Calling Moms of two Lo's

[osmom]

Hey moms of two...  I'm wondering how I'm supposed to manage a regular morning nap with my baby (3 months) when my older one has me out and about at least a few days a week in the morning.  It is becoming clearer and clearer that my youngest is getting to the age where he can't just doze off to sleep any old place, yet I have to take my oldest to his preschool class and at least some of his playdates.  What did you do?  How did you manage it? thanks. Erin

[tylersmommy]

Erin - We're not much further ahead of you age-wise (Mackenzie's 4.5 mo) but I have to do preschool drop off/pick up for Tyler 4 mornings a week. I've accepted that her mornings are crazy and not ideal at all, and so has she. If the timing ends up that she'll be due for a nap when we're in the car, she'll usually get a short catnap in the car seat. It's gotten a little easier as she's gotten older and started having longer A times too...we can be out and about a little more without running into naptime. Most days, she catches quick winks of sleep when she can in the morning and naps in her crib from lunchtime onward. Like I said, not ideal, but it's the best we can do and she's gotten used to being schlepped around.

So short answer...no such thing as a regular morning nap around here!

[Jaime]

for a long while, luke had 2 short morning naps, a longer afternoon nap & a catnap (that one till about 6 months).  i put everything i had into working on that afternoon nap cause that was when jaina was asleep too. 

[RachelC]

I was there last year!  DD2 is not a "go with the flow" kind of girl.  DD1 would sleep through all sorts of errand running, but not dd2.  So, I always tried my best to be home after I dropped dd1 off at school to attempt a nap and then, as Jaime said, I worked my tail off for that afternoon nap, as that was when dd1 would nap too. 

I'll be honest, it was a very tough year.  When this school year started, dd2 had just turned 1 and by 13 months, the coming home and grabbing a quick AM nap wasn't going so well, so we ended up going to one nap, not an option for you yet... just letting you know what may be to come.

{{{{{hugs}}}}} that second child just doesn't as much "respect the routine" as the first one did. 

 

[osmom]

Thanks ladies. So...it looks like there isn't going to be such a thing as a regular morning nap and I should just work my butt off to get a good afternoon nap!  We'll see how this all works out. Thanks again.  Erin 

[Deb_in_oz]

it depends on what time your morning activities are and when your 3mo odl wakes in the morning. with Liv (under 6 mo) i often put her TO sleep in her carrier/carseat in the house knowing we woudl be transferring to the car.  so i woudl put it in her room and cover with a blanket and turn on her noise machine (as if she was in her cot) and if she fell asleep i woudl just then take her out with us. 

other days she woudl have her 1st nap at home so i at least knew she got some good sleep and then i had to wing it for the timing of nap #2 etc

[fitfamily]

ds2 wakes at 530 so I do get his 1st nap in 50% of the week.  Otherwise, he does the catnap carseat thing.  Actually, all his naps are catnaps.  I do make sure I'm home to allow him to sleep, but he only takes 30 min naps anyway.  I agree that the pm nap is the most restorative sleep time.  Respect that and you are on track.

[osmom]

Thanks ladies. Debra - I actually tried your advice today.  DS had a class at 10:30, so I put lo down in his carseat in the crib at 8:30. He slept until 10 and then we left straight away for class. He slept after class in the carseat as well. I guess he'll just have to nap more "on the fly."  I'm going to work like h##ll to get that pm nap into a good schedule!  Hope it works. Thanks again. Erin

[Deb_in_oz]

sounds great!!

[daisymelan]

Erin, you could  always do like me and never leave the house.  LOL  Luckily ds1 wasn't in anything so I didn't have to take anythign away.  And the one other little person we know that lives around here comes to visit us.

[osmom]

Jodie - I think I would go crazy without having ds leave the house at least once a week LOL!  He's spirited and so demanding.It's nice to have him play with other kids every once in a while....just a challenge to get out the door and keep everyone in order and napping at the right time!!!  You are so lucky that your friends come to you. Erin