https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:41:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1718399 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:38:32 +0000 mrsjyw 1718399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At that age DS was pretty flexible. While it's not the most restorative, we made exceptions for special occasions like travel!</p> <p>At his age now, we much prefer his one nap to be at home. 19 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1718314 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:12:38 +0000 Zbug 1718314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: yeah I sort of view it as most babies around the world/through the ages haven't been tied to a crib to nap. In many areas, babies are still strapped to their mothers' backs for large parts of the day and nap when they are tired. I'm not suggesting you adopt this strategy but babies usually adjust :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1718082 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 10:08:50 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 1718082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Definitely...sleeping not at home will definitely be an exception, not the rule. I also know that a family vacation is worth a few days of less-than-optimal sleep for us, as we don't live near any of my immediate family and I wouldn't want my baby to miss being with aunts, uncles, cousin and grandparents.</p> <p>@Bubbles: Good to know! I have a feeling I'm going to be pretty paranoid in the early days, and want to be in the same space as LO at all times. I did get a portable bassinet, and hope that I can have him sleep in that most of the time so he gets used to sleeping by himself, but can still have his anxious mommy nearby to make sure he's still breathing;-). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717508 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 03:37:07 +0000 nana87 1717508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo is about 12 weeks and naps best when held, in a carrier, or in the stroller. Crib naps are short and unreliable for us, even though she sleeps great at night </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717506 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 03:28:35 +0000 Bubbles 1717506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Until about 5 months my LO would only nap in his sling - it's taken a lot of perseverance to get him to nap in his cot or pushchair. I think personality is a big part but I also think what you do in the early days can have an influence - I never ever put my LO down as a newborn and I think this may have meant he found it extra hard to nap without constant contact! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717505 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 03:16:05 +0000 Kemma 1717505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to be home for nap time unless we can work in a car or stroller nap and we're doing something awesome!</p> <p>@ChiCalGoBee: the sleep coach I saw recommended having them home for their naps more often than not and I thought this was good advice. Kids tend to thrive on routine so having regular nap times and a space for napping (like the crib) tend to keep them happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717493 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 01:12:33 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 1717493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: thanks for your insight. And yes, age has a lot to do with it. I know being a childcare provider and parent are two entirely different things-all I meant is that I've observed sleep in different infants more than a typical first-time parent-to-be. I don't mean to be hard on them, but it's a little frustrating that they pulled my mom aside to say "their" way of strictly crib sleeping was the #1 best thing you can do for a child to set him up for success for the rest of his sleeping life. Mommy Wars are never good-especially within your own family!</p> <p>@troberts1021: I'm a planner too-hence inquiring about this well before I become a mom!:-) thank for sharing.</p> <p>@Zbug: this sounds a lot like what I'm hoping for. Most sleeping at home in a quiet environment, but the ability to be at least a little flexible when we need to be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717375 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 20:53:44 +0000 Zbug 1717375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can probably make it work. My LO used to take her best naps on the go. She now won't sleep more than 45 min or so in the car seat or stroller (usually sleeps 1.5 hrs at home), but we aren't tied to the house. She just has three naps instead of two on days when we are running around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717321 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 20:12:34 +0000 wonderstruck 1717321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For L it depended on his age. As a newborn he would pretty much sleep anywhere. But at 6 months old, when at home he was consistently STTN, he refused to nap or sleep anywhere else. Even if it was his playpen that he sometimes slept in at home, he would scream and scream before napping in it at either of our parent's house, and when I took him up north to my grandparent's house my STTN baby only slept for about 3 hours a night because he would stir a bit in his sleep and then flip out at the unfamiliar surroundings. OMG it was hell, and it made no difference that I had been making an effort to have him be able to sleep/nap in different places. Now at 12 months he's somewhere in the middle...he will STTN pretty much anywhere, but naps are much more difficult, and a 12 month old without his naps is a freaking nightmare.