meltown city. Do you think this is typical for 16 weekers? TIA!!

JamieSF

I'm impressed that your LO lasted as long as he did. We don't go away from home for more than a couple hours because my LO has a meltdown if he doesn't get his naps in and he doesn't nap much (if at all) on the go.

mrebecca

Abigail is 5mos and we managed to escape the house from 10:15am to about 5:30. She still needed a nap, so I carried her around Walmart half an hour while she slept. I had to nurse her three times, but it is hot out, so I think it's safe to say she just needed extra from that. She also napped on the way home..

But some days she goes that long with neither a nap or a feeding.

Phillychickadee

That is totally typical!  Ds can't even do that and he is 2 yo!!

I try to schedule my time out around DD's naps.  She really can only be up an hour or so before she gets overtired.  Once she is overtired, she doesn't nap or eat well, and it is just a downward spiral from there.  She is never content b/c she is never truly full or rested.

 

MarchABC

Thanks for the reassurance, girls! Good to know it's normal. Being a first time mom is hard!

smallysmallz04

DS is almost 5months and he naps every 1-2 hours. That's regardless if we're out or not. If it goes past that he's a monster. I always make sure we have somewhere for him to nap, and somewhere I can rock him to sleep. If we don't, then I won't stay long because I know the car ride home will be HELLL

laurapalmer

JamieSF:

I'm impressed that your LO lasted as long as he did. We don't go away from home for more than a couple hours because my LO has a meltdown if he doesn't get his naps in and he doesn't nap much (if at all) on the go.

This exactly. I can't imagine taking B to so many places in one day! Right now he can only be awake for about 2 hours before he needs a nap. He'll take one short nap in his car seat but that's about it.  

drea_raye

We have done 13 hour days away from home... we have a 10-12 hour day at least every two weeks, if not more often.

Usually we will hit town (1hour commute) and I will find somewhere to nurse J... then we hit Walmart or Starbucks or my nan's or my sisters'. Wherever we land I stay until he has had a nap (can get up to 45 minutes) we then do a middle of the day activity, followed by another nap (if he really needs the sleep this can actually last up to 3 hours, but usually it is another short one), end of the day activity/ visit, pick up daddy and head home. He will usually nap in the car on the way home, and is good for one last play-time/ bedtime routine after.

He definitely gets fewer naps in out and about, but he does pretty good with it... I think I am the one who misses being able to sleep in! (Since I usually go back to be with him for his morning nap!)