Need thoughts on taking 1-yo that naps alot

[bigbabyblues]

My ds just turned 1 a week or so ago, and we're going to WDW in last Sept/early Oct. My only concern for him is that he likes to nap. At home it's great, but I'm not so sure on the trip. He usually gets up around 7:30-8 but does ok if we wake him early, but regardless of when he gets up, he's ready for a nap an hour later. This nap usually last 2-1/2 to 3 hours. About 3 hours after that, he's ready for another, short nap, about an hour or so. Some days, if he gets up early, he even takes a third nap in the evening.

What am I going to do with him? He has NEVER taken a nap in his stroller, he just fights all he can to stay awake. I'm afraid this is going to put a huge damper on our trip. We are also taking our 3-yo who is fine with a 2-3 hour afternoon nap each day.

Any suggestions?

 

[tjmw2727]

My youngest would never sleep in the stroller when out and about at home but at WDW - like a charm! Here is hoping your son does as well.

I would bring a full size stroller with a good recline, a stroller fan (right start has a nice one) for breeze and white noise and a rain cover in case of rain.

Let him out and about as much as possible and only recline the stroller when you think he is ready for the nap. Have a blanket and or lovie handy and just push him until he falls asleep. My dd napped at the parks, while older dd swam in the pool and in the evening around WS at Epcot. If he won't nap in the stroller at the parks you could try a rest in one of the cool shows, maybe he will crash in your lap.

Have a great trip!
TJ

 

[BevS97]

I thought my baby was the only one that took 3 hour naps! Mine's 9 months and sounds very similiar - she has a very long nap every morning, and sleeps much better in her crib than anywhere else, but she will nap in the stroller, although she also fights it, but eventually she just drops off - it helps if I put the back down so she is flat and then I pull the hood over (I can pull my hood almost right down), so she is in a little boring place and can't see what's going on - she usually fights it for a little while and then just drops right off.

We are taking her to WDW in October when she will be 13 months, and I am planning on having her nap in the stroller. If that doesn't work, then we will have to rethink things, but I think it shoudl be ok - she copes when we go out for the day.

 

[disneyatl]

I can still visualize my 2 year old falling asleep with her goofy hat on in her umbrella stroller at the Magic Kingdom. She would never nap in her stroller. Heck, she really didn't like her stroller much at all. I think you'll be surprised.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by bigbabyblues
My ds just turned 1 a week or so ago, and we're going to WDW in last Sept/early Oct. My only concern for him is that he likes to nap. At home it's great, but I'm not so sure on the trip. He usually gets up around 7:30-8 but does ok if we wake him early, but regardless of when he gets up, he's ready for a nap an hour later. This nap usually last 2-1/2 to 3 hours. About 3 hours after that, he's ready for another, short nap, about an hour or so. Some days, if he gets up early, he even takes a third nap in the evening.

What am I going to do with him? He has NEVER taken a nap in his stroller, he just fights all he can to stay awake. I'm afraid this is going to put a huge damper on our trip. We are also taking our 3-yo who is fine with a 2-3 hour afternoon nap each day.

Any suggestions?

Your DS sounds just like my DS!!!! He was the same, longer morning nap, shorter or non-existant afternoon nap. Personally what I'd do is, keep him in the stroller until your 3YO is ready for an afternoon nap. Keep him entertained and awake with all the stuff around, maybe he will doze for an hour in the mornings, but I know 3 hours in the AM will be impossible. After lunch, head back to your resort for the all-important nap time. Bring a pack-n-play sheet from home, so it's smell is familiar. Place him down in the pack-n-play with his favorite thing, and then close the curtains in your room to get a soothing light and lay down yourself. Most likely after such a short or non-existant nap in the morning, he'll conk out in minutes. Neither of my children would nap for long periods in their strollers, so we always took mid-day breaks back to our room. We're also usually back in the room by bedtime, it really does help to keep to them to as much as their normal routine as possible!

 

[mistaroo]

I agree with what the other posters have said in that you may be surprised at how well your little one will nap in a stroller at WDW. I took my DS for his 1st b-day and he actually fell sound asleep on the (very bumpy) Kilimanjaro Safari ride!! All the excitement wears them out.

One thing I wanted to point out is that it is common for the third nap to entirely disapear around 1 year and for the afternoon nap to disappear between 12-18 months. Since you aren't leaving for vacation for a few months, your DS may only be taking one long nap by then, putting both your kids on the same schedule.

Good luck and have a great time.

 

[MinnieGi]

I was going to mention the same thing as misteroo that babies tend to go down to one nap after they turn a year. My DD was taking just one nap a day a little after she turned one. However she was never much of a napper her first year anyway - my jaw dropped in envy of how long you DS's sleep!!!!

Anyway DD's first trip to WDW was a 14 months. She took little catnaps in her stoller the whole day. It was just so much stimulation she would want to recline and fall asleep for 10 - 15 minutes and then be up and ready to go again. She never fell asleep in her stroller before this so we were surprised. We had planned on going back for naps everyday, but she last quite a long time with just her little catnaps. I think you'll also be surprised.

Misteroo- We thought we had the only child to fall asleep on Kilimanjaro Safaris!! Yes, our DD fell asleep on the ride at 14 months as we bounced all around.

 

[Barb D]

Don't forget that park hours will be shorter in September, except for EPCOT. If you plan on a long afternoon nap in your room, you'll be majorly cutting in to the time that the parks are open. You might want to plan more mornings at MK, and save EPCOT for the late afternoons/evenings. You may also want to try getting him to sleep in a relatively dark/quiet place in the park, and hope that he stays asleep after you move on. Hall of Presidents (dark, quiet and boring) is a good nap-inducer in MK, and the American Experience (dark, but not quite as quiet or boring) is probably your best bet at EPCOT. I can't really think of a good place at MGM or AK.

A lot can happen between now and September nap-time wise.

 

[mamalle]

I would recommend the same thing. My son at 1 was the same way with naps. he took two huge ones every day like clock work. He wouldnt sleep in the stroller for nothing except when we go to disney. In March I took both the kids and he fell asleep in my reclined stroller- I just laid the huge beach towel over it to darken it and slept for 1 1/2 hours- right thru the parade!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks for all the replies, glad I'm not the only one with good nappers! DH suggested I try to break him of one of his naps before we go, but I really don't want to do that, unless he does it on his own. We'll have 8 days, and I'm hoping he'll nap in his stroller, at least the afternoon nap. We'll just have to do what he needs us to do, maybe DH or I could take him back to the resort if he needs to to nap, and the other stay with 3-yo in the park awhile longer.

Thanks again!

Steph

 

[moinab]

My 16 month old DD is a horrible napper at home. I'm lucky if I can get her to take one half-hour nap during the day. When we go to WDW (7 times, so far, this year), however, she takes 2 hour naps. I like to carry her in the sling, because if she's napping in the stroller for 2 hours, then we can't go on any rides/attractions. (We have pictures of her sleeping in the sling on Kilimanjaro Safari.) WDW totally changes our kids' routines. We just pay close attention to their needs and go with the flow.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[anditoo72]

Here is my 2 cents worth. Kids will do at WDW what they won't do at home. Last time we went my little princess decided to hit her terrible two's while we were at WDW (that was two years ago and she hasn't gotten any better!) Anyway, she stopped taking a nap at a year, can you believe it? My son is two now and still takes a 2 hour nap, but not her she stopped at one! But while we were in WDW, she always napped in the stroller. I woudl get a double stroller one that has a front an back. You are going to need one for your three year old anyway. Put the one year old in the back and when he is tired enough he will sleep. There will be enough going on for him to stay awake and hopefully for your sake not be cranky. I know when my son gets cranky in his stroller he really needs his sippy cup and to lay down. Go to a cool dark place (Hall of Presidents comes to mind), if you can. Recline the back put the canopy over and give him a drink, like I said, if he is tired enough he will sleep. Good luck!!!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks again! We'll just have to roll with the punches, but I'm hoping he'll take at least one nap in the stroller for me. DH pointed out that when they (DH, DS3 and DS1) went to the mall last weekend, 1-yo was up well past his naptime in the stroller, just looking around at everything, not fussy until they got to the car, so maybe he'll do fine!

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by bigbabyblues
DH suggested I try to break him of one of his naps before we go, but I really don't want to do that, unless he does it on his own.

He may very well do it on his own by trip time! My DD was taking two long naps at 1 year, and by the time we went to Disney she was 15 months and only taking one long nap (3 hours). Having said that, while at Disney she dozed off in her stroller several times when it wasn't "nap time" and she was fine. I hope you have the same "luck" with your little one. I think it's really difficult to judge ahead of time what they will do, because all "normality" seems to go out the window when at WDW, lol.

 

[rchristiansen]

Originally posted by bigbabyblues


What am I going to do with him? He has NEVER taken a nap in his stroller, he just fights all he can to stay awake. I'm afraid this is going to put a huge damper on our trip. We are also taking our 3-yo who is fine with a 2-3 hour afternoon nap each day.

Any suggestions?

We went last Sept when my DD was just about 1 and was a big napper too. She never napped in her stroller then either, but when we were at WDW, she was so pooped that she fell asleep all over the place -- stroller, boat from WL to MK, even the teacups!!!!! I wouldn't worry too much. I was in the same boat as you were and was worried about that as well. But it worked out pretty good.

Also remember that it's really hot and they'll poop out fast too. We made very good use of the baby care centers - even if it was just to revitalize her in teh A/C.

Becky

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks for the input!

I'm thinking that whatever happens, even if we have to take 2 breaks a day, we'll still be at WDW!!