High needs or schedule baby?

DesertMom2012

My DD is great when she is at home, napping at her normal time, in her crib.  However, she is a disaster when we leave the house.  She is fussy - even if I am holding her - and won't sleep anywhere but her crib or occasionally in the car.  I am trying to take her to play groups occasionally (I know not to mess with her schedule much) just for the socialization - as she is getting to the point where she can play with other babies.  She doesn't want anything to do with it- she is quieter there, fusses a lot unless I am holding her etc.  I can stop going to these things - but I feel like she is missing out by not being able to interact with the other babies.  All the other babies in the group seem to play quietly or nicely with each other or the new toys.   What can I do to help her or encourage her to play with others?

hay1122

Sounds like your baby, like mine, just know what she wants.  She wants to sleep in her crib.  Just work with it if you can.  I attend play dates around her nap schedule, and she doesn't care if there are other babies or older toddlers, she just likes to watch them.

DiveFrog

My DD is very similar. We don't dare take her out before her morning nap, and it is best to be home for her afternoon nap if at all possible. So, for awhile there I basically had a 3hr window between 11-2 to run errands or get out of the house and get home.

She will sleep if the car is moving, but otherwise forget it. She is usually fussy and clingy when out. She refuses to stay in her carseat in stores, or the library or similar places, and doesn't particularlly care to sit in a stroller either. Our Ergo goes everywhere with us since it is really the only thing that she does tolerate.

I do see that she is starting to get better with age, especially the last two months. For the first 6 months it was such a horrible experience taking her anywhere really. I avoided it at all costs and DH circled parking lots with her while I ran errands a lot.

At 8 months she loves to be out now, and can sit in shopping carts and highchairs at restaurants etc. so I don't mind taking her out anymore, but she still will not nap while out and prefers to be held a lot. So at a certain point there will be a meltdown if she gets tired. My goal is to try and get home befoer the meltdown. It is a bit easier because she is a bit more flexible with her afternoon nap time now than she used to be.

In regards to socialization I don't worry about it all at this age. She gets plenty of interatction with my parents who watch her during the day and she isn't developmentally ready to play WITH other kids yet.