AM only the only one that lets nap time rule the day?

[katy1310]

Sophie dropped her naps around 5-6 months ago, but when she was napping, we never planned our days around her naps. If we were in the house, she would nap in her cot, but if I wanted to go out, she'd nap in her pram, or in the car, or on someone's couch if we were visiting.

What I didn't ever like was people visiting when she was napping as I always felt cheated out of some time to get things done

It does depend on your own preferences and what fits with your lifestyle, and also on your baby's nature and needs - it's up to each individual parents and not what other people think you should be doing If you're happy with the way you do things then that's the only thing that should matter.

Looking at it from the opposite side - I'm now very very strict about Sophie NOT napping because if she has even the tiniest nap, she won't sleep at night until midnight (but STILL gets up at 7-8 the next morning, the same as if she'd gone to sleep at 8pm so she is knackered and grumpy the next day!) and she's just a nightmare in the evening and people sometimes make comments about me trying to keep her awake. 99% of the time, she doesn't need or want to nap any more, it's just if we have to be going somewhere in the car late afternoon she might try to nap.

Every child is different and everyone's lifestyle and routine is different so we all just have to do what works for us.

x

 

[bumpbear]

If LO doesn't get her two naps a day either on my lap, in my bed (not her crib) or in a moving stroller/car, we pay for it dearly at night time. So you bet the day revolves around her naps! Obviously we make exceptions for important functions like weddings or if a visitor is coming from out of town etc, but if its just a run of the mill day, i plan our playdates and shopping trips around her nap times. We spend about four-five hours a day out and about so its not really that restrictive. The good thing about babies who are rigid about the conditions in which they will nap is that they are also very predictable when they get the sleep they need.

To the previous poster who said its important that kids should be able to sleep in every environment- of course that's the dream but if you end up with a baby who likes peace and quiet and their own space at nap time, eventually you have to give in and realise that you've got to do what they NEED in order to make life easier for everyone.

 

[sun]

I was like that with my first, but with 2 there's no way my daughter's nap can run our day. We have way too many things on the go now. We have my son's preschool, appointments, errands, etc and I can't always plan them around her nap. Also my son (3yo) goes insane if he's trapped in the house for hours so we are usually out. Luckily the second+ learn early to nap on the go!

 

[louandivy]

It must really depend on the child...I would never judge someone for sticking to routine if that keeps their kid happy! It would drive me nuts though as I am not a routine person at all and thankfully Ivy is the same...we are in the process of cutting out naps now but Ivy will sleep anywhere so it doesn't really matter if we are in the house or not if she gets tired. Plus she is always at her happiest out and about anyway.

 

[onetwothreebp]

I don't get why people make sweeping generalizations towards all children because we al know each child is different! What works for Child A may work a little for Child B but probably won't work at all for Child C and if you try it with Child D... well good luck!!

As for noise while napping... I was told plenty of times when I was pregnant that it was good to have noise while LO was sleeping so he wouldn't wake up to the slightest sound. It made sense to me and so when LO was born, every time he would go down for a nap or for the night, I'd turn his white noise machine on and go about my life (usually playing video games with OH) and LO would sleep. But what works for my child won't work for the next and guess what?

That's okay

 

[sapphire1]

I've never planned my day according to nap time. Since H was tiny she's slept anywhere and everywhere, nothing wakes her. She hasn't had a nap since she was around 23 months, and if she's ever tired now she has a little sleep in the buggy or car. I was too selfish to spend ages stuck in the house waiting for her to wake up so I could do stuff, but we have never been routine driven anyway.

 

[kazzzzy]

Emily sleeps in the car, buggy, her highchair (reclined) or cot so I often take her out for a walk & when she's asleep in the buggy I meet friends for lunch, its great!! We're lucky that she sleeps anywhere, we were on holidays & it was so handy to be able to have her nap in her buggy while we ate out etc, she still really needs her naps or she gets very cranky without them but at least we can work around her naps.