Naps ??? What to do for 2 yr old

[thebluebudgie]

Hi all -

I have a 5 yr old and a 2 yr old. What did you all do or can suggest for naptime for the 2 yr old.

Leave in stroller? and hope he naps well...or
Take him back to the resort to nap and them meet up with sis and dad later?

Any ideas greatly appreciated!

 

[tzolkin]

Last year our kids were 9, 4, and almost 2. Only the youngest ever napped (the older ones didn't even nap when they were babies), but we decided that we would all rest in the afternoon. We went back to the room, shut off the lights, got into bed, and ALL fell asleep every day (usually from about 1-4:30). Only once did my oldest not fall asleep within 5 minutes, so she and I walked around the resort and got some Mickey ice cream bars while everyone else was napping.

My husband tells everyone the naps were the best part of the trip. It was nice to get out of the heat and crowds for a few hours and we got so much sleep that everyone was very pleasant the entire trip. (Our youngest was well known for several tantrums a day at home.) We fully expect that we will all nap again this year. My kids just accepted that's what people are "supposed" to do when at Disney.

 

[ktlm]

It completely depends on your child. The afternoon break did not work for us at all- it was pretty much the only time we had a meltdown. My then 2 yr 10 month old DD did great just napping in the stroller. When she was tired, she would climb in and go right to sleep. The only problem we had was early in the trip when we actually tried to take her back to the resort for an afternoon nap instead of just letting her nap in her stroller. Our attempt to leave the park to take her back to the resort was met with extreme resistance- i.e. kicking and screaming. When we got back to the resort, all we had was an extremely angry child who absolutely refused to take any kind of a nap no matter how tired she was. We finally gave up after 2-3 hrs of trying and went back to MK. Once she was sure we were there and not leaving, she crawled right into her stroller and happily went to sleep. After that, we never went back to the resort during the day again. You may have to wait until you are there to know exactly what will work for your family. With the stroller naps, my 2 year old actually stayed pretty much from open to close in the parks with no meltdowns or problems.

 

[thebluebudgie]

Wow! 2 different opinions...
it would be nice to figure this all out so I could make dinner reservations appropriately.
Yeeps!
Love the kiddos - but I fear a meltdown in the afternoon ....eeek!

 

[dogodisney]

When my DGD was almost three, she slept in the stroller. It was our first trip and at the time we did not know if we would ever return so we wanted to get in as much as possible. We went day and night and she did really well.

 

[jms531]

Personally DH and I wouldn't make it without a nap or downtime Our first trip we were thinking what the heck are we going to do for 2 hours while DD naps?!?!? As soon as we got to the room and into the AC we all passed out It's so refreshing and then when you wake up you can put on new clothes and be fresh for dinner

 

[ChristusG]

No way do we leave for an afternoon break. By the time you walk to the front of the park, ride the tram, get on the monorail/boat/bus, and get back to your hotel room, that's already an hour or more that has been lost. Add on the actual nap time and then doing all of the above things to get back into the park, it's just way too much time wasted for our family.

We have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and we've been attending Disney since the oldest was a small infant. They've always napped in their strollers just fine. We just got back from a long weekend at Disney on Sunday. On Saturday we were in Magic Kingdom from 10 AM until 12:30 AM. That's 14.5 hours! The kids did great. The 2 year old napped in the stroller for a little while. We used that time to do a bit of shopping, grab a drink and sit for a few minutes to rest, and let our 4 year old visit with some characters. When we were heading to Main Street, around 12 AM, both kids conked out and slept all night long.

 

[squirrel]

I did try doing the afternoon break with my 4.5 yr old niece and found it just didn't work for her. I would get her back to the room and she wouldn't sleep. Then we would head back to the park and she would fall asleep on the bus.

I gave up after trying twice. It was much more efficient letting her sleep in the stroller while I wandered around.

 

[jimandami]

We absolutely take an afternoon break every day...my DS5 could not survive without it. Last year, when he was 4, he took a nap everyday even though he was no longer napping at home. This year, we plan to take an afternoon break every day except Animal Kingdom day since it is a smaller park and they close early. I do agree that you know your kids best...I know DS would never nap in the stroller (he didn't even when he was little) so an afternoon break was our best bet. Plus, we ate lunch at the hotel most days and saved money (we had a villa, though). I also think it depends on when your kids normally go to bed. DS (even at 5) goes to bed between 6:30-7:00 PM and since we let him stay up later at Disney, I know he will never make it without a nap or rest time of some sort.

 

[Faldred]

Our kids have always done well napping in the stroller at WDW -- the oldest when he was 13 months, and the twins a couple of weeks ago at 26 months (the oldest, just shy of 4, was so wound up that we had no chance to get a nap out of him).

It worked well for us in that respect, allowing us to simply stay in the parks all day (though leaving on the early side each night for normal bedtimes).

Of course, we also knew from experience that our kids can sleep in their stroller (they've done so on trips to the zoo and the like), so it wasn't like we were trying something new.

 

[EricaG]

When we were there in Oct. and my son was almost three, we tried to return for naps at the resort--this only worked once.

Most days, he fell asleep in his stroller before we even got to leave the parks, so then DH and I would just walk around, have a snack, etc. while he slept. And this is a kid who does NOT normally nap in his stroller nor will he normally fall asleep anywhere in public.

One day, we returned to the resort and tried to get him to take a nap--no luck. So, we realized we could make it to DHS in time for the "Block Party" parade thing (we were staying at BWV so we could walk). We high-tail it over there with DS in the stroller the whole time--by the time we get there, he's sound asleep. Slept through the WHOLE things--noise, yelling, everything. We even tried to get him out of the stroller and wake him up to see it, b/c we knew he would love it--no luck, so he spent the whole time asleep in his stroller.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you feel like a break would be good for your family, then plan it, but any little ones who can sit in a stroller will likely fall asleep in there if they need it--even if that's not normally something they do!

 

[dancingdisneygirl]

We went in Jan and my newphews who were 2.5 and 1 would nap in the stroller. The older one would sleep for an 1-1.5 hours usually with no problem. Someone would sit with them in a quiet spot while we would take turns doing a ride the kids couldn't do. The baby would fall asleep on his own when he was tired. We found going back wasn't best for us.

 

[trennr]

When mine were little they would usually fall asleep in the stroller. Also the Hall of Presidents was a nice coolspot where they crashed.

I have also sadly (not) missed "it's a small world" twice due to napping children. DW and others went on while I watched the little napper (love those kids.)

 

[SharkyGoddess]

*haven't read through*

Every child is different, and no one knows your child as well as you. I know for my little guy he napped like a dream in his stroller so it was never a problem for us. We just found shady spots to wait for each other and took turns swapping for rides with the other two kiddos.

I just wish I could find a stroller built like his Britax carseat for our future trips. The kid is out in 2 seconds in that thing!

 

[aidtrismommy]

We don't leave the parks for naps, it is a time killer, I prepared my son (2 at the time) that it would be nap time soon, usually after lunch. I reclined the stroller and gave him his Donald (that he must have) and draped a blanket or whatever so he couldn't see out. He was usually out in 10 minutes. Oh, I took off his shoes and socks for a breather and hooked up his stroller fan so he could have some air. It worked perfectly every day we were there. And while the kids were sleeping, I took a break or wandered around discovering more magic.

 

[bartleby1]

Mine always fell asleep either in their strollers, on a ride, or in a show. We tried leaving once and my daughter fell asleep on the way back to the room and was DONE napping when we arrived there!

I know that this doesn't work for everyone though, so you really need to find what works for you and your kids. My kids are older now (9, 6, and 4) and would have an absolute fit if we tried to leave for a nap!

 

[GoinToDisney]

Mine always fell asleep either in their strollers, on a ride, or in a show. We tried leaving once and my daughter fell asleep on the way back to the room and was DONE napping when we arrived there!

I know that this doesn't work for everyone though, so you really need to find what works for you and your kids. My kids are older now (9, 6, and 4) and would have an absolute fit if we tried to leave for a nap!

This is exactly what happened with us! I was so tired and looking forward to resting, and she could not make it back to the hotel awake. I tried to transfer her to the bed, and she woke up and wanted to get back to Mickey's house. We tried a movie, everything to get her to rest and she would not rest... just wanted to get back to Mickey. So it was either she slept in the stroller at the hotel or she slept in the stroller at the park and dh and I could take turns going on rides like Splash Mtn. while she had a nice long nap.

When she was smaller than 2 (17 months I think) we had her in the Ergo carrier on the front and she even slept on my lap through some of the attractions. But after that, we left her in the stroller. We just made sure to bring a comfy stroller with a good recline.

 

[sherry_car]

Hi all -

I have a 5 yr old and a 2 yr old. What did you all do or can suggest for naptime for the 2 yr old.

Leave in stroller? and hope he naps well...or
Take him back to the resort to nap and them meet up with sis and dad later?

Any ideas greatly appreciated!

I am trying to figure this out right now for my 4 yr old. He doesn't normally take a nap, but I suspect he will need one at Disney. What I have decided so far is that I will provide him a quiet, comfortable place to nap each afternoon. If he needs the nap, he will take it. If not, he won't.

That "quiet, comfortable place" will probably vary each day. Sometimes we will go back to our resort, swim (that should get him back without a meltdown), eat, and nap in our room. Other days we will get an ADR at a dark, quieter restaurant in the park or a nearby resort, and let him rest in the stroller. I have seen this approach work with my nieces and nephews. Some days they took naps, some days they did not. Usually, if they did not nap they fell asleep in their stroller around the time of the night parade. If they did nap, they stayed up longer. Just be flexible and it should work out.

I say go ahead and make the ADRs you want. The worst that can happen is you don't use them and someone else without an ADR gets to use that time slot.

Sherry

 

[candance2]

We stayed at WL in Jan 08 and youngest DD was almost 2. On days we went to MK we definately took advantage of the short boat ride to and from MK and would go back to the room for DD to take her afternoon nap while DH and I took turns going to the pool with oldest DD. Other days at Epcot or Animal kingdom, we just let DD crash in the stroller. We just tried to end the days a little earlier on these days. My suggestion is just don't push them too hard. You know their limitations better than anyone else. Best of luck to you.