WWYD - Baby Shower During Nap Time

Toni79 · September 2013

This Saturday DH, DD, and I are going to a "family" baby shower. It's from 10-2 and is about 2.5-3 hours away (hopefully closer to the 2.5 hours!). we'll probably leave around 7 am. DD normally naps from about 10-11. I'm sure she'd fall asleep in the car if she was tired enough. But I'm worried that she won't go down early in the car. It would be just my luck that she'd fall asleep as we pull into the party. I really don't want her to be a cranly pants at the party. But I'm not sure what to do? Any suggestions? Should I get her up earlier in hopes she naps earlier (which has failed in the past)? Should I just skip the a.m. nap and leave the party at 2 and hope she takes a super long afternoon nap on the way home?

amaite · September 2013

If it were ds, he would probably fall asleep in the car well before arrival and it wouldn't be a problem. But he usually falls asleep 20 minutes into a ride, even if it's not nap time. Do you baby wear? If she doesn't fall asleep until you're pulling in, could you or dh just transfer her to the carrier and let her continue her nap?

sdlaura · September 2013

I probably wouldn't drive that far to go to a baby shower But DD is not great on long car rides lately.

Toni79 · September 2013

amaite said:

If it were ds, he would probably fall asleep in the car well before arrival and it wouldn't be a problem. But he usually falls asleep 20 minutes into a ride, even if it's not nap time. Do you baby wear? If she doesn't fall asleep until you're pulling in, could you or dh just transfer her to the carrier and let her continue her nap?

Thanks. She used to fall asleep 20 mins into a car ride. But the last couple of months that hasn't been the case. So I think she's outgrown that.

I do have an ergo that I put her in on occassion ... but we've never really used it enough where I think she'd feel comfortable sleeping in it ... Plus if there's anything "exciting" going on she'll want to stay awake.

So it will be a "fun" day!

Toni79 · September 2013

L12541 said:

I probably wouldn't drive that far to go to a baby shower But DD is not great on long car rides lately.

Yeh. It is pretty far for a baby shower. But I really feel oblegated to go. It's DH's cousin. And they made the drive for our shower last year, DD's baptism, and DD's first birthday (and she was pregnant for the last two of those). Plus I know his other cousins (siblings of the one whose pregnant) are flying in for it. So it will be nice to see the others too.

Toni79 · September 2013

I'm toying with a few ideas:

Leave an hour later and get to the party an hour later. So that nap time will fall during the long drive.
Arrive on time but if DD is asleep send DH into the party and sit in the car while DD sleeps.
Risk it ... if she misses the morning nap deal with the consequenses!

rp-chicago-mom · September 2013

I'd do option one and blame traffic or DD.

rp-chicago-mom · September 2013

We successfully pulled off an earlier morning nap in the car Sunday. And then he had his afternoon nap on the way back. It worked perfectly.

brandyleighxx · September 2013

If DS woke up at 7 and went for a 2.5-3 hr car ride, I imagine he'd fall asleep about an hour into it, for at least an hour and do the same on the way back. I don't feel like he's as well rested having his naps in the car, but it usually works out ok.

britvahok · September 2013

I'd go with option 1. MIL scheduled family pics during DS's nap time on Sunday. It was awful!!! Never again!!! We only got a few good pics and he was cranky the entire time.

austenfan919 · September 2013

Toni79 said:

I'm toying with a few ideas:

Leave an hour later and get to the party an hour later. So that nap time will fall during the long drive.

Arrive on time but if DD is asleep send DH into the party and sit in the car while DD sleeps.

Risk it ... if she misses the morning nap deal with the consequenses!

I think option 1 is fine. That still gives you 3 hours at the party, which is probably plenty for your LO anyway. But if she is still asleep when you arrive, I would definitely send DH in and sit with her for awhile longer.

Tapthathank · September 2013

brandyleighxx said:

If DS woke up at 7 and went for a 2.5-3 hr car ride, I imagine he'd fall asleep about an hour into it, for at least an hour and do the same on the way back. I don't feel like he's as well rested having his naps in the car, but it usually works out ok.

This. DS would fall asleep an hour into the drive most likely and then sleep for an hour. Have you thought about bringing a pack and play and setting that up? I've done this on occasion, but DS can pretty much nap anywhere as long as he has a pack n play, sleep sack, blankie and his pacifier. And some sort of white noise! Especially to block out the party noise!

bigbootyjudi · September 2013

I'd leave later. G falls asleep faster in the car than he would if he were at home. On Sundays, he's up at 7am, as usual, and usually he doesn't nap until 11am...but on Sundays, we have a 45 minute commute (on a good day) to church and he sleeps about 30 minutes of that, at 9am.

vic8504 · September 2013

We just traveled 2.5hrs for a wedding this weekend. We kept DD awake until we left for the wedding and she slept 2hrs each way. I would say to get her up early so that she is more likely to fall asleep in the car ride there.

Toni79 · September 2013

Thanks for the advice ladies! DH and I always joke that whenever we try to plan things like this they always massivly fail! And no matter what we decide it ends up being the wrong decision for the situation. We always say, well we should have done x,y,z. But the fact is that even if we had done x,y,z, it would have failed and we'd be saying we should have done a,b,c.

For example, knowing my luck, let's say we get her up a little early, and leave a litte later in hopes that she naps at her "regular" time in the car. It would be just my luck that she still doesn't fall asleep, and then I have an even extra cranky DD at the party (since we got her up earlier).

Sometimes these little buggers can be soooo unpredictable!

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