Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

My DD is doing really well with her current sleep/eating schedule. I'm noticing though, that a lot of activities tend to be scheduled during the time when she naps (parties, etc). I don't want her missing out on things she'll enjoy, but I know she really needs her naps and probably won't enjoy these things as much if she's exhausted!

What do you do when fun things are scheduled during DC's naptime? Skip the nap or skip the activity?

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

It depends. If it is a really special activity, I skip the nap. But if it is something that can be done another time then I let her nap. Naps are so important. I really try to keep her on schedule.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I will do the events and try to prepare her for it (ie: getting her to nap earlier/later), but when she starts acting out because she's tired, we call it. It's no fun for her or us if she's overtired.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I try my D A MN DEST to keep DD on schedule.

Last night - we were visiting my grandmother, and fire trucks were blocking my car. Yes, I was that B ALLSY mom that actually walked out to the firemen and asked them if they could please move their truck so that I could get DD home to bed. And no, I don't care that I did it.... They were actually very cool about it and wound up leaving shortly after I asked them.

If it's a family party - her schedules are going to go to pot.... We are a tight family b/c of it, and that's just the way that it is....

If it's something like a shopping excursion.... her nap comes first.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Skip the nap. I never schedule around nap time, etc.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

It depends on the day. Sometimes he can skip the nap, or push it back a little. I do my best to keep a schedule though.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I try to just work around her naps, but if I need to go out, she naps in the car, I notice no difference in her when she does.

BUT the PM routine I stick to & she has been sleeping 12hrs at night, so I am not budging on being a slave to that schedule of dinner-bath-bed by 7:30pm!!

Message edited 10/26/2008 8:58:38 PM.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

No, and I never have been. If my kid needs a nap, he can sleep in the car or in his pushchair. I think routine is more important than schedule, but I think its a learned BTDT Mom kind of thing.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

It depends. My dd was fine if we didn't keep to the schedule, and as we started to go to more things during the day her schedule naturally changed and she'd nap at a different time than she used to.

My ds was never able to handle not keeping to the same schedule. He's still really regimented, we can be at a family party and he's having a great time, and once 7:30 rolls around he starts to get really cranky and by 8pm he's crying and carrying on.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

We don't go by when a nap is or bedtime. We are not that kind of people. He will sleep in the car if he is tired or in the stroller or he will stay awake and nap later, etc.

I could never schedule our lives like that. It just wouldn't work for us.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

When she was younger, we were more of a stickler for her schedule. Now that she's getting older and more adaptable (16 months), we are more flexible.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I try my hardest to schedule around his morning nap - it's longer and he still really needs it. My DS is a great sleeper at home, but won't generally sleep in the stroller and only sleeps in the carseat when the car is moving.

I can see when he is older not being so structured around the nap. It seems the older kids can get away without a nap better than a baby.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

When he was younger I really tried to stick to his schedule because otherwise he would be nutty.

Now - I will come home for his naps if I am running errands.

He will miss his naps if we are out at a family party - or doing something for the day.

I am more flexible with his bedtime now. I used to HAVE to have him in bed by 6:30 otherwise he would wake up all night long.

Tonight we just got home a little while ago - he can def. last longer now which I'm happy about. When he was younger he would lose it by 6:30 if we were out.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I am a STICKLER..... and i know it drives some people around us crazy........ but I am the one what would have to deal with a cranky child.

Often if we have an early afternoon party during nap time, I will cut the nap short and get to the event a little late. I feel like that is a compromise on both ends.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I've never been a stickler for a schedule. I wanted my kids to be flexible enough to move their naps around and put them to bed late if circumstances called for it. My kids have always gone with the flow and it's worked well for us.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

I think it depends on the temperment of your child. My son will go anywhere and do anything with no issues. The only time he melts is when he doesn't have even one nap all day and we are out late. Even then he's pretty good considering.

I think it's just his personality though.

I do try to keep him on as much as a regular schedule on a day to day basis - but we don't miss out on parties or events for naps.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

Schedule...what's that??????

We have no schedule what so ever but plan on getting on one in 2 weeks.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

If it's a party (as in a party for one of her friends) I will try to bump her nap to make it work. I've woken her up early to make sure that she naps earlier. She is 2 and I've only done this twice.

Outside of that, I don't mess with her schedule. I don't attend things if they are during her nap time. It's tough too b/c her wind down & then nap takes us from 12 to 3. Lots going on during those hours.

ETA: I should add that she is a beast if she is overtired and she is not the go with the flow/ sleep anywhere type of kid.

Message edited 10/26/2008 8:59:48 PM.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

No, we just go with the flow.

Naps we can skip, but I like to be home for her bedtime. If we have to be out, we will not rush home, but if we can cut out of somewhere, we will.

Re: Are you a stickler to your child's schedule?

at 4 months old, it's nearly impossible to stick to his daytime schedule. We do when we're home, but if we have errands to run or something to do... we don't. Plus when my MIL has him, the schedule gets thrown out the window each and every time.

However we do 100% stick to his nighttime routine!