</p> <p>And honestly? Don't be so hard on your brother and SIL. It's impossible to realize how sacred naptime is before becoming a mom - no matter how much you've nannied, being a parent is 24/7 and all-consuming. Nap time is the only time that I get a break and can get stuff done around my house or just chill and do what I want to do. It is not something I'm willing to mess with or experiment with when I can just go back home, let LO nap, and have my 'me time.' </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1717298 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 19:58:07 +0000 kml636 1717298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The younger they are, the easier it is to get them to sleep on the go. We had my LO out all day and she napped in the ergo (LIFESAVER!), car seat, stroller, etc. We were so pleased and patted ourselves on the back for having such a laid back baby. HA. </p> <p>Fast forward to now, 18 months, and we recently went on a six hour car ride where she didn't sleep AT ALL. So yeah, traveling is a little tricky now the older she gets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1716810 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:38:38 +0000 Tanjowen 1716810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just did our first vacation with our LO and he is 6 months. He developed a nice little schedule with 2 naps a day, so we just alternated staying behind at the beach house while the other hung out on the beach with the family. He's too nosy to sleep around people and the family made too much noise.</p> <p>However, it's going to depend on your child! Some kids can sleep anywhere :) And I felt he would have slept on the beach if it had been just us, but the other kids made waaaay too much noise for that one to happen. And it's also a personality issue in parenting (I think) too. I'm a scheduler and planner by nature, so the nap time being predictable is important to me and doesn't stress me out, whereas my sister can drag her kids anywhere; nothing fazes her and her kids adjusted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1716787 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:30:50 +0000 lovehoneybee 1716787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E does okay. He sleeps best at home, in his own crib, but can also sleep in the car/stroller if he's tired enough (even now, at almost 2). When we travel his first night was usually crap, but he'll usually be okay after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll/page/2#post-1716763 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:24:02 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1716763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with everything @hilsy85 said! I prefer crib naps for both kids but will forego them for travel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716733 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:12:39 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1716733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes...but only at that age. My LO was a dream in Hawaii at about 6 months. He slept at dinner, at the pool, wherever. But now I would absolutely slave to his naps or risk madness. (Your brother just forgets what it used to be like!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716724 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:10:55 +0000 birdofafeather 1716724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 6-8 months, R had no issue napping on the go: in a carrier or in her car seat. Now at 17 months, I feel more tied down to making sure her nap is in her crib to maximize her one nap. But she will sleep in any crib: tent, hotel, grandmas, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716722 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:10:04 +0000 illumina 1716722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to really stress about naps and making sure she took them in the cot and was convinced she wouldn't be able to nap on the go and her night sleep would get messed up...but actually she can and often does. She's 9 months and will nap in the car, in the stroller, in the ergo etc. On the go she will only nap for 30mins, but that's enough to refresh her and keep her going until the next one/bed time. If we're out she does tend to stay awake longer than at home, because it takes her a while longer to switch off...but she does regularly do it now. </p> <p>Besides HB I don't actually know anyone IRL whose babies nap regularly in the cot and they are all turning out just fine :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716669 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:52:20 +0000 Anagram 1716669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: I think most babies will fall somewhere in between what you are envisioning for your baby and how you see your brother and his child.</p> <p>We are very far from our families, but we still travel to see them (as well as go on other trips) several times a year. So we risk breaking our schedule for those trips--however, it definitely takes a toll on LO and her sleep is always much, much worse when we travel, which means DH and I are exhausted and LO is cranky, which sure takes a lot of the fun out of traveling.</p> <p>We still go anyway, because we need to see our families---and we're lucky that both of our parents see how bad LO sleeps and they offer to take her overnight in their rooms so we can get a break---but it's not easy-breezy. SOMEONE is going to suffer when we make those trips, whether it's us, our parents, or our LO.</p> <p>Either way, as PPs say--you'll figure it out when your LO arrives and you see what kind of sleeper they are, and more importantly how well you can function on little sleep ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716613 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:27:17 +0000 Silva 1716613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kid WILL take naps in the car or stroller or backpack, but they aren't great and never as long as when she's in her crib. She gets way overtired and overstimulated. I'm not a slave to the routine- if there is something fun going on I just risk it, but honestly, everything is easier when she's in her own bed and on her routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716603 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:19:57 +0000 Pumuckl 1716603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think baby's personality has a major influence there. </p> <p>Our LO has slept everywhere from in the carrier, the stroller, carseat, on us, across our laps on planes etc.