https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:07:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622758 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:43:32 +0000 caterw 2622758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely AM! They usually feed the animals in the morning at the zoo we go to so that's a plus. Also, you risk your toddler falling asleep in the car on the way home if you go in the afternoon. Pre-dinner naps are the worst. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622743 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:08:30 +0000 snowjewelz 2622743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: so true... If she passed out in the car after 5 I would be besides myself :shocked: </p> <p>@winniebee: hahaha oh man these kids!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622742 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:07:50 +0000 snowjewelz 2622742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone!!! We got there at 10am, took our time, stopped to eat lunch and rest, and still had time to do the petting zoo area after the actual zoo! We left at 1 and she literally passed out as soon as I buckled her in! There was NO ONE there and a nice breeze :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622700 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:27:36 +0000 winniebee 2622700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: I don't mind sitting in the car -- it's that R literally opens his eyes as soon as the car stops, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622191 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 17:19:56 +0000 FaithFertility 2622191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say get there right when they open and bring her lunch. Also if she naps in car stretch her until 1-1:30 if you can to get in some good time! Mine will stay up to 2 if out and about! </p> <p>I would get nervous if I went from 2-5 thinking it might make her tired enough to nap again on the way home and that messes with bedtime.....I don't take that risk...lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622189 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 17:11:44 +0000 dolphin 2622189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always prefer to do things in the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622183 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:34:59 +0000 snowjewelz 2622183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Haha, there is no way she will stay away. She totally passes out no matter what I do to her! She will stay asleep as long as the car isn't turned off; I don't mind just sitting in the car as long as it's a break for me lol </p> <p>@erinbaderin: Oo, cooler weather a plus too. And I think animals are more active in the AM? </p> <p>@JenGirl: Tomorrow so Friday! I don't anticipate it being overly crowded</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: True, she can probably do 1pm or later if we're out and having fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622181 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:30:52 +0000 daniellemybelle 2622181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: This is what I would do too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622178 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:24:25 +0000 winniebee 2622178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: True, mine can push nap until 1:30/2:00 when we are doing something "fun" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622177 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:23:03 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2622177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Morning. Also by age 2 my kids were able to push nap a bit later. So I would do all you want to see from 10-12, eat lunch and then play on the play ground as long as you can. Then put in car seat for nap home. With a good outdoor activity they could easily push nap until 1 or 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622173 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:10:21 +0000 KayKay 2622173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I refuse to go places like that in the mid-late afternoon! I agree to be there right when it opens and take/do lunch there. A 2hr outing with a little one (and preg too!) will be long enough for sure :)</p> <p>I also agree with @winniebee: to try to do everything you can to stave off the nap until you get home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622170 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:02:44 +0000 gilmoregirl 2622170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always do stuff in the morning. I like that things are generally less crowded in the morning; crowds often start to pick up around lunch time and it's nice to be headed out the. My kid doesn't sleep on the car though so that's a factor for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622165 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:53:11 +0000 JenGirl 2622165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are we talking weekday or weekend? I was just at our zoo on Monday and it was dead now that school has started. So, for a weekday, I'd go in the afternoon. But weekends are a different story and I would go first thing to try to avoid crowds. I love zoos, so I would probably go in the morning, eat lunch, and then try to get him to sleep in his stroller, so we could hang out at the zoo longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622164 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:50:26 +0000 autumnlove 2622164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>AM. Two hours is plenty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622159 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:39:53 +0000 erinbaderin 2622159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to the zoo a lot with a similar schedule dilemma. We go in the morning, pack a lunch (more like an assortment of snacks, usually), stay at the zoo until 12:30 or 1, let him fall asleep in the car on the way home, and then transfer him to his bed. </p> <p>Depending on the weather another pro might be that it's cooler in the morning - more pleasant for walking around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622151 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:25:06 +0000 youboots 2622151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same distance for us and we always do morning </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622147 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:21:44 +0000 winniebee 2622147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Option C - go for right when it opens, eat lunch there, but then torture her to keep her awake on the way home so that she naps at home :) My toddler wakes up the second the car stops moving so car naps usually suck for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/timing-of-going-to-zoo-help-me#post-2622143 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:13:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2622143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Taking 21 mo old DD to a zoo ~30-40 min away tomorrow. Zoo is small; very doable and easy for toddlers. She naps around 12:30-1pm. Most of what I heard/read is that you can definitely do the whole zoo in 2 hours at normal pace. There is additional petting zoo and playground on site. </p> <p>Go at 10am when they open, pack a lunch to eat there at noon-ish, get in the car around 12:30-1 and let her sleep on the way back home.<br /> Pro - Get there early to get parking<br /> Con - Need to pack lunch, really only have 2 hrs there</p> <p>Eat lunch at home, leave around 12:30 and have her nap on the way there, go in once she wakes up (let's say 2). Be at zoo 2-5pm<br /> Pro - No need to pack lunch, have more time at the park<br /> Con - When we leave might be a lot of traffic, might take a while to find parking (but she should be napping so we're not in a hurry) </p>