Sleeping in Stroller at Family Outing

namara5532 · July 2012

In a couple weeks, we're going out of town to visit family. It's an evening get-together at my aunt's house, so I suspect we're going to be out past DS's bedtime. I'd rather not drag us away just to get DS to bed, so I'm thinking about trying to get him to sleep in the stroller.

Anyone else have to do this before? What would be the best way to encourage him to go to sleep. Would I have more luck putting him in the recline position? Or would the carseat be a more comfy spot for him? I think either way we're going to have difficulty getting him to sleep with everything going on, but I want to at least try to not disrupt his sleep schedule too badly.

celiabwatson · July 2012

It depends on the child and what your normal routine is. How late will the party go? Does it make sense to bring a PnP over and put it in one of the bedrooms and put him to bed normally in there?

Does he fall asleep in the car and stay asleep? You could go for a quick drive around bedtime and then bring the car seat inside.

Does he ever fall asleep in the stroller? You could go for a walk around the block to get away from the noise and get him to sleep.

Do you ever use a carrier that is comfortable for sleeping?

Moral of the story - Think about other ways that your baby has fallen asleep when out and about and use that method, kind of as if it were a midday nap, and then hope that he stays asleep on the way home and into bed, but don't count on it.

scoobyd266 · July 2012

I think you're probably right, it may be difficult to get him to sleep with everything going on around him. I say enjoy your family, he will fall asleep when he's tired. One night slightly off schedule is not going to completely throw your whole routine. Our DD bedtime can vary ocassionally if we have something to do, and she always gets back on schedule.

Lemmon_ade12 · July 2012

scoobyd266:
I say enjoy your family, he will fall asleep when he's tired. One night slightly off schedule is not going to completely throw your whole routine. Our DD bedtime can vary ocassionally if we have something to do, and she always gets back on schedule.

This. :-)

kmm2150 · July 2012

Lemmon_ade12:

scoobyd266:
I say enjoy your family, he will fall asleep when he's tired. One night slightly off schedule is not going to completely throw your whole routine. Our DD bedtime can vary ocassionally if we have something to do, and she always gets back on schedule.

This. :-)

Yep. We have had several nights where we went over to friends' or family's homes and were there well past DD's bedtime. I do my best to get in some really good naps beforehand so that she won't be too cranky, sometimes she'll fall asleep while we're there and I hold her or put her in the carseat; sometimes she's up and the life of the party, and sometimes there's a total meltdown (in which case we usually leave). It's often not the best night's sleep, but she's usually right back to normal the next day.

smilelari · July 2012

I'd play it by ear. If the kid is happy past his bed time, go ahead and hang out. If he gets cranky and really needs to get to bed, that's probably your exit cue. If you strongly suspect he won't do well past his bed time, I'd bring a pack 'n play so that you have somewhere to lay him down.

candylies · July 2012

This past weekend we were at a family outing all day and then I left him at my sister's house while hubby and I went out for another family thing that night. I had brought over our pack and play for him to sleep in but they ended up deciding it would be easier to put him in the car seat. Worked out great. we could put him in the car still asleep and he was so worn out from the family gathering that when we got back to the hotel he transferred from the car seat to the pack n play without waking up.

brewcitybride · July 2012

It totally depends, but you might want to not think about it too much, and just run with it. My baby at this age, although totally on a schedule, if he's taken someplace with new people and stimulation in the evening, he won't even think about going to sleep at his regular time (7ish). He loves being held and "talking" to people.

I would just take lots of food and a bedtime bottle and the stroller, not the carseat (too cramped). My baby still falls asleep in the stroller, so I think you'd be fine, as long as you aren't staying out until midnight or something like that!

blu-eyedwife · July 2012

Do you have a carrier? If we're out late, I always bring mine. Around 8pm he starts getting tired and I strap him on me and he's out. Doesn't matter where we are - restaurant, wedding, even the fireworks earlier this week. When he gets tired he'll sleep through it all.

KateLouise · July 2012

At that age, I'd just rock Lo to sleep in my arms, and then see if I could put him down on someone's bed (is he rolling?) with cushions around him.

If he's rolling then you can always put a mattress on the floor.

Failing that, I'd just hold him in my arms.

kaybe24 · July 2012

If I'm out and want to encourage my son to take a nap and he's looking sleepy, I cover him with a breathable blanket. I think it keeps him from being distracted.

mjune3881 · July 2012

I would feed him, put him in the stroller and try and rock the stroller back and forth to see if he will fall asleep.

We are going to a wedding this weekend and planning on bringing the stroller just in case. If she is ok then great I'll let her stay up. If she is getting cranky I will feed her and see if she will fall asleep in the stroller. If she is a mess then she and I will go back to the hotel and DH spend the rest of the night with his extended family.

Want a personalized experience?

Sleeping in Stroller at Family Outing

Re: Sleeping in Stroller at Family Outing

Choose Another Board

Search Boards