<br /> That's why we took the plunge and travelled for 2 months straight with LO in tow. He was 5-6.5m old. We had a blast and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. So absolutely no regrets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716596 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:18:33 +0000 Corduroy 1716596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like pp have said it will depend on the baby and the family. My LO was an awful napper until she was 15 months so we didn't mind messing with her naps (or lack thereof) at all. She usually slept better in her car seat, carrier, or in the stroller. Now we can finally get her to nap in her crib and she is consolidating to one nap. We might be less apt to mess with it since we'll only get one nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716573 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:12:57 +0000 meredithNYC 1716573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my LO was tiny, she would sleep anywhere. But by 6-8 months it was a lot harder since she was SO interested in her surroundings and wanted to be part of the action. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716556 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:08:03 +0000 immabeetoo 1716556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Every baby is a little human with their own plan. I tried hard from the newborn days on to get him to sleep out and about and to this day at 18m he's never slept once in the stroller or carrier, rarely in his car seat even at night or during nap time.</p> <p>So, don't make big plans like I did because your kidlet will not necessarily get the memo no matter how hard you try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716541 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:04:29 +0000 MrsF 1716541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>M never sleeps in the stroller or carrier, but she is pretty well trained to sleep in a crib or p'n'p at a friend or family's house. We do the best we can to replicate home (bring white noise, dark as possible, bring her lovey and sleep sack). We probably look crazy but at least we can take day (or night) trips to see family. The vast majority of her naps are at home and they are much longer better quality naps, but it's nice to have a little flexibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716530 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 13:01:55 +0000 JessKas 1716530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it really depends on the baby. Mine will only really nap at home in the bed, with blackout shades and a noise machine. She won't even really nap in her car seat. My friends son will nap anywhere. We've approached sleep in similar manners, but I really believe every kid has different sleep needs. </p> <p>That being said, I wouldn't worry about it for a vacation. When we go out of town I am much more flexible with sleep and sometimes LO has a short nap or misses one. It's not an everyday thing (and she's pretty happy even if she misses a nap). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716518 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:57:33 +0000 jetsa 1716518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ILoveLettie: DS is 9 months and is the exact same way. He gets toted along and will sleep anywhere. He's generally happy so I'm not going to force a nap if he doesn't want it and we're out and about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716494 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:53:17 +0000 MoonMoon 1716494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first reaction is, a baby who can only sleep in one place/situation will become an adult who can only sleep in one place/situation, and I don't want to instill that kind of rigidity! As long as the baby is happy and doing well and has no sleep issues, I don't think napping in a different bed/couch/floor/swing/carrier/carseat/bouncy here and there is detrimental at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716480 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:48:56 +0000 lamariniere 1716480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally depends. LO1 rarely napped in the stroller/carrier after he was 2 months old, it was maybe once every few months after that. LO2 is much more easy going and she will nap in her stroller and the carrier. She probably has at least one stroller nap per day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716431 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:36:31 +0000 LuLu Mom 1716431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I've always had success with LO sleeping in the car/stroller/playpen/other places. Naps can be tricky now that she's older (20 months.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716429 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:35:28 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 1716429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! Thank you so much to ALL of you for your wonderful insight and advice. I also realize that trying to "plan" this before I actually see my baby's temperament might be pointless, but I also see that many of you have really made it a point to have baby adapt to what is best for your family. If I have a bad sleeper who only wants to sleep at home with a strict routine, then it is what it is. However, I'm glad to not hear a resounding "no" on the "sleep where we can" idea.</p> <p>I am fortunate that I will be mostly a staying at home a majority of the time, and that I'll have a nanny in our home when I'm working. I just see how hard it's been on my brother and SIL (even if they don't want to admit it) to have structured their lives around this, and I've also seen that since they never "tried" to have my nephew sleep elsewhere, at this stage of the game he can't, really. We'll be visiting my parents a lot whose winter home is two hours away, so learning to sleep at their house is a "must."</p> <p>Thanks again, everyone! Mr. Chicalgobee and I are very grateful for your advice!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/napsleep-debates-and-a-poll#post-1716422 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:32:59 +0000 loveisstrange 1716422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>C NEVER napped outside the house. She just wouldn't and it wasn't for lack of trying. </p>