Naps for baby

[sahmom]

Hello everyone,
I was just wondering what other families experiences have been with their babies napping while at the parks. Do you find they nap less because of all the excitement or nap more because they are pooped? We are bringing our 7 month old in 10 days! She usually takes about 3 30 minute naps a day. Also has anyone kept their baby out until park closings or do you head back to the room for normal bed time? We would like to see wishes and illuminations but we don't know if the noise will scare her. Any suggestions/comments would be great. Thanks!

 

[EthansMom]

Welcome SAHMOM,

Different kids handle WDW differently. I've seen young children napping very peacefully in their strollers and I've seen children screaming their lungs out while Mom and Dad are obliviously trying to squeeze in a few more rides. Personally, my young children don't nap well with all of the stimulation. We do best heading back to the hotel for a swimming/nap time break in the afternoon.

The noise from night time shows never bothered my DS3 when he was younger. We do try to stagger the days that we keep the kids out late so that if we stay out late one night, we get to bed on time the next night. Also, we try to make an early night of things when we want to make Early Entry the next day.

I hope this helps!

 

[John Dobbertin]

sahmom: We've been at WDW five years in a row with grandchildren varying in age from one-year to 12-year. We've had the very young ones fall sound asleep in WDW strollers! Even the hardcase ones at MK!! We've had them take up to 2-hour naps that way . . . of course an adult stays with the stroller while junior naps. Really great touring plan (if you are staying at hotel/resort on WDW property) we use: Up early & to Park of your choice. Be there at opening. Leave at about 11:00 a.m. & head back to hotel/resort. Find something to eat! Then let junior nap long-and-hard. Up & out for evening events back at the Parks. Sounds as if yours likes to take frequent "cat-naps." Will junior sleep in a stroller? That's probably your best bet. You can find "quieter corners" in all the Parks -- takes some doing, but they are there. Good luck. Have fun!

 

[2dogmom]

It definitely depends on the child. My oldest DD would take 2-3 hr naps in her stroller at WDW when she was 2. We tried naps in the room and she would have no part of them. When we went in October (she was 4), she wouldn't nap but she would fall asleep really early in the stroller one night every few days while we were out. Also in October, my baby (15 mo) would usually just nap in the crib in the room. She would occasionally doze in the stroller, but no where near the naps my other one took.

We never had a problem with the late nights, but I do try to keep them from being an everyday occurrence, and I try to be a bit more flexible the next morning with getting out to the parks at park opening.

 

[TJA]

Hi sahmom, we took our 7 month old twins to WDW 2 yrs ago! It was a very special trip for us -- enjoy this time with your baby at WDW, it's very precious. In answer to your questions, our babies also used to take 3 short naps per day here at home. At WDW, they did the same thing. We definitely took our big comfy stroller from home so that they could be relaxed enough to take naps right in the stroller. I strongly recommend this to you. The seats were cushioned and comfy and reclined way back, and canopies shaded them. At 7 mos. old, our girls were not fond of the Wishes and various fireworks shows. But all babies react differently. You should try it one night just to see how it works for your baby. However, we did find ways to stay out fairly late -- our babies would fall asleep in the stroller and we'd have a nice late dinner at a nice restaurant (with the stroller parked at our table & babies sleeping quietly!). We would also eat a nice hearty lunch during one of the babies' various catnaps. I'm not sure which resort you are staying at, but if you have the capability to utilize the monorail, I strongly recommend it. It is a lifesaver with the stroller (you can just roll it right on). That way, you can do things at night and not wake up your baby when it's time to head back to your resort. Also, if your resort has boat transporation to parks, I believe you can just roll your stroller right on a boat too. Just some little hints for you to think about! Have fun!

 

[justhat]

My daughter went to DL at 6 months and WDW at 9 months. She napped in her stroller or in the Baby Bjorn whenever she was tired. At night, we'd often stay out late and she'd either fall asleep around her normal bedtime (in DL she fell asleep by 7 everynight since it was a 3 hour time difference) or stay up a bit later but never to the point where she was cranky. She's pretty good about falling asleep if she's tired as long as she's being strolled or carried-at home she'll whine till she's put in her crib if she's tired. And this is all from a baby who does not sleep well at all. We're going back in 3 weeks and I'm really hoping that she gets so tired from being out all day that she sleeps better at night than she does at home!