if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

how do you go out and do stuff? my ds naps from 2-5pm usually (give or take 1/2 an hour) and our day is so cut up. we do something small in the morning and then after his nap before dinner (park, backyard,walk, local stuff, family.)

he won't nap outside of his bed and is a hyper mess without his nap. we never have enough time to do the aquarium, zoo, pool, etc..

what do u do?

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

DS sleeps 12-2 so we do stuff in the morning...usually come home and then go out again....annoying

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

DD is 3. she naps from 1-4 normally.I go out early (by 10) so that gives me a few hours to go to the park, run errands, or whatever we are doing that day. If Im doing someonthing like the aquarium, Ill keep her out a little later (maybe til 2) and then she"ll fall asleep in the car on the way home.

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

we go out pretty early in the morning...dd ususally naps 12:30-3ish. If we are out she will fall asleep in the car and the stroller. However if she sleeps 30 mins in the car then that's all she needs...a power nap!!! At that point she wakes up during the transfer and is ready to go. So if we were to go to the aquarium or outlets then it's in my head that it's gonna be a long day

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

DD naps on average from 2:30-5ish, but I can push her off till later if I have to. Most of the time, we just head out by 10 and that gives us plenty of time to do something.

I would think a 2-5 nap would give you a nice chunk of time in the morning/early afternoon to do things.

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

I feel like we are forever a slave to naps since DD mostly only naps well in her crib. She is almost 1 and takes 2-3 naps so it is really hard to do anything that requires a lengthy time out of the house

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

sure he wont nap anywhere else? Mine will nap anywhere, so we dont have an issue, but usually he will fall asleep in the car on the way home ....Thats not an option for you?

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

Jack goes in the crib at 1:15 and is usually out by 3:30

We are usually out first thing in the morning, and then we'll do an activity after he wakes up. He is in bed for the night at 7:30 so we do have some hours. I don't mind it, as long as I know he's getting a quality nap, and I'm getting so decent "me" time, I don't care what time it's at!

ETA: Jack won't nap anywhere else either - and if he does happen to fall asleep - it's not a good, quality nap, so he just ends up cranky!

Message edited 7/18/2009 2:39:44 PM.

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

DS & DD nap from 12-3ish and luckily all of our friends are on a similar schedules w/their kids. If we are not having a playdate I go for a walk in the morning and we play outside after. If its raining I try to do something fun w/them inside. The afternoon I usually go somewhere w/them, shopping, my moms, park, etc. If its raining I usually stay in but I don' tlike it!

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

I don't have a toddler, DD is 5.5 months old, but is on a similar schedule. She naps everyday from 2:00/2:30 until 5:00/5:30 and bath/bedtime is 7:00 everynight. If she doesn't get a good quality nap during the day she is a monster. She also will not sleep anywhere else but her crib. Any nap in the stoller/carseat is a short nap which leaves me with a cranky baby.

I typically go out after her morning nap around 11 or 11:30 and I'm home by her 1:30/2:00 bottle.

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

I cant offer ANYTHING since Megan doesnt nap AT ALL but I just wanted to say how lucky you guys are that your older toddlers still nap and for that long! If Megan even naps for half hour, shes all screwy at night. Drives me nuts.

I can sympathize with the long meals though. I can hardly get out for a walk because of her meals. It drives me nuts!

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?

DS also naps from around 12-12:30 and will sleep for 2-3 hours. We also do things in the morning or when he gets up in the late afternoon. He will nap in his crib, on a mat at daycare, or in a pack and play at my moms and SIL house, but won't sleep in a car or stroller so I can't be out and about at his nap time.

Re: if you have a toddler that takes a long mid-day nap...?