Do your toddlers sleep.....

[staci]

in the stroller or in the hotel room for their naps during your trip?

Initially I had planned on returning to the room every day for naptime. However, DS has recently been very resistant to naps at home, and I think he may be in the process of giving them up. (He usually gets 11 hours at night). It can take up to one hour to get him to sleep in bed for a nap. But if I am wandering around the mall around 2, he will fall asleep every time in his stroller. (We are taking his stroller with us).

So now I am second guessing myself. I am considering just letting him sleep until he wakes up each morning at the hotel, and then crash in his stroller in the afternoon. I could just sit with the stroller in a quieter location while everyone else rides the fast rides (I have a HORRIBLE stomach and wont be riding them anyways!)

Because he is the only child in our group of 6, I plan on catering to him this trip (oh, who am I kidding, I cater to him his whole life ).

What has worked for your toddlers?

 

[MissionMouse]

You know your child better than anyone else, but we have always stayed in the monorail loop resort with this years trip our first adventure away from the loop.

We typically break away from everything late morning or early afternoon for a short nap at the resort (1-1 1/2 hr). If we didn't the kids would start to show signs they were tired a little earlier than they should. Quality curtains in the resort allow the room to get very dark.

We also had a double wide stroller with canopy and tilting seats so the youngest did nod off sometimes during the day in her seats.

Overall, it was nice to return to the resort during the day,as the parents, one of us would stay with them and the other could take advantage of a resort service/get drinks and return (sit on the balcony) or run back to see a short show or parade at MK.

 

[dismom9761]

Mine slept in the stroller last time.I hope she will do it this time.

 

[Laura22]

Here's how I feel about it.

Option 1: Walk to parking lot, take baby and bags out of stroller, fold up stroller, get on bus (or in car), get off bus, open stroller, put baby back in stroller, walk all the way back to your hotel room, collapse on the bed, baby is too excited to be in the hotel room to play so baby doesn't rest or nap, so load everything back up in the stroller, walk all the way back to the bus stop (or car), ride all the way back to the park, deal with another security check, biometrics, turnstiles, and walk back to where you left off. Entire process takes a few hours and no one sleeps.

OR

Option 2: Let baby sleep in the stroller and go on with your day as usual.

I have tried both and I prefer option 2.

 

[laughinplace199]

I guess it really depends on your child. On our last trip, DD was 4 and no longer napping. DS was 2 and really needed naps. We went back to the room every day (except for 1 day) and both kids napped for 2 hours. They were just much more tired with all of the excitement, the heat, etc.

The one day we didn't take a nap break was the day we were switching resorts and were "homeless" during the day. DS slept in the stroller, but not for too long - maybe an hour. He was a little grouchy as a result. DD didn't sleep in the stroller at all.

Have a great time!

 

[KristiKelly]

When my kids were toddlers, they would not sleep in a stroller. We would go back to the room and we would all lay down. Once the lights were off and those WONDERFUL curtains were closed and the room was dark, they would go to sleep. Even if your son is getting out of naps, @ WDW he will be exhausted!!! If you notice him not taking naps in the stroller, I would definitely go back to the room. I remember when we took DS @ 2-1/2 and thought he would be fine without a nap - he threw a screaming tantrum in Rainforest Cafe - naps after that.

 

[KelleyGirl]

I love the idea of going back to the resort for a nap/swim, but my family just can't get the hang of that. We always find that we are on the other side of the park and really want to do "one more thing" which turns into 10 more things. My kids have all slept in the stroller. I get the job of sitting in the shade or shopping while the littlest gets some sleep and the older ones have some fun. This has worked fine for us, and nobody ever seemed to mind napping in the stroller.

 

[Colinsmom]

I wish that my almost 3 year old would sleep in the stroller! But he never has - even as a newborn - so back to the room we go for naps. As long as your DS sleeps in the stroller, that is the route that I would take!

 

[Gillian]

You may not be able to plan this one! Ds slept really, really well in his stroller at 2 but by 2 1/2 he wouldn't sleep in it much at all.

Stroller is easier, and for us worked better because there was no transportation invoved. And the parks closed very early during that trip. The second time there was more going on at night and the break back in the room worked out okay.

 

[abacobaby]

I must agree with Laura22 on this one. For us, we figured it would take way too much time to get back to the hotel and knowing my DD, by the time we actually got there, she wouldn't be sleepy anymore. She spend every nap on our last trip in her stroller and it didn't bother her at all. Just make sure you have a reclinable stroller and your childs blankie, lovie, paci etc so they feel comfortable enough to take a nap. If you say your DC does fall asleep in the stroller at the mall, I don't think you will have a problem at DW either. While DD was taking a nap we would take turns going on more adult rides, walk around and look at the sights, or get something to eat!

 

[lovethattink]

Mine will sleep in the stroller or in our arms during the daytime. Can't really do evening EMH with him since he won't sleep anywhere but our bed or his pack and play at night.

 

[tmarquez]

My DD2 sleeps in the stroller. The few times we've tried to take her back to the room to sleep, she either falls asleep on the way back then with all the comotion she'll wake up once we get there and is wide awake. She'll never if we're already in the room either, she's just too excited...she knows there's a pool right outside her door...and a million other things she could be doing rather than sleeping.

 

[tink too]

Our DD slept in her stroller at WDW when she was 13 months old and 3. On our last trip, if she was tired, she just asked for the stroller to be reclined and took a nap. We let her sleep for as long as she wanted and that meant she wasn't grumpy when she woke up.

She even slept through Wishes!

 

[Dizneydaz]

My DD (now almost 6) slept in her stroller on her first trip (2 3/4) and also once on Safari ride. The 3 hr time change from Ca. combined with the heat of June meant she fell asleep quite often in the stroller. Once she even slept thru a huge rain storm that completely drenched the rest of us-she managed to stay pretty dry in her stroller covered with a poncho.

