Help! Baby Won't Nap While on the Run!

[gmmom]

Is there anyone who can relate to this - My daughter naps well in her crib (length of time varies, sometimes 1hr to 2hrs.), but when I have to be out she won't sleep.  I always try to schedule my errands, dr.'s appointments, etc. after her AM nap.  In the afternoon, if I'm out and about, she'll cry (like she's very tired), but just won't close her eyes and "nap."  I feel guilty for being out because she's not getting the full amount of sleep she needs during the day.  But at the same time, I need to get things done, much less get out of the house from time to time.  Also, she never falls asleep in her swing for a cat nap.  Sometimes she'll doze off in the car.  Am I being selfish for getting out of the house?
Any advice/suggestions? Thanks!
Michelle

[NKmommy]

Hi Michelle,
That's great that your kiddo sleeps well in the crib!  I think that most babies (especially those put on a routine, and placed to sleep in a crib) do not sleep well on the go.  (Mine will not even close his eyes anywhere but his crib or pack n play).  They just aren't able to get the deep sleep and sufficient sleeping time that they need.  But even though you are trapped at home during naps, that should make your little one more refreshed during wake time, allowing you to run an errand. 

And don't worry - as your little one gets older, the A time will get longer and longer, giving you plenty of time to get out and about.

But I do feel for you - I get SO stir crazy at times! 

[gmmom]

Thank you, Sheila!  That makes sense, so I guess I should not complain.  I guess I got freaked out when I saw babies (around my daughter's age) fall off to sleep at my last mommy and me outing.  I thought, "why can't my daughter do that?"  Anyway, thanks for your reply!
Michelle

[Aarismom]

heh, mine won't either. I've just come to the realization that I can't keep her up too far past 6 pm and I have to run all my erronds after naptime

My DH keeps saying that the reason she doesn't sleep well "on the go" is because we just don't practice it enough with her. It's true that could be part of the problem. However, after about 4 months, MOST infants don't sleep well outside their crib, even the most well traveled ones. That's a research fact.

Best advice is to start training her in a pack and play or another travel crib. My lo wouldn't even sleep at the grandparent's house until we started training her in our pack and play. Keep it in her room to start for a few weeks to get her use to sleeping in it in a familiar environment. Then, if you like, put it in another room.

As for sleeping in the car, not much advice there. If they're tired enough they  might. Or they'll completely reject naps in the car. Frankly, I can't sleep in any moving vehicle no matter how hard I try. So I don't expect anyone to sleep in a moving vehicle, although those who can are lucky

[Colesmom]

Hi there,

My DS will only sleep in his stroller if I have a cover over it and it's dark.  Have you tried this?  He is textbook with a touch of spirit and spiriteds often need darkness to sleep.  He does sleep in the car..but it has to be naptime and it takes a while.  He's not a sleep anywhere kind of baby either.

How old is DD?  I would try to preserve the first nap and perferably the second, trying to do errands after that.  Catnap is often considered a freebie to be had in the car, stroller, swing and if she misses it it won't be as bad as the first two.  HTH

[corrina01]

My DD won't sleep anywhere unless it is in cot.  I try to do errands after her two main naps, and if she doesn't go to sleep when she is due for her catnap, I just put her to bed earlier.  This works for her and me 

[JennŠ]

Is lo in a carrier with a canopy?  We just discovered that pulling the canopy over dd helped her to sleep in the carrier.  I say this as she is in her crib singing at the top of her lungs. :roll:  Guess she'd rather play than nap today. :lol: