Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

So, my brother told me last night that T-Day at my aunt's is at 5 pm. My mom said she knew I wouldn't be happy - lol. That is smack in the middle of DS's later nap. I'm not sure what to do. I don't think I would be able to get him down that much earlier because his first nap of the day is late morning and usually a long nap. There are times he doesn't nap, but that's usually because I know I'm putting him to bed earlier for some reason - he will be a wreck without the nap and ready for sleep by 6:30-7 pm (selfishly, I don't need him to wake up at 6:30 on Friday morning.)

Any advice? I don't know that there's much I can do besides asking my aunt and uncle if I can come a lot earlier and try and put him down for a nap - but I feel like that's a bit imposing...

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

How long does he nap?

Maybe go earlier and put him down for his nap when you get there or nap in the car on the way there

I try not to ket DSs nap stop me from going places if i can

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

Will DS sleep in the car? How far away does your aunt live? Even going to my mothers 10 mins away I leave 45 mins early, take my time driving and he'll still sleep in a non moving car for 20-40 mins (with me still in the car ). Thats how I have to do his naps sometimes once in a while when his schedule is off.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

How long will he sleep for?

Can you go a little late... after he wakes up?

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

He can nap up to two hours but I usually end up waking him up since it's a later nap and I don't want to mess with dinner, bed, etc.

My aunt's house is prob about 20 minutes away and then the line to get through the guard gate at her development will prob be about 20 minutes long

With my luck, he would fall asleep just as we're getting to my aunt's - that's what usually happens...

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

I found that my DD wouldn't even nap at holiday events becasue she knew everyone was there and if she went to sleep she was missing something. So i gave up on giving the nap and just put her to bed earlier. And my DD is one who would be cranky if she didn't get her nap. I used to worry about it at first and then went with the flow if she wanted to nap she could if not i wouldn't force its one day, she could go without.
Now of course all DC's are different not sure if that would work for you.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

Posted by carissa1643

Will DS sleep in the car? How far away does your aunt live? Even going to my mothers 10 mins away I leave 45 mins early, take my time driving and he'll still sleep in a non moving car for 20-40 mins (with me still in the car ). Thats how I have to do his naps sometimes once in a while when his schedule is off.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

If he needs that nap then I would leave early and drive around to make sure that he sleeps for at least 30-45 minutes in the car.

I really don't follow the naps on Holidays and usually there is so much going on that the baby just pushes through because they are occupied. Jack was always a nightmare without naps - but he was ok on holidays without them.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

I tend to be rigid with DS's naps because he is just a disaster when he doesn't nap.

Honestly, I would probably let DS nap and go late to your aunt's house. How late would you get there if he naps?

ETA: Or, I would let him nap for at least an hour and transfer him directly to the car and hope he sleeps on the way. I wouldn't change him until we got there.

Message edited 11/23/2010 9:03:52 AM.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

It's funny because we always take the Turnpike to my aunt's because it's faster. I'm thinking that I'll just drive the streets so it takes longer - lol. My other option is to go to my mom's house earlier and leave from there. She lives about 10 minutes tops from my aunt - I was thinking I could go to her earlier and try and get him down for a decent nap first and go a little later - ugh - who knows.!


ETA - I also need to call my aunt and find out some time specifics - like are we all coming at 5 but not sitting down to eat until six - then I know I'd be able to come a little later, although I don't want to deprive anyone from seeing Jordan.

Message edited 11/23/2010 9:05:34 AM.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

Michal:

My advice to you is to stick to the schedule that YOU are most comfortable with.

Our girls were about 6 months old at the time of their 1st Thanksgiving.

We gave them their morning nap but opted to try to nap them at the place we would be at Thanksgiving because we were supposed to be there for dinner during that nap.

In our case, it was a big mistake. I am not sure how many people will be at your brother's place, but for us, it was 20+ people and all the commotion made napping impossible.

By 6 it was stimulation overload and overtiredness which led to double meltdown city!!

And it's funny, all the family who love to see the babies when they're cute and giggly are suddenly nowhere to be found when they meltdown

So, if you can nap him where you will be and it won't disrupt things, fine. But, in the end, you have to do what's most convenient for you and to heck with everybody else

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

I'm a stickler for DD's schedule. She also is a nightmare without a nap.

We're doing T-giving at my sisters smack in the middle of her naptime. But I do find she is okay if she is occupied (she will not sleep anywhere but her crib usually. The last time she slept in a pack and play she was 3 weeks old!).

With that said, can you ask your aunt if you can come a little earlier (like maybe an hour). You can offer it under the guise of coming early to help out? Just a suggestion.

Or do what we sometimes do and if your DS will sleep in the car, take the long route just to give him some time to catch some zzzzz's.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

I was going to say maybe you can get there a little earlier and put him down at his usual time, I don't think your family would mind if you did that.

Re: Thanksgiving Timing/Schedule Advice Needed

Thanks, everyone!