Therefore, we never planned nap time. We just went with the flow. Actually, my then 19 yr old niece was more of a room napper than my DD. Now that my DD is almost 6, I don't think she'll be taking that many stroller naps-but I am bringing the stroller, just in case. She's still small (only 42" and 35#) so she fits in her stroller which is a great back saver for me if she happens to fall asleep. Actually my DM and myself are more of a napper than she is. We like our 10-15 min. of shut-eye to recharge our batteries.

18 days and counting!!!!

 

[Livie's Mommy]

Here's how I feel about it.

Option 1: Walk to parking lot, take baby and bags out of stroller, fold up stroller, get on bus (or in car), get off bus, open stroller, put baby back in stroller, walk all the way back to your hotel room, collapse on the bed, baby is too excited to be in the hotel room to play so baby doesn't rest or nap, so load everything back up in the stroller, walk all the way back to the bus stop (or car), ride all the way back to the park, deal with another security check, biometrics, turnstiles, and walk back to where you left off. Entire process takes a few hours and no one sleeps.

OR

Option 2: Let baby sleep in the stroller and go on with your day as usual.

I have tried both and I prefer option 2.

Too funny!!!!! I completely agree!!!! We tried to go back to the hotel during the afternoons for a nap, but by the time we did, she was ready to play! We just found it easier to stay at the parks and if she slept in the stroller, fine, if not, whatever!!! We would go back to the hotel and put her down to sleep very early inthe evening (she was really beat by then!) and leave her with her grandparents while DH and I went out alone. Her schedule was only off for a week. When we returned, we worked on trying to get her back on track with a nap. She no longer naps , so nothing to worry about for us this time!

 

[mickeymousemom]

When we went in December, DD was about 17 months and she had no problem sleeping in the stroller. We stayed onsite and never went back to the room midday. I'm honestly not so sure this time. I'm pretty sure she'll sleep in the stroller with no problem. I am concerned, however, because when she falls asleep in her carseat here it doesn't seem to be a good enough nap and she gets grumpy. I think we'll just have to wait and see how she does that first day and go from there. It may be DH and I that need the nap!

 

[Amyality]

My younger son is almost 4 now but, we have traveled to Disney for the past 3 years so, my field experience is pretty extensive. He will sleep in the stroller or the room, whenver he needs it. We almost always go back to the room regardless to swim, turn off the lights and just chill for a half hour or so (unless little guy sleeps) then we put on some smart clothes for the evening meal and activities and head out again. This works for us because, we never stay under a week so, we are not too bent out of shape about seeing everything or going totally commando. The exception is the day we go to MGM, we usually only go there once, we have an early lunch at sci-fi or the 50's place then tour till the parade then do the Fantasmic Package - we always do Momma Melrose. I think we don't tire out as easily at MGM because, so many of the attractions are inside cool buildings and they have you are usually seated. DS will pass out on the walk out of the Fantasmic pavilion every time. Older brother 7 has never had the luxury of the stroller at the parks and this will be the little guy's last year. He will be expected to toughen up next year, especially since he will be getting the regular ciesta!

 

[Amyality]

in the stroller or in the hotel room for their naps during your trip?

Initially I had planned on returning to the room every day for naptime. However, DS has recently been very resistant to naps at home, and I think he may be in the process of giving them up. (He usually gets 11 hours at night). It can take up to one hour to get him to sleep in bed for a nap. But if I am wandering around the mall around 2, he will fall asleep every time in his stroller. (We are taking his stroller with us).

So now I am second guessing myself. I am considering just letting him sleep until he wakes up each morning at the hotel, and then crash in his stroller in the afternoon. I could just sit with the stroller in a quieter location while everyone else rides the fast rides (I have a HORRIBLE stomach and wont be riding them anyways!)

Because he is the only child in our group of 6, I plan on catering to him this trip (oh, who am I kidding, I cater to him his whole life ).

What has worked for your toddlers?

Everyone is different but, I can not imagine not doing the parks early, especially with a little one. They just get too crowded as the day goes on, this is another reason we just do a ciesta during the hot busy afternoons. We walk into MK and ride Buzz Lighyear two or three times in a row before pulling a FP for Pooh, riding PP, SW and see Philliharmagic then knock out pooh. We do all this and still usually make it for rope drop one hour later at Toontown or Adventureland, whichever we feel like. I can't imagine getting all that done in an hour or so at any other time in MK.

 

[cruiserkaren]

I wish that my almost 3 year old would sleep in the stroller! But he never has - even as a newborn - so back to the room we go for naps. As long as your DS sleeps in the stroller, that is the route that I would take!

My DD is just like this!! Oh how I wish she'd sleep someplace besides her bed! It's bad. We rented a toddler bed for our room and am hoping she's going to be so wiped out that it goes smoothly! Fingers crossed.

 

[MayMom]

Here's how I feel about it.

Option 1: Walk to parking lot, take baby and bags out of stroller, fold up stroller, get on bus (or in car), get off bus, open stroller, put baby back in stroller, walk all the way back to your hotel room, collapse on the bed, baby is too excited to be in the hotel room to play so baby doesn't rest or nap, so load everything back up in the stroller, walk all the way back to the bus stop (or car), ride all the way back to the park, deal with another security check, biometrics, turnstiles, and walk back to where you left off. Entire process takes a few hours and no one sleeps.

OR

Option 2: Let baby sleep in the stroller and go on with your day as usual.

I have tried both and I prefer option 2.

I am dying laughing because this is EXACTLY what it was like with our DS, but with our DD we will be doing the stroller all the way.