Naps vs going out

[Hedgehog17]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place, and a daft question 

Now that DS is approaching 2yo, we'd like to go out for the whole day occasionally. Up until now we've just gone out mornings or afternoons only, to preserve his nap (currently 2h, from 12.20 - 2.30 give or take).

My question is, would it be better for DS to avoid whole day outings until he's napping less, or would it be better to be able to take him further afield so he gets more variety in his activities?

Also, those who do go out, does you toddler nap in the buggy / carseat during their usual naptime, or do they stay awake all day and need an early BT?

I'm really struggling to work out what to do 

Many thanks 

HH

[Shiv52]

We did full day outings from the start.  So long as they aren't every day I always felt the benefit outweighed the messing  up of the nap routine.    Mine usually just napped in the buggy or car depending on where we were but on other days powered on through and just had EBT or else had a sneaky CN on way home so needed a bit moer A time before bed.  TBH we just played it by ear and seen how the day was going and decided from there. 

[gormella]

hi

We do day outings and skip the nap (my 2.4y DD does not/cannot nap in the car anymore). Then we make sure we get home early enough for her to have an early bedtime.  I try to not do more than one skipped nap every two weeks or so as to not upset her sleep too much.  The earlier bedtime is paramount though to avoid NW or OT and make up the lost daytime sleep.

[okinawamama]

I think as they age the occasional fun activity/ unique life experience begin to take precedence over nap. We don't do it often and when we do we do an early BT, each time it's been worth it and it doesn't upset things as bad as I anticipate! Have fun!

[jennandsophie]

We did it once in a while, like if we were on holidays.  She would eventually pass out in the stroller or car, though usually much later than when her normal nap time would be.  I guess she just didn't want to close her eyes and miss anything.  The day always worked out fine.

[Hedgehog17]

Thanks ladies 

Your replies have helped to convince me (and a very reluctant DH!) that we need to start doing some day trips 

DH is worried that DS will be a screaming mess at BT if he doesn't get his nap, but if it's just the occasional day I'm sure we can handle it 

Looking forward to planning our first day out soon 

[clairebear79]

We are just about to have our first day out soon too HH!

I will say though, DS recently had to skip his nap for a christening that fell slap bang across naptime & he handled it like a champ.  He started to look a wee bit tired at around 4pm but powered on through until EBT at 6pm & slept 13hrs through without a peep.  Like pp's say you can always sneak in a car nap if needed anyway.x

[cuckoochick]

Listening in. We're off away for a few days and I've been so worried about how C is going to get any decent naps. Am just going to try and go with the flow and hope she will get through it. It's a shame she's feeling poorly though at the moment because that brings about a whole load more sleep issues.

Have fun planning your trip HH.

[MadisonC]

In the last month we have started whole day outings every once in a while.  I find if he skips nap at most once a week he is ok and not too cranky.  DS wont sleep anywhere else other than his own crib but I just make sure to put him to bed earlier.  His normal BT is 730 and on a no nap day its 645.

[cath~]

I'd say go for the day trips now before the sun disappears again!  It's worth a try - what's the worst that can happen anyway?
When we do days out we either try to time a drive/walk in buggy around her usual nap time so she can nap.  Or she naps early/late on way to/from where we're going.
Actually, the trouble now when we visit my parents for the day is that she gets too much sleep (in the car on the way there and on the way back) and then resists BT

[Tweakster]

DH is worried that DS will be a screaming mess at BT if he doesn't get his nap, but if it's just the occasional day I'm sure we can handle it

This still happens to us to this day lol  If he's really super tired (and I mean days of short nights) he'll crash in the car but if he doesn't, we get a scream down at bedtime. At around age 2 he would occasionally nap in the car at nap time but we could never count on it.  You just have to balance life and putting up with some really tough bedtimes.  Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it's not.  Give it a try though, he might surprise you

[*Becky*]

At 2 we celebrated in the fact DS was finally napping and stayed in most of the time. I did not mind at all, we just planned our day around a 2 hour rest. With DD it is totally different as DS needs to get out yk? We still try and work around her naps but we have also done a fair few days out. They are always a disaster as she does not sleep well out and about at all but we just pick up the next day and generally I don't regret it as we have fun family time.

[C&B&E]

Oh, I so wish we'd gone out more when DS was little!  I was so highly strung and I really missed out on so many fun things  .  Now DD is here we go out a lot more, and we just 'wing it' with naps and they manage ok.  Admittedly, if our routine was better than it would feel more of a problem of she didn't settle easily for bedtime, or missed some sleep  , but as it stands we have so much more fun getting out and just sorting out any sleep deficit over the next few days  .   

[okinawamama]

They are always a disaster as she does not sleep well out and about at all

I have found the DS2 definitely takes the brunt of the sleep issues when we do go out, as always, someone  draws the short end of the stick when there's more than one child involved   

 

Oh, I so wish we'd gone out more when DS was little!  I was so highly strung and I really missed out on so many fun things   .  Now DD is here we go out a lot more, and we just 'wing it' with naps and they manage ok.  Admittedly, if our routine was better than it would feel more of a problem of she didn't settle easily for bedtime, or missed some sleep  , but as it stands we have so much more fun getting out and just sorting out any sleep deficit over the next few days  .    

I can completely relate to the regret of not doing more! Looking back my DS has missed out on some awesome educational, social and relationship growing experiences because I was just so tightly wound as far as sleep is concerned. Hindsight is 20/20!

We try and make sleep a top priority, but it no longer is the number one priority, 100% of the time.

[~Karen~]

I found with all my guys from around the age of 2 they could manage the occasional no nap day.  We're always done occasional days out as they've grown up when younger and they generally fall asleep in car/buggy if they're tired enough.