how to handle naps??

[DisFam95]

I know every child is different but how do you handle naps?? DH and I have seen and done Disney over many trips. This is ours 1st time w/ baby (18mo). We will also be taking DH's parents and sister (no problems there). DS has been like clockwork with naps...gets up around 8a, naps 10a-12, naps again 3-5 or 4-6 and to bed at 8pm. with the time zone difference move that all an hour earlier. I know as toddlers get older they move to 1 nap. He can skip his afternoon nap pretty well if he takes a long a.m. nap, but he still is pooped out at 10 or 11am.

His very easy going and I hope he will nap some in the stroller. I think we might take turns (DH and I) going back to the hotel each day while the other plays tour guide for the family. Since we'll be staying at WL I thought we could hit MK early by boat (opens at 9) several days and do MK over several mornings and then afternoon/evenings at other parks.

Oh..I'm stressed over trying to plan something that CANNOT be planned!!!!!! That just does not work with me.

Any help, experience, words of encouragement welcomed!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd try to get him to take one of his naps in the stroller and only take one nap back at the hotel. Then the family can go swim or take naps of their own or do something else that the baby can't do. My son was 4 on our first trip and he often fell asleep in the stroller before we got back to the hotel. But we took at least one nap break a day. I'd stay with him and husband would take our two nieces to the pool during that time. Or to the food court for a snack.

 

[tink2]

I've taken two trips with a 6 month old, two with a two year old, and one with a four year old. We have never gone back to the hotel for a break. Now, every family is different. We got to the parks at opening every day and stayed until after the night show. My kids have always taken a nap in the stroller- except the four year old this year- she never took a nap. Anyway, the 6 month olds and 2 year olds both slept in the strollers fine. We brought our own for the infants and rented on with both two year olds. The rentals are hard plastic at MK and AK, but they both layed down in them fine and slept fine. We would find a shady spot and let them sleep. It saves time traveling to/from the resort. We are pretty commando- strollers help with this- and we did not have one melt-down the entire trip.
Each family is different and you have to find what works for your family. Good luck. I think you'll be able to tell what will work in the first day.
Have a magical time. Disney is so fun with kids!

 

[tricia]

We don't go back to the resort for naps either. Last trip my DS was 22 mos. It was me, DH DS6 and DS22mo, and my parents. My mom is not much of a rider so she would take the little one into a counter service place, with the stroller, and have a cup of tea and read a magazine while he slept. She enjoyed the break, he got his nap, and the thrill seekers went out to ride the big rides.

 

[MinnieGi]

I think at 18 months you'll have great luck with your DS taking naps in his stroller. Our DD has been to WDW at 14 months, 2 yo, 2 1/2 yo and at 3 and only on this recent trip at three did she not take a nap in her stroller. At three she was just too wired inside the parks to really relax enough to rest even though she wanted and tried to. She would lay down in her reclined stroller for a minute or two and then be up and talking. All of our other trips she would get sleepy and just nod off in her stroller no problem! I bet your DS will too at 18 months!

 

[flynnmnstr]

Our last two trips DS son was 17mnths and 23 mnths and he actually napped better in the stroller than back in the hotel room. He didn't nap as good as at home and his nap schedule got a little screwed up for when we got home but he adjusted quickly.

Just read your son. If he will nap better in the hotel room than go back if not then let him take cat naps in the stroller throughout the day.

 

[bethnburke]

I am going to WDW in Jan with DD (10 months) and DS (almost 3). Im not too worried about DD since I know she will nap in the Baby Bjorn if not the stroller. The problem is DS. He is a horrible napper - but he really needs one. Now we get him to nap by driving around in the car (we wont have one at WDW) so I dont know what we will do. He has never liked strollers - prefers DHs shoulders or the backpack which he has pretty much outgrown.

Does anyone have any thought on how to get DS to nap?

Thanks
Beth

 

[BevS97]

How about the monorail or a ride through the Tomorrowland Transit Authority? Or one of the long dark rides like the American Adventure at Epcot? Actually there are lots of rides at Epcot which might be good for a nap, Spaceship Earth is another, or Ellens Energy Adventure as long as he's not scared of dinosaurs

Bev

 

[tjmw2727]

To the OP - we invested in a great lightweight stroller that fully reclined and our girls loved to nap in the stroller. Another great invention is the small fans that clip on the stroller (and are babysafe)! This kept dd cool and acted as "white noise" and they were able to sleep. There are lots of great quiet and shady spots and we found once dd fell asleep we were able to continue on touring. Now with fast pass you can both ride and take turns walking baby.

To the parents of the 3yo - My nephew is 2 1/2 and sounds similar to your son. My sil used a rental stroller and called it a blue car (purle cart) etc and for whatever reason dn would ride in that but never a stroller. They aren't the most comfy things but he did sleep in one two afternoons. She also dosen't give him his lovey's any time other than naps and nighttime so when ge got lovey he kind of settled own out of habit. The other days she took him for a monorail ride around the resort loop. Not ideal but similar to a car ride and nice and cool.

If the park hours allow and you are on-site I would schedule in a few mid afternoon nap/pool breaks. We also alternate late nights for Illuminations/Wishes etc with later mornings the next day. These days are great for the character breakfasts!

TJ

 

[bethnburke]

I think we will try the monorail and see how that goes.

I think the resort will be too much fun to get him to nap there but we are thinking about taking some pool breaks if the weather is nice.

We are going to rent a stroller for DD so we might see if we can get him in there when DD is in the Baby Bjorn. Its definately worth a try.

Thanks for the advice
Beth

 

[BevS97]

if dd is small enough for the baby bjorn, then a rental stroller will not be suitable for her, they are not like normal strollers, they are more like carts

I would take your own stroller, preferably one that will recline.

Bev

 

[bethnburke]

Thanks for the info. That doesnt look like it will work for her although DS would probably think it was pretty cool. We were trying to cut down on the amount of stuff we were taking along but I guess we will need to bring our own stroller.

 

[crisi]

You can rent a more traditional stroller from A Baby's Best Friend for the baby. Or, if you are taking a towncar, have them do your "grocery stop" at SuperTarget or Walmart where you can pick up a cheap umbrella stroller if you don't want to lug yours. There is also the stroller swap option. See if someone on this board is going to be leaving the day you arrive with a stroller they will leave behind.

My kids were horrible nappers as well. This last trip we did no naps, pool time in the afternoon, and 8:00 bedtimes. (They are now 4 and 5). The previous trip (at 2 and 3) we took the Disney Transportation nap. My kids have always been carseat nappers, so we discovered they would sleep on the bus, on the train running around the MK, on the Ferry. We didn't do the monorail for a nap, but I think it would have worked. The naps were never long enough to get them through a full day (we missed almost all the fireworks) but they did get them through until 7 or 8 at night.

Sleeping in the stroller didn't work well for us - although the kids tried. The Disney rentals are not good for napping (I've never found strollers at all to be good for napping, but I was never a stroller mom).

 

[Schmeck]

For an 18 month old, bring your own stroller - because there's a lot of walking to do outside of the gates at most WDW parks.

Try the first day with a nap in the stroller, and if it doesn't work, go to plan B (which I thought was great) to take turns going back to the hotel. Staying onsite is a plus, especially at a deluxe!

Hope you have a great trip, and that the naps happen!

Schmeck

 

[chirsty'smom]

Lots of great suggestions!!

Last time we went our DS was 3 and he would nap in his stroller. BUT this time (we leave in the AM!!! Christmas Day), he's 4 1/2yr old and we are taking a break and heading to our resort. I think he needs some "downtime" and he would NEVER sleep at the parks. I also am not taking the stroller - can't imagine dealing w/crowds and a stroller during the holidays.

I think it depends on the child and their general disposition and what time of yr your heading to the parks - off season the park hrs are too short to interrupt it w/a break.

Merry Christmas to everyone! 24hrs and I'll be in WDW!!!!!!