After some waffling, we have decided to go to DD's (almost 2) school picnic. She naps like clockwork 12:30 to 2:30. The picnic park is 11:30 to 1. It is at an amusement park that has a Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and she loves Daniel Tiger right now. I am hoping that the excitement keeps her awake/not cranky... but I would love any advice on skipping a nap at that age. She has never skipped a nap before.
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Eeesh. I wouldn't take my son (same age) but I know he would be a holy terror and it would not be worth the hell we'd go through the rest of the day. That being said, if you child is a little more easygoing than mine, I might go early, try to get out by 12:30, and put her down like 1 or 1:15 for a later/slightly shorter nap? Any nap might be better than no nap.
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I would expect a car nap on the way home, unless it's super close. Then I would probably just sit in the car with her for a while after we got home until she wakes up. But both my kids will easily fall asleep in the car around nap time (it's a problem usually!) and stay asleep after I park.
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DD is 22 months and she skips her naps sometimes. She has no issues with crankiness usually, so maybe you'll be ok there! Are you driving? She might just take a car nap. I put DD down for bed an hour earlier on the days she doesn't nap and she catches up overnight.
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I think she'll be fine - she likely won't skip it, she'll just fall asleep in the car on the way home. Will she transfer from the car to the bed?
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I also think she is likely to just fall asleep in the car after. If however she ends up skipping her nap I would try to stick to quiet, nonstimulating activities the rest of the day and then start the dinner/bathtime routine much earlier than usual to minimize meltdowns.
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My kiddo is almost 2 as well (turns 2 at the end of august) and skips naps on occasion. But in this situation, falling asleep in the car after all of the excitement sounds likely. My only advice would be to try and make sure she gets a full night's sleep the night before, come prepared with snacks to make sure she's not hungry even if she doesn't like the picnic food, and try not to stress.
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@Ms. RV: I would just leave early unless it's a pretty long drive, then I would try for a car nap.
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I would just let her sleep in the car after... or if it's a short drive do everything you can to keep her up and get her right to bed when you get home. If she naps late, keep her up a bit later. If she doesn't nap, early bed! Good luck!
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DD's the same age and for a few months now she's been able to postpone her nap when we're out and about. She just falls asleep in the car after.
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@Foodnerd81: yes agreed.
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I would also expect a car nap. DD2 stayed up til 1:30 when we were at the beach the other day and was literally asleep within 2 minutes of me buckling her in her seat. She transfers just fine though so it's not an issue. When DD1 did that, I was like just have to wait out the nap in the car!
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When we're in similar situations we just assume she'll nap on the way home (she usually does). We just drive around for awhile so she can sleep.
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I would go, she will have fun! Plus with the excitement I'm sure there will be no crankiness, and if there is, leave at that point! Expect a car nap, unless you live only 5 minutes away.
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Eek! I should have clarified... the picnic portion is until 1, but we will probably stay until 3 or 4 at the park. It is about a 45 minute drive, so we may get a small car nap.
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Would she do a stroller nap at the park? I find that even a short nap is better than nothing. If it's 45 min away, she will likely fall asleep on the way home anyway. So you may end up with 2 short ones.
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@Ms. RV: what time is bedtime? In that situation I'd try to keep her awake on the way home to not push back bedtime.
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DD hasn't stroller napped since she was six weeks old... but all of the excitement and the heat convinced her otherwise! We did have a few mini tantrums, but so did lots of other (older) kids there. If anyone is ever near Pittsburgh with a young kid I highly recommend Idlewild park!
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@Ms. RV: We were visiting family in the Pittsburgh area and went to Idlewild this past week on Tuesday! My little one just turned 2, and we had pretty much the same experience - so much fun that he did fine skipping his nap until about 3pm, when he broke down crying because I couldn't go on the motor boat ride with him. Put him in the stroller to go back to the car, and he was out within about 20 paces from the ride, ha!
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18 comments