My 3 1/2 year old spends all day outside at camp. He gets dropped off between 7:30-8 am and then picked up at 4. No naps at camp. My DH picks him up and the drive home is about 15 minutes. My LO falls alseep almost every ride home and then sleeps until we wake him for dinner @ 6. And sometimes he is still a grumpy mess! And then getting to bed @7:30-8 takes forever and he doesn't end up settling for sleep until after 9, and then he has to be up at 6:30 the next morning-- and my DH and I get no time to catch up and make lunches, pack the camp bag, etc.
Does anyone have any tips to help keep him up on the car ride home? No car nap! He would still be tired, but we would eat dinner and then he can start the bedtime routine @7:30 and be fast asleep by 8.
Windows open? Offer him food? Anything that works? Thanks!!
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We had this issue at 12/13 months. I had a 35-60 min commute with traffic. It sucked. It was harder to try and keep her awake cause she was RF. We ended up moving her to a center close to the house instead of my work.
I would try singing songs together, windows down, snacks, even playing a game on the ipad.
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If we are out and about and it is nearing nap time , I usually give him a few crackers to snack on, a toy to entertain him, or my phone to play a game/watch pbskids. It all depends on how long it will take to home.
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Snacks would be my go to.
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we sing and then give a small snack!
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He might be close to naturally dropping the need to sleep, I'd keep him awake by engaging him in conversation as much as possible.
I tend not to offer snacks, though, in the car.
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I know this all too well - I pick up my LO at 5pm and he either falls asleep in the car or while playing when we get home and I'm making dinner. Following for suggestions because I don't know what to do. I need to make dinner (DH works nights) but I have to try to keep him awake or else he's going to nap. He's a beast when he wakes up, too, and won't go back to bed until 10pm.
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@rachiecakes: could you have him help you cook dinner?
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Would an ipad tv show keep him up or put him to sleep? Also, what if you woke him up when he got home?
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I usually go with snacks to keep her awake but that could backfire right before dinner. Certain songs that she will sing with me help.
Also what if you just wake him when you get home so it's only a 15 minute nap. Wouldn't that be better than sleeping until 6? Or am I misunderstanding your post?
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If it's only a 15 minute drive from camp, I would just wake him up as soon as you get home. A 10-15 minute cat nap shouldn't impact bedtime!
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Yeah, not sure this is awesome parenting advice, but when I need to be really sure that my guy (2.5) doesn't sleep in the car, I hand over the phone.
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If it were me I would try windows open, offer snacks and the ipad. Whatever it takes!
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This happens to us sometimes too if LO doesn't nap at daycare. I let sleep for no more than 30 minutes, just a quick cat nap. If he falls asleep so not let him sleep from 4-6, wake him at like 4:30. I'm sure he will be grumpy but then he can go to bed early.
Sometimes my LO will fall asleep on couch around 5:30 if she doesn't nap, and at that point I don't wake her- she will sleep all night until morning.
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Snacks and iPhone.
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iPad or something else he doesn't normally get? Fortunately we have a short drive home or we would be in this situation too.
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