Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

yes.....I do.

I have to in order to have sanity in my life. I have 2 kids 10 months apart.

With that said..weekends it's whatever. I don't plan around it as much.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I most certainly plan around naptime.

Most of my friends have kids, so they completely understand. We've got a GREAT thing going with our sleep and I just won't mess that up.

If I've got something somewhere to go, I'll let her nap in the car on the way there.

I always just plan to run errands, shop, meet up with people, etc etc in between her nap times. I've never run into a problem

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I usually schedule things around DD's nap. There have been some times that we didn't follow the "schedule" and regretted it. But there have also been times when she has fallen asleep while we're out & about in her stroller or carseat. So I will adjust it if it's for something special/important. And then I pray that I won't regret it.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

Kerri is a go with the flow kind of gal....she usually naps at 1pm but today we were out swimming so she went for a nap at 3pm.

But I don't think you are wrong...you know your child best and shouldn't be made to feel bad for sticking to a nap routine

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I try to schedule as much as I can between naps but it is hard .... he can sometimes nap 10:30 - 1pm and again 3:30 - 5 pm ... so what I try to do is make sure he gets at least one 'good' nap per day and then play the rest by ear. I also try to make a 'day at home' after we have a lot going on for a few days. He likes his naps and he is a really good napper. Napping in the carriage isn't always the best nap for him.

I feel that his comfort is more important.

I would meet her for lunch afterwards insteaad and let your DC get their nap in.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

Just home PT right now but I don't like to leave the house before late morning b/c I want Ryan to be home for his morning nap. The afternoon nap is still not established so I usually don't stay home all afternoon for that one.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

Not a SAHM but on the weekends Yes i generally plan around my DS's nap times.

It isn't easy either since he has a late 2:30/3 nap

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

You have to do what is best for DC and you. If a nap makes all the difference in the world, I would make sure he has his nap. Totally understand the misery of trying to get an overtired child to sleep.

A couple of my friends think I'm rigid too for not needing to get home for DSs bedtime. I've tried telling them honestly, it's partly in DSs best interest and partly for us. If he gets overtired it takes forever to get him to sleep, makes everyone miserable, and he usually doesn't sleep well through the night either. If he was more laid back about his sleep, I would be too, but it's just not how he is. I've had to learn to ignore them, I have to do what's best for us.

Do what's best for you, try to explain, but if your friend doesn't understand, let it go.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I definitely do try to schedule my day around DS's naptime, since I also have a son who doesn't really sleep anywhere else but in his crib.. (on rare occasions he will pass out in the car BUT that's unusual the older he has gotten ..) He NEVER falls asleep in his stroller at all, or would he sleep at anyone else's house

That said, now that he's a bit older I've lightened up a bit with my rigid schedule. Now when things do come up during his normal naptime, I try to just go with the flow -- if he skips a nap, so be it. Luckily these days he doesn't really get too cranky or unbearable if he skips a nap. So if I can't put him down for a nap at a different time, I just put him to sleep earlier than his normal bedtime.

So yes, I totally get why a Mom would schedule their day around DC's naptimes and I would NEVER fault them for it

Message edited 8/13/2008 6:39:48 PM.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I can't imagine not being home at Gracen's nap time. We start getting all hysterical about 1/2 hour before our nap is due and off we go. I totally understand but my SIL who has a non-schedule type kid, is finally starting to see it for herself. Before that she said I should teach her to just go with the flow

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I try to put my DH down for a nap every day from 6 - 7. Otherwise he is a cranky mess.

Sorry...I was lurking and I couldn't help it! It's true though. He's down for his nap right now!!!

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I don't.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I try to the best I can...but it doesn't always work. On the weekends, if I go out to LI, DD doesn't always nap in the car, she WILL NOT nap in a stroller, but she will nap in the PNP at my mom's. So, if we are out doing stuff, I do make time to go back to mom's so she can get a good nap...or nobody will have fun anymore!

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I am just sooo sick of ppl commenting about my schedule for my son!!! IMO..I am a SAHM and I am able to stick to his schedule..so i will do so at all times. It's to the point that if i have to go somewhere far, I schedule it around my son's nap time..so that he doesnt have a messed up day. For example, today i had to go to buybuybaby and i wanted to go in the morning..so i wouldnt kill my day..i went at 10...and my son slept in the car for the whole ride...and i even DRIVE for an extra half hour so that he can sleep a whole hour..probably crazy..but he is content when he gets both naps! Then I went to my SIL's house..and i left there at the time of his afternoon nap and he slept in the car again..im proably sick in teh head...probably wont be able to do this wehn i have two kids though..lol

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I don't, my kids will sleep anywhere! I don't really go out to much now that Todd Jr is still so small, but when he gets older I won't come home if I'm out just for a nap, they will sleep in the car or in there stroller.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I don't...at this point though Rylan doesn't have specific nap times. That might be because everyday is so different for us.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

When DS was younger i did not, but now I most certainly do....I am slightly flexible as far as I can put him down anywhere from 11 to 1 and then he sleeps 2-3 hrs from there. I for one would not want to tote around a 2 yr old with no nap in DC or anywhere else for that matter.

ETA DS will also sleep in the car so that can be a good or bad thing depending on the length of the car ride. All of this comes into play when I plan something, but you do what works for you and your child and to heck with people and their comments.

Message edited 8/13/2008 9:30:31 PM.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I never shceduled around my first daughter or do I now with my second. I go when needed. They will nap at some point. I never worry aobut it and always go out when able.
You know your child best, if he can't tolerate a later nap or earlier nap or no nap than you have to do what you have to do.

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

I try to schedule things around DS' naps, but it's not always possible. But, every child is different. Joey will nap in his stroller or infant seat, and I know I am lucky that way. Don't let it get to you, people need to realize all kids are different, and parents have to do what is best for THEIR kids, not anyone else!

Re: If you are SAHM or home during day, do you schedule around your childs nap??

You know your DS the best, so you have to do what makes you comfortable.

But..I don't schedule anything around DS' nap or bedtime. He really does go with the flow. He has no set schedule for anything....but we are lucky